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If you consider yourself a casual park explorer who loves history, then you won’t want to skip out on a visit to Aztalan State Park in Jefferson, Wisconsin. Both a state park and an active archeological site, Aztalan is a small park with a clearly marked, easy to hike trail. It’s a place that has a fascinating backstory yet remains shrouded in mystery to this very day. Explore outside your comfort zone here – that’s where the best stories come from.
In this guide we provide a detailed overview of Aztalan’s history, sacred features and the trail that will take you through the best the park has to offer. Let’s go!
We’re big fans of the Wisconsin Park Systems and through our blog we strive to take visitors on an adventure to many of the different and inspiring state parks throughout Wisconsin. Through detailed guides we highlight some of the best the parks have to offer from history, trails and/or wildlife. We also suggest what to bring and how to get the most out of each park you visit. We recently featured Havenwoods State Forest which is a great spot for those near Milwaukee or with small kiddos interested in nature!
Aztalan State Park’s History
When we arrived at Aztalan State Park, we weren’t entirely impressed. Upon quick glance, the park looks like a wide-open field of grass. It’s far removed from the hiking spots we typically frequent but if you know the history of the place before you visit, all the better.
The lands that make up Aztalan were once home to the Mississippians, an ancient Native American culture. During the time of the Mississippians, the area was a thriving riverside settlement complete with a central plaza, stockades around the grounds and ceremonial mounds. After the site was abandoned for unknown reasons, it wasn’t “discovered” until1835 by Timothy Johnson. Shortly after people learned about the site it was ruthlessly looted. Much of what could have helped us understand the culture and way of life at the time of the Mississippians was taken or destroyed. Then, the land was plowed over and farmers planted a corn field on the site.
Since 1919, several archeological digs have taken place here. Some insightful artifacts recovered including tools and animal and human bone fragments. Pottery pieces unearthed on the site has shown that the Mississippians lived on these lands with another Native American group called the Lake Woodland people. In 1922 some of the mounds on the property were purchased by local Jefferson County residents who wanted to protect the land and preserve the heritage of the place. It wasn’t until 1952 that the site was officially made a state park. It’s also a National Landmark and listed in the National Registry of Historic Places.
Sacred Spots
With more effigy mound sites than anywhere else in the world, Wisconsin is considered the center of effigy mound culture (Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources). One of the most important mound sites in Wisconsin is in Aztalan State Park so it’s no surprise that the major attraction here are the two pyramid-shaped, earthen mounds. The most popular being the Great Solar Mound, which you can climb to the top of.
A lot of mystery surrounds these mounds and when the civilization was thriving here there were actually three mounds. Researchers have not been able to definitively say what these mounds were used for by the Mississippian people who built them, but most believe they were used for ceremonies.
The mounds in the park today are not original. They are replicas reconstructed based on detailed records taken in 1850 by Wisconsin’s first scientist, Increase Lapham. Lapham’s records and observations of the site were published in one of his most important books called “The Antiquities of Wisconsin” (published in 1855). The stockades you see on the property are also not original.
Why is it called Aztalan State Park? The mounds at the park reminded European settlers of the Aztec pyramids in Mexico or they thought the mounds were connected to the Aztec culture
The Hiking Trail
Aztalan State Park is small with a total footprint of 172 acres. It’s made up of a field of prairie grass lined with trees and runs along the Crawfish River. It has a well-defined, 1.8-mile loop as its main hiking trail. The trail surface is mostly mowed grass with little shade.
From the second parking lot (located in the park, further from the main entrance), start the hike by walking east towards the river where you will pick up the mowed, grassy trail.
Following the trail will lead you around the perimeter of the site. Along the way you will find informational signs that talk about the way life once was in this ancient city. For example, along the river is the part of the town that saw the most activity in daily life and on the path leading up to one of the mounds is a sign discussing the area’s abandonment.
Next, you will pass a little mound that is said to have been a cemetery. As you continue walking you will walk across what was considered the town plaza. This leads to another, bigger mound is believed to have been controlled by the village chief and not accessible to commoners.
Just north of the park entrance you will see the remnants of nine conical mounds. There used to be many more conical mounds along the property, but these are the only ones that remain. Next, follow the trail along the rows of reconstructed posts that once served as a protective wall around the village.
You will arrive at the largest mound in the park. You can walk up this mound.
Quick overview of the hike:
- 1.8-mile circuit that takes about 1 hour to hike.
- Easy with little to no slope
- Mostly mowed grass with some cedar wood shavings and mud in parts
- A state park pass is required to enter/access Aztalan State Park
Getting to Aztalan State Park
Aztalan State Park is located west of Milwaukee in Jefferson, Wisconsin. It is very easy to access via I-94 W and takes about 50 minutes to reach by car. From Madison you can reach the park in about 40 minutes via I-94 E. If traveling here from Chicago, the most direct route is via I-90 W and takes approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes (this route has tolls).
Exact park address: N6200 Cty Hwy Q, Lake Mills, WI 53551
Before visiting Aztalan State Park
After visiting Aztalan first-hand, here are a few useful things to know / reminders:
- There is very little shade at this park. We highly recommend you bring sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat.
- Ward off the bugs. During the summer months, be prepared for mosquitos. Sunset is a prime time for insect activity and that’s when we visited this state park. Mosquitos become more active then and nothing brings down an experience like being eaten alive by bugs. For outdoor bug protection while out on the trail, we like NATPAT products – especially for our daughter. Save 10% off NATPAT products today by using our special referral link to order online!
- A canoe launch is by the parking area. If you bring your own canoe, you can explore the Crawfish River that runs along the park.
- Dogs are not allowed on the portion of the trail from the south parking lot down to the canoe launch. You will see signs printed with “No Pet Area.”
- This is a very special place with enormous cultural significance