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| The Mississippi River Valley below Nelson Dewey State Park shines in yellow and hold each autumn. |
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| Mound Point Trail map. Click for larger version. |
The 1.2-mile round trip Mound Point Trail sits in Nelson Dewey State Park overlooking the Mississippi River. The best time to see the autumn colors is from early to mid-October when leaves usually change in that part of Wisconsin.
To reach the trailhead, from Wis. Hwy. 133 in Cassville drive northwest on County Road VV. In about a mile, the park entrance is on the right with the Stonefield Village Historic Site on the left. Follow the park road to its intersection with the road leading to the Family Campground. Go straight/west past the campground and park in the small lot where the road loops back on itself.
The trail heads southwest from the parking lot across North Ridge.
Though the trail crosses a blufftop prairie, whose grasses turn amber then brown each autumn, that’s just the opening act for the hike’s real star: Unobstructed views of the sparkling Mississippi River from 500 feet up. Every autumn, across the horizon stretches a sea of yellow with spots of orange at the bluff’s base, on the islands amid the river’s backwaters, and along the opposite shore in Iowa.
River valley trees
Green ash, silver maple, and river birch dominate the sloughs and river valley. All turn similar hues of yellow in autumn.
Green ash is among the first trees to change colors in autumn, often the first week of September. The most common ash species in southern Wisconsin, it quickly takes over old fields and other disturbed sites. It grows up to 82 feet high with a trunk diameter of up to 24 inches. Young green ash has smooth bark, but it becomes thick and fissured with age. A major concern for green ash is the emerald ash borer; in Wisconsin, the insect is suspected of having doubled the tree's mortality rate since 2011.
Silver maple is one of the most common trees in the United States, though not found in northern Wisconsin. Highly adaptable, it often can be spotted along waterways and in wetlands. The silver maple also is fast-growing; a 10-year-old sapling can stand up to 26 feet high, making it the best bet for future NFL lineman in the woods. It tops out, though at 82 feet. It used to be a favorite in urban landscaping, but because its roots crack sidewalls and old pipes, as well as because it resprouts quickly, many cities now ban its planting.
River birch, also known as black birch or water birch, usually grows in floodplains and wetlands. It can reach a height of 100 feet. The base of the river birch usually consists of several slender trunks, each of which can grow up to 60 inches in diameter. The bark of young river birch consists of loose layers of curling scales and often looks as if it has been damaged, but that’s not the case. As the tree matures, those scales form hard plates.
About midway along the trail, a path heads northeast through an oak woods to a parking lot. Continue walking straight/southeast. An effigy mound sits on the trail’s right side just a few feet past the intersection.
An effigy mound is a raised pile of earth, typically built in the shape of a stylized animal, symbol, human, or other figure. Usually it contains one or more human burials. About 20 mounds – each of them long and round – can be found on the trail. They variously date to 600-1300 AD.
Stonefield village
Next the trail passes North Point. This is a prime bald eagle viewing spot. Riding the thermals as fishing, eagles soar over the Mississippi River all year long.
The trail ends at another parking lot. An effigy mound can be seen on the trail’s left side just before reaching the lot. This marks a good spot to turn back.
The 756-acre state park was part of what was once the farm of Wisconsin’s first governor, Nelson Dewey, and so is named for him. When done hiking, be sure to stop at neighboring Stonefield, a recreated Victorian-era historical village, also built on Dewey’s former estate.
Note that some of the Mound Point Trail comes right up to the bluff's edge. If children are with you, make sure they are not afraid of heights and that you securely hold them.
