Exploring the Spectacular Views of Wisconsin Dells: The Witches Gulch Canyon & Upper Boat Ride Tour

Updated: May 20

Stroll through the breath-taking scenery of the canyons. Relax and admire natures beauty on a boat tour ride. Add this to your bucket list when visiting Southern Wisconsin or planning your trip to Wisconsin Dells!

This is a place that you may have heard about but can’t recall the name. Many have described it as the mini–Grand Canyon of Wisconsin or of Wisconsin Dells. When walking through the narrow passage of sandstone that is up to 150 feet high, is a stunning sight to see and is known as The Witches Gulch. If photography is your hobby or profession, you will capture unique and beautiful views with every twist and turn on the trails and river bends. The wooden bridge path in The Witches Gulch adds to the serene nature of this melted glacier cut canyon. The Witches Gulch has been explored starting from the early 1800’s. Giant lumber rafts were used to transport lumber and maneuver through the river. Once the railroad made transporting lumber a more efficient way, raft pilot Leroy Gates then became the tour guide in 1950 and the tours have continued ever since.

Along the path of The Witches Gulch, you will find a plaque that was placed in 1956 by the Trustees of the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation. The plaque reads as follow;

[THIS BEAUTY IS YOURS BECAUSE OTHERS BEFORE YOU LOVED THE DELLS

Henry Hamilton Bennett pioneer photographer discovered pictured and named many of the scenic spots including this, The Witches Gulch.

George H. Crandall and his wife, Nellie Bennett Crandall, here acquired, preserved and reforested hundreds of acres surrounding the river. They held it in trust for you declaring "No one can own The Dells."

Phyllis Crandall Connor and Lois Crandall Musson, with their husbands, Ralph W. Connor and H. Howard Musson, transferred these properties in 1954 to the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation that they might be kept beautiful for posterity.]

Know Before You Go

You Can’t Get There by Car

The only way to get to The Witches Gulch is by taking the boat tour in Upper Wisconsin Dells. You will get an opportunity to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the river and get a tour of other scenic trails. You may even get to see wildlife such as the bald eagle. Don’t make the mistake of going to the boat tours in Lower Wisconsin Dells. The boat tour of Lower Wisconsin Dells does not make a stop to The Witches Gulch. Only the Upper Wisconsin Dells boat tour gives you the experience of The Witches Gulch.

Only Open Seasonally

Thanks to weather, the boat tours are only open from April thru October. Be sure to check the forecast for good weather. The boat tour will not run if weather conditions are not safe. On the plus side, when you get the opportunity to go you know you’ll have breath taking views. They are open 7 days a week and reservations are not required.

Plan on Walking

The boat tour makes an extra stop besides The Witches Gulch. If you do not wish to walk the extra paths, you are more than welcome to stay on the tour boat. If you are ready to explore, do not expect to be walking for miles. The paths are more of scenic viewing and allow you to take your time to absorb natures beauty and take photographs.

My Experience

The first time my family and I tried the boat tour it ended up getting canceled. At the time, Southern Wisconsin received heavy rain over a series of a few days and caused water levels to be too high. For safety reasons, there were no boat tours until the water levels lowered. It didn’t ruin our plans because it’s Wisconsin Dells. There’s lots to do! We went back a couple months later and I’m so glad that we did! It was a gorgeous day, and the boat ride was very relaxing with incredible sights. The boat had a lower deck and an upper deck for seating. We sat on the upper deck which I highly recommend. You are able to get a much better view of the scenery around you. The guided tour was great and the team that was running the boat were so nice! I thought that the boat only took you to The Witches Gulch so, I was a little surprised there was another stop on other trails. It was a pleasant trip to enjoy nature and stunning scenery. Be sure to put this one on your bucket list. I already put on my bucket list to go during the fall colors!

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Location

Upper Dells Dock

107 Broadway in downtown Wisconsin Dells

For other boat tours and information go to their website www.dellsboats.com