The Battle of Wisconsin Heights was fought on the northern edge of the 815-acre Blackhawk unit of the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway. This isn’t a battle “field”, but a dry, cactus and sand covered ridge that drops down into a marsh where in July of 1832, Blackhawk, and his 100 or so warriors held back 750 militia volunteers long enough to allow their families of about 700 women, children and the elderly to escape across the Wisconsin River. The battlefield itself is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The property is located just 25 minutes south of Devil’s Lake State Park, and just south of Sauk-Prairie, Wisconsin on Highway 78. You can take in the history including the Wisconsin Heights Battlefield, Native American mounds dating back to around 800 AD, and explore miles of hiking, horseback riding, and cross-country ski trails. While the area, which was once primarily open oak savanna is now covered in thick forest, there are still some nice vistas here and there as well.
Be sure to check out the remaining log cabin on top of the ridge which was built in 1863. The Watcher cabin as it is known is on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Blackhawk Unit is also a popular spot for birders as well featuring Eastern Bluebirds, Cooper’s Hawks, and Willow Flycatchers. Rare species include; Yellow-billed Cuckoos, Red-headed Woodpeckers, and the Western Kingbird.
The adjoining units of the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway units run westward 92 miles to the Mississippi River. They offer many public boat landings, free canoe camping, many Wisconsin State Natural Areas, and more than 40,000 acres of public land open to a variety of recreational opportunities.
Learn More:
- Hiking The Lower Wisconsin State Riverway (DNR)
- Blackhawk Ridge Trails Map
- The Blackhawk War (Lessons) – WI Historical Society
- Blackhawk’s Account of the Battle of Wisconsin Heights. (Book at Amazon.com)
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