Hidden Dells

Dells Picks

Wisconsin Dells attractions and tours

Boat tours, rides, mini golf, shows and the gloriously weird stuff the Dells is famous for. Filter for rainy days, little kids or teens, and see what's open when you're here.

Popular lists:Mini golf and go-kartsHorseback ridingEscape roomsZip lines and ropes coursesAnimal parks and farms

Hand-picked, not paid. Tap to save. Hours change by season, so check before you go. How the areas fit together

Showing 7 of 58

Animals and farms (7)

A brolga crane at the International Crane Foundation

Photo: Rod from Livonia, Michigan, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Researched

International Crane Foundation

Mirror Lake and Ho-Chunk · Seasonal, May to October

Conservation center south of town in Baraboo, the only place to see all 15 of the world's crane species, with exhibits and prairie trails.

Ages:
All ages
Allow:
Guided tours up to 1 hour
Best for:
Nature lovers and birders
Know before you go:
Guided tours run at set times daily in summer and on weekends in spring and fall.

From public reviews: Reviewers often mention the easy paved walking loop and knowledgeable guides.

Hours
  • Mon to Sun: 9 am to 5 pm

Hours change by season. Check before you go.

  • Outdoor
  • Kid-friendly
  • Adults
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Seasonal
Researched

Brilliant Butterflies

Hwy 13 and north Parkway · Seasonal, Memorial Day to Labor Day

Small family-run butterfly house on County H where visitors feed butterflies with sugar sticks and hold caterpillars.

Ages:
All ages
Allow:
About 45 minutes to 1 hour
Best for:
A gentle, short stop for young kids
Know before you go:
Tickets are sold inside the greenhouse; plan on about an hour.

From public reviews: Reviewers often mention knowledgeable owners who let kids hold caterpillars.

  • Kid-friendly
  • Toddler-friendly
  • Adults
  • Seasonal
Researched

Casacampo Alpaca Ranch

North of downtown · Year-round

Countryside ranch north of town where visitors feed and walk among alpacas and llamas, with tastings for adults and on-site lodging.

Ages:
All ages
Best for:
A calm animal outing that also works for couples
Know before you go:
Hours are not posted on the listings we checked; contact the ranch before driving out.

From public reviews: Reviewers often mention tame, well-cared-for animals and a relaxed pace.

  • Outdoor
  • Kid-friendly
  • Adults
  • Year-round
Researched

Country Bumpkin Farm Market and Lil' Bumpkin Play Village

Further out · Seasonal, April to October

Family farm market west of town with a petting farm, large kids' play village, farm train ride, fall corn maze and pumpkins.

Ages:
Toddlers to about 10
Allow:
About 2 hours
Best for:
Toddlers and young kids, especially in fall
Know before you go:
The play village suits kids about 10 and under; the family ticket includes animal feed and the hay ride.

From public reviews: Reviewers often mention a large, creative play area that keeps young kids busy for hours.

Hours
  • Mon to Sun: 9 am to 6 pm

Hours change by season. Check before you go.

  • Outdoor
  • Kid-friendly
  • Toddler-friendly
  • Seasonal
Researched

Timbavati Wildlife Park

Hwy 13 and north Parkway · Year-round; guided tours by appointment outside summer

25-acre wildlife park on the Parkway with about 75 species, giraffe and camel feeding, a petting area, camel rides and a safari train.

Ages:
All ages
Allow:
About 3 to 4 hours
Best for:
Hands-on animal time for young families
Know before you go:
Plan 3 to 4 hours; animal feed is sold separately, and the safari train departs about every half hour.

From public reviews: Reviewers often mention being able to feed and pet kangaroos, giraffes and other animals up close.

Hours
  • Mon to Thu: 9 am to 5 pm
  • Fri: 9 am to 6 pm
  • Sat to Sun: 9 am to 5 pm

Hours change by season. Check before you go.

