MN trip 2: Castle Rock

[tigertoy]

I haven't forgotten about posting more about my recent trip; I've just been swamped. Here's the first bit; I hope to have a bunch more.

On Interstate 90/94, a few miles eat of where 90 and 94 split at Tomah, at exit 55, there is a rock formation called Castle Rock and an interstate wayside where you can stop and view it.  I highly recommend doing so to anyone driving along that highway, if you pass by during the day and you can spare a few minutes.  It's quite a rock.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

Castle Rock sign                 Sign in the wayside parking lot

Butte                 This is not Castle Rock; it is a rock behind the fence in the National Guard reservation.

Rock View                 looking up at the rock from the area closest to the parking lot

Rock View                 looking up at the rock from the south end

Rock View                 looking up at the rock from the far side

Framing                 A part of the rock framed by trees

Tree                 A little tree growing on the rock face

Pitted Rock Face                 A closeup of an area pitted by running water

Sculptured Rock Face                 An area sculptured into an amazing form

 

Comments

[peteralway.livejournal.com]

I recall back in 2000, when my brother and I were driving across Wisconsin coming across this rock, or something similar--Somehow I'm thinking it wasn't on the interstate, though. I remember seeing it go by, "thinking what the heck was that?" but not having a convenient way to turn around for a second look, and not being sure if there was a convenient way to pull off.

Do you know if there are other formations like that in Wisconsin?

[tigertoy.livejournal.com]

There are others, but I think this is one of the most spectacular ones.

The wayside isn't right on the Interstate; it's about half a mile off, at a regular exit. But the rock itself is clearly visible from the road. Coming from the south/east, you can see it before the exit and know to get off. From the north/west, you don't see the rock until after you've passed the exit.

Wisconsin Rock formations

[birder2.livejournal.com]

Well, there is Wisconsin Dells; this is a very beautiful and very extensive set of formations on (I think, I'm not looking at a map) the Wisconsin River. Unfortunately, it is the biggest tourist trap in the state. Once you're on the boat on the river (the way to see the rocks) it's fine, but the area is so over-commercialized it spoils it for me. There is also a similar but much less known area on the Minnesota-Wisconsin border called the "dales" of the St. Croix. I don't know what that's like now in terms of commercialization--when I lived in Minnesota it was NOT over-developed and I enjoyed going there, but I have not been there since moving to Illinois in 1964.

Castle Rock

[birder2.livejournal.com]

I think I've stopped at Castle Rock every time I've driven through that area--it still amazes me. Great pictures.

[numbat.livejournal.com]

That's a lovely rock. I'm especially interested to note that the rock pitting you photographed looks exactly like the rock pitting I've often seen in seaside cliffs that have been pounded by waves. I never expected to see such erosion from inland water.

[tigertoy.livejournal.com]

The text of the sign in the first picture says the formation formed in a glacial lake that was for all practical purposes an ocean -- big waves, surf, all that. Fresh water, but I doubt that salinity is very important for eroding sandstone.