Things to Do in Wisconsin Dells Besides Waterparks

Two horses pulling a wagon into the narrow sandstone walls of Lost Canyon in Lake Delton

The waterparks get the billboards, but they aren't why the Dells exists. The Wisconsin River cut a maze of sandstone cliffs, canyons and gorges here long before anyone built a slide, and most of the best days we've had up here never involved a swimsuit.

This is the list I give friends who'd rather skip the waterparks, or who need a day off from them halfway through the trip. Places we've been link to our full reviews. The rest come from research, and I say so. Hours and seasons change, so check with each place before you go.

Our top five that aren't waterparks

The Upper Dells boat tour. Two hours on the river above the dam, with landings at Witches Gulch and Stand Rock. If you only do one thing on this list, make it this one.
Lost Canyon. A horse-drawn wagon ride of about a mile through a narrow sandstone canyon in Lake Delton. It takes about 30 minutes, and it's one of our family's favorites.
A hike at Devil's Lake. Quartzite bluffs about 500 feet above a clear lake, 30 to 40 minutes south of our homes. The out-and-back to Devil's Doorway on the East Bluff is about 3.1 miles.
Aquavia Lumina. A one-mile night walk through a canyon at the Wilderness, lit with projections and music. Open year-round.
Wizard Quest. A multi-floor fantasy maze downtown where your team solves riddles and finds hidden doors. Plan on about 2 hours.

On the river

The boardwalk through the narrow walls of Witches Gulch — Witches Gulch, a stop on the Upper Dells tour and only reachable by boat.

The river is the original Dells attraction, and you see the most of it from the water.

Upper Dells boat tour (we've been). The one with shore landings. Witches Gulch is a mossy slot canyon with a boardwalk, and it's on private land, so the tour is the only way in. Stand Rock is where H.H. Bennett took his famous photo of his son leaping the gap in 1886. We took the evening tour and rode back at sunset.
Lower Dells tour. Shorter, with no landings, which makes it easier with little kids.
The Ducks. The Original Wisconsin Ducks have been running restored WWII amphibious vehicles since 1946, splashing into the river and Lake Delton and climbing wooded trails. Dells Army Ducks run a similar tour past Lower Dells formations like Grotto Island and Sugar Bowl, though most of that ride is on land. Both are seasonal, roughly spring through early November.
Paddle Mirror Lake. Calm, no-wake water in a sandstone gorge, with kayak, paddleboard and pontoon rentals inside the state park in summer.

More: Wisconsin Dells boat tours: Upper vs. Lower Dells

Canyons, bluffs and state parks

Lost Canyon (we've been). You sit on a wagon while the horses do the work, and the guide tells stories along the way. It runs about March through November, weather permitting.
Devil's Lake State Park (we've been). Wisconsin's largest state park and the best views in the south of the state. We did the East Bluff to Devil's Doorway with our dog, about 5 miles with a loop back, and it took most of the day with all the stops. You'll need a Wisconsin state park vehicle pass.
Mirror Lake State Park. About 10 minutes from downtown, with connecting trails, a small beach and the paddle rentals above. Many trails link up, so a short walk can turn into a long one.
Rocky Arbor State Park. Five minutes from downtown, with a one-mile loop between sandstone bluffs and an old river channel. A good short walk.
Parfrey's Glen and Pewit's Nest. Two small gorges near Baraboo. Parfrey's Glen was Wisconsin's first State Natural Area and ends at a small waterfall; Pewit's Nest is a short walk from a roadside lot to a creek cascading through a narrow gorge. Neither has much in the way of facilities.

More: Hiking near Wisconsin Dells

After dark

A glowing stag along the Aquavia Lumina trail — The glowing stag on the Aquavia Lumina trail.

Aquavia Lumina (we've been). The best thing to do in the Dells after dark, and it works in any season. Book ahead and dress warmer than you think.
A sunset boat ride. The Upper Dells evening tours come back down the river as the sun sets on the cliffs.
Rick Wilcox Magic Theater. A family stage magic show with big illusions on the Parkway. It doesn't run every night, so check the schedule.
The Mountain Coaster. An alpine-style coaster in Lake Delton where you control your own speed, with evening sessions after dark on Fridays and Saturdays.
Ho-Chunk Gaming. The area's casino, south of Lake Delton. The gaming floor is 21 and over.

For grown-up nights out, see things to do in Wisconsin Dells for adults and couples.

Quests, games and rainy-day fun

A steampunk airship inside Wizard Quest — Inside Wizard Quest on Broadway.

Wizard Quest (we've been). Teams use a tablet to work through quests across a 30,000-square-foot labyrinth. Each team needs someone 16 or older, and there are a lot of stairs.
Asgard Axe & Tap (we've been). Axe throwing downtown with a big tap list and a retro arcade in the basement. Throwers need to be 10 or older.
Wild Fun Zone (we've been). An old-school arcade on Broadway with laser tag and blacklight mini golf.
Tom Foolery's (we've been). An indoor amusement park inside Kalahari with go-karts, a Ferris wheel, a ropes course and bowling. It works as a half day on its own, no waterpark required.
Escape rooms. Dells Escape Rooms is downtown, Elusive Escape Rooms is on the Parkway and Booby Trap is near Kalahari. Book ahead on weekends.
Tommy Bartlett Exploratory. A hands-on science center on the Parkway with more than 175 exhibits, including a core module from the Russian space station MIR.