  • Outdoor
  • Kid-friendly
  • Toddler-friendly
  • Year-round
Researched

Wisconsin Big Cat Rescue

Further out · $ · Seasonal, April to early December

Nonprofit sanctuary in Rock Springs for lions, tigers and leopards rescued from neglect or seizure, seen on guided tours.

Ages:
School age and up
Allow:
About 1 hour
Best for:
Older kids and adults interested in big cats
Know before you go:
The cats are most active around morning feeding; there is no touching.
Hours
  • Mon to Fri: Closed
  • Sat to Sun: 10 am to 4 pm

Hours change by season. Check before you go.

  • Outdoor
  • Kid-friendly
  • Adults
  • Seasonal
Researched

Wisconsin Deer Park

Hwy 13 and north Parkway · Seasonal, mid-April to late October

Long-running 40-acre walk-through park where more than 100 deer roam freely and eat from your hand, with elk and bison in nearby enclosures.

Ages:
All ages
Best for:
An easy, low-cost animal stop with small kids
Know before you go:
Bring small bills for the corn dispensers inside.

From public reviews: Reviewers often mention the deer prefer the corn sold inside over the crackers.

Hours
  • Mon to Sun: 10 am to 4 pm

Hours change by season. Check before you go.

  • Outdoor
  • Kid-friendly
  • Toddler-friendly
  • Seasonal

List last updated Oct 2026.

Wisconsin Dells attractions, in short

The Dells was a tourist town long before the waterparks. Boat tours have been running up the Wisconsin River to Witches Gulch and Stand Rock since the 1800s, the Ducks have splashed into the river since 1946, and the Parkway filled up with go-karts, mini golf and gloriously odd roadside attractions after that. All of it is still here, along with newer things like Aquavia Lumina, escape rooms and zip lines.

Downtown Broadway has the Upper Dells boat docks, Ripley's and plenty to walk between. The Parkway (Hwy 12) running south toward Lake Delton is where you'll find the Ducks, Mt. Olympus, go-karts and most of the mini golf, and the zip lines, animal parks and horseback riding are spread out in the countryside a few minutes away.

A lot of the outdoor attractions run from spring to fall and close for the winter, while the indoor ones stay open all year. Each card shows its season and whether it's open today, and you can set your month at the top of the page to hide what's closed while you're here.

Questions

What are the best attractions in Wisconsin Dells?

If you only do one, make it the Upper Dells boat tour with its walk through Witches Gulch. Our other favorites are Lost Canyon, Aquavia Lumina at night, Pirate's Cove mini golf and Wizard Quest for kids. Everything we've done ourselves is marked We've been on the cards.

What is there to do in Wisconsin Dells besides waterparks?

Plenty: boat and Duck tours on the river, Lost Canyon, hiking at Devil's Lake and Mirror Lake, mini golf, go-karts, zip lines, animal parks, magic and dinner shows, and museums. Our guide to things to do besides waterparks has the full rundown.

Which Wisconsin Dells attractions are open in winter?

The indoor ones stay open all year, including Wizard Quest, Tom Foolerys, Ripley's, Tommy Bartlett Exploratory, the escape rooms, Asgard Axe and the magic and dinner shows. Aquavia Lumina runs every night, Bigfoot has snow tubing, and two zip lines run all year. Most boat tours, go-karts and mini golf close for the winter, so set your month at the top of the page to see what's open.

What can you do in Wisconsin Dells on a rainy day?

Tap the Rainy day filter for everything indoors: Wizard Quest, Tom Foolerys, escape rooms, axe throwing, arcades, Ripley's, Tommy Bartlett Exploratory and the shows. Our rainy day guide has more ideas, including the indoor waterparks.

Do you need tickets in advance for Dells attractions?

For most of them, no. The regular boat tours, the Ducks, mini golf and go-karts are walk-up. Book ahead for Aquavia Lumina time slots, the Ghost Boat, the sunset dinner cruise, escape rooms, zip lines and dinner shows, especially on summer weekends.

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