Tower Hill State Park perches on bluffs above the Wisconsin River in Wisconsin's Driftless Area, offering 10 primitive tent sites and access to a 19th-century shot tower with hand-carved tunnel. The small campground fills quickly during peak season. Sites range from $15–20 per night and operate on a first-come basis or by reservation.
Rustic, primitive tent campground with a small number of sites along the river and hilltop overlooks.
Historical Significance
The park preserves a 19th-century shot tower, smelter foundations, and a hand-carved tunnel used during Wisconsin's lead-mining era. Shot production involved dropping molten lead from the tower into water below to form uniform pellets. Interpretive signs explain the process and the site's role in regional mining history.Weather and SeasonsFall brings the best conditions. September and October deliver daytime highs between 45°F and 60°F, vibrant hardwood foliage, and minimal mosquitoes compared to summer. Cooler nights make primitive camping comfortable. Summer visitors face heavy mosquito pressure. Multiple reviewers call bug spray essential. Trails and stairs turn slippery after rain. The main parking area and vault toilets close in winter, though trails usually stay open.
Natural Features and SceneryThe campground sits on wooded hillsides and hilltops 748 feet above sea level, with several sites overlooking the winding Wisconsin River and its quiet inlets below. Pine-needle ground cover softens most sites. Short rocky trails connect campers to river-valley overlooks, the historic shot tower, and the carved tunnel. The compact layout keeps everything within a few minutes' walk. Hardwood forests blanket the surrounding bluff slopes.
Geological RegionDriftless Area
Scenic ViewsOverlooks of the meandering Wisconsin River, nearby inlets and the surrounding valley; the shot tower and bluff ridgeline provide elevated panoramic views.