More: Indoor things to do in Wisconsin Dells

Mini golf, go-karts and rides

Mini golf is the other thing the Dells has in bulk. We played Pirate's Cove, five hillside courses with 91 holes, and it's old-school Dells at its best. Timber Falls is the shady pick by the river, and the go-kart tracks run from spring into fall. Mt. Olympus has go-karts and wooden coasters too, though its ticket bundles in the waterpark.

More: Mini golf and go-karts in Wisconsin Dells

Animals

From research, not first-hand yet:

Timbavati Wildlife Park on the Parkway has about 75 species, giraffe and camel feeding and a safari train. Plan 3 to 4 hours.
Wisconsin Deer Park is a 40-acre walk-through park where deer eat from your hand. It's open mid-April to late October; bring small bills for the corn.
The International Crane Foundation near Baraboo is the only place to see all 15 of the world's crane species. It's open May to October.
Wisconsin Big Cat Rescue in Rock Springs is a nonprofit sanctuary for rescued lions, tigers and leopards, seen on guided tours.

Old-school Dells and Baraboo

The Riverside & Great Northern Railway. A volunteer-run, scaled-down steam train on a two-mile loop through the woods north of downtown. Tickets are $16 for ages 3 and up.
Circus World in Baraboo. A museum on the original Ringling Bros. winter quarters, with Big Top shows in summer and a huge collection of circus wagons.
Paul Bunyan's Cook Shanty (we've been). The all-you-can-eat lumberjack breakfast, served family style, with the famous donuts. Open about late February to November.
Broadway and the River Walk. Downtown is fudge shops, arcades, souvenir stores and the boat docks. Park once, walk Broadway, then follow the River Walk along the water. It's free.

Food and drink

Eating well is a perfectly good reason to come to the Dells. A few places we keep going back to downtown: MACS for skillet mac and cheese, MarAzul for Mexican seafood, Swagat for Indian food and Stuff's for breakfast.

For a Wisconsin classic, go to a supper club. Ishnala, inside Mirror Lake State Park, has a lakeview dining room with pines growing through the roof and is open spring through October. Or plan around a Friday fish fry. Fawn Creek Winery, just north of town, has a big tasting area in the woods and a tasting room downtown.

More: Best restaurants in Wisconsin Dells and Wisconsin Dells supper clubs

A waterpark-free weekend

For a trip between May and October, when the tours are running:

Day 1: Arrive, walk Broadway and the River Walk, then take the evening Upper Dells boat tour and ride back at sunset. Late dinner downtown.
Day 2: Hike Devil's Lake in the morning while it's cool. Lost Canyon in the afternoon, then Aquavia Lumina after dark.
Day 3: Breakfast at Paul Bunyan's, then Wizard Quest or a paddle on Mirror Lake before you head home.

In winter, the boat tours, the Ducks and Lost Canyon are closed. Swap in Wizard Quest, an escape room, Tommy Bartlett Exploratory and Aquavia Lumina, plus skiing or tubing at Christmas Mountain or Cascade Mountain. See things to do in Wisconsin Dells in winter.

Where to stay if you're skipping the waterparks

If nobody in your group cares about the waterparks, there's not much reason to pay resort prices. A house in the woods puts you close to the canyons and state parks and gives everyone room to spread out. We own two homes north of downtown, so you can guess where I land, but our guide to where to stay covers the other options too.

FAQ

What is there to do in Wisconsin Dells besides waterparks?

Boat tours on the Upper and Lower Dells, Lost Canyon, hiking at Devil's Lake and Mirror Lake, Aquavia Lumina at night, Wizard Quest, axe throwing, escape rooms, mini golf, animal parks, the steam train, Circus World in Baraboo, and the supper clubs and restaurants.

Is Wisconsin Dells worth it if you don't like waterparks?

Yes. The sandstone cliffs and canyons are the reason the Dells became a destination in the first place, and the boat tours, Lost Canyon and Devil's Lake are as good as anything in the Midwest. Go between May and October to have everything open.

What can adults do in Wisconsin Dells without kids?

Wineries and distilleries, supper clubs, Aquavia Lumina, axe throwing, the casino, golf and the spas. See our guide to things to do in Wisconsin Dells for adults and couples.

What is there to do in Wisconsin Dells in winter besides waterparks?

Aquavia Lumina, Wizard Quest, escape rooms, Tommy Bartlett Exploratory, the Tree of Light downtown from late November, and skiing and tubing at Christmas Mountain and Cascade Mountain. The boat tours and Lost Canyon are closed in winter.