Near Friendship in Adams County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Roche-A-Cri State Park

Photographed by Keith L, June 7, 2009

1. Roche-A-Cri State Park Marker

Inscription. This prominent butte, perhaps the steepest hill in Wisconsin, was called La Roche-a-Cri by 17th and 18th century French voyageurs. Rising 300 feet above the surrounding plain, this landmark undoubtedly guided Indians and early pioneers. Indians of an undetermined cultural group left rock carvings, called petroglyphs, at places on Roche-a-Cri. Like many similar formations on Wisconsin's sandy Central Plain, this butte is composed of Cambrian sandstone about 500,000,000 years old. The flat plain is the old bed of Glacial Lake Wisconsin, which covered 1,800 square miles of central Wisconsin some 15,000 years ago. The buttes were islands in that immense lake.

The State Highway Commission purchased nearby land for a road-side park in 1937 and ten years later conveyed it to the Wisconsin Conservation Department. Roche-a-Cri State Park was established in 1948 and now contains over 400 acres. It is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Erected 1979 by the Wisconsin Historical Society. (Marker Number 260.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Landmarks • Natural Features

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• Parks & Recreational Areas. In addition, it is included in the Wisconsin Historical Society series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1937.

Location. 44° 0.1′ N, 89° 49.192′ W. Marker is near Friendship, Wisconsin, in Adams County. It can be reached from State Highway 13 0.3 miles north of Czech Avenue, on the left when traveling north. Marker is in Roche-A-Cri State Park (fee area), near the Eagle Ridge Trail parking lot. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Friendship WI 53934, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Northern Wisconsin. It is also in the American Midwest,

on the Great Lakes,

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 6 other markers are within 11 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Veterans Memorial / Cpl. Red Cloud Tribute (approx. 2.1 miles away); East Arkdale Cemetery (approx. 3.3 miles away); Site of the First Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church of Roche-a-Cri (approx. 5 miles away); West Church (approx. 5.1 miles away); Lutheran Church of the Norwegian Synod (approx. 5.2 miles away); Monroe Cemetery (approx. 10.4 miles away).

Additional commentary.
1. Winter Access
Roche-A-Cri State Park road access is closed during winter months. Access to park is at the Prarie Trailhead on Czech Ave. There is a parking fee to

Photographed by Keith L, June 7, 2009

2. Roche-A-Cri State Park Marker

walk into the park. If there is snow, the trail is not cleared and recommend following the trail map. Marker is not wheelchair accessible if the gates to the park are closed for the season.

— Submitted December 27, 2025, by Greta Schassler of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Additional keywords. Friendship Glyphs

Nearby Trail to Roche-A-Cri Mound image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Keith L, June 7, 2009

3. Nearby Trail to Roche-A-Cri Mound

Plaque by Mound Stairway image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Keith L, June 7, 2009

4. Plaque by Mound Stairway

303-Step Mound Stairway image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Keith L, June 7, 2009

5. 303-Step Mound Stairway

New Improved Stairway image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Keith L, June 2, 2013

6. New Improved Stairway

Mound Observation Deck image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Keith L, June 7, 2009

7. Mound Observation Deck

Photographed by Keith L, June 7, 2009

8. Mound Observation Deck

Map at Observation Deck image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Keith L, June 7, 2009

9. Map at Observation Deck

Outliers of Glacial Lake Wisconsin

Petroglyphs on South Side of Mound image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Keith L, June 7, 2009

10. Petroglyphs on South Side of Mound

National Register of Historic Places #81000031 Interpretive panels present facts, drawings of the art, and a map to locate carvings and paints on the mound.

Historic Graffiti image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Keith L, June 7, 2009

11. Historic Graffiti

Early Yankee settlers carved their names and initials on the rock wall. The earliest date recorded here is 1845. The height of the writing suggests that many of the names were carved by people standing on horseback. In 1861, Company D of the Wisconsin Sharpshooters camped on this spot. The circular pock marks on the rock face may have been made by bullets fired at the rock during marksmanship trials held by this unit.
—Interpretive panel

Plaque Beyond Shelter image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Keith L, June 7, 2009

12. Plaque Beyond Shelter

Wisconsin State Parks
100 Years
Centennial Tree
Planted on Arbor Day, 2000 to celebrate the 100th year of Wisconsin State Parks.

Centennial Tree and Plaque image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Keith L, June 7, 2009

13. Centennial Tree and Plaque

Photographed by Robert L Weber

14. Petroglyphs

Above the Petroglyphs image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Robert L Weber

15. Above the Petroglyphs

Credits. This page was last revised on December 30, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 10, 2009, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 3,702 times since then and 107 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on June 10, 2009, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. 6. submitted on June 4, 2013, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. submitted on June 10, 2009, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. 14, 15. submitted on December 17, 2010, by Bob (peach) Weber of Dewey, Arizona. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.