Lost Canyon Tour Review: A Horse-Drawn Wagon Ride Through a Sandstone Canyon
Visited July 2023
Lost Canyon is one of our favorite things we've done in the Dells, and it's nothing like a waterpark. A team of big draft horses pulls an open wagon through a narrow sandstone canyon, so tight in places that the walls are just inches from the horses. We took the tour on our July 2023 trip, and we loved it.
Quick highlights
- A horse-drawn wagon ride of about a mile through a sandstone canyon in Lake Delton
- Takes about 30 minutes
- Billed as the longest and deepest land canyon in Wisconsin
- Walk-up, no reservations needed
- Roughly $20 to $25 per adult in recent years; kids less, 3 and under free
- Run by the same family since 1967, with tours going back to 1956
What it's like
You board an open wagon at the south shore of Lake Delton, and the driver guides a team of draft horses into the canyon. The trail starts out wide and wooded, then the walls close in, until the horses are squeezing through passages barely wider than the wagon.
The walls are layered sandstone, streaked with moss and ferns, and the light filters down from the trees above. Some of the narrowest spots stay cool and shady even on a hot day.
The drivers talk to the horses the whole way, and it's impressive to watch how calmly they work the tight turns. When another wagon is ahead of you, you can see just how narrow the canyon is.
Who it's for
Just about everyone. It's an easy, relaxing ride, so it works for kids, grandparents and anyone who can't do a big hike. If you want to see Dells sandstone up close without the climbing, this is the way to do it.
Tips
- No reservations needed. It's walk-up. On busy summer days you might wait a bit for the next wagon.
- Bring cash to tip your driver. Cards are accepted for tickets.
- Go in the late afternoon or evening in summer, when it's cooler and the light comes through the trees.
- Hold on to your hat and keep arms inside the wagon in the narrow spots.
- Check the season. It runs roughly spring through fall, with longer hours in summer. Call ahead early or late in the year.
Practical details
- Address: 720 Canyon Rd, Lake Delton, WI 53940
- Phone: (608) 254-8757
- Length: about 30 minutes, about 1 mile
- Season: daily, roughly spring through fall, weather permitting
- Prices: roughly $20 to $25 per adult in recent years; kids less; 3 and under free (check current prices)
- Extras: picnic tables, grills and a sandy beach on site
Our verdict
Lost Canyon is one of the best "hidden" Dells experiences: short, easy, a little old-fashioned, and genuinely beautiful. It pairs well with a boat tour for a day of seeing the rock formations the Dells is famous for.
See our guide to hiking and nature near Wisconsin Dells for more outdoor ideas.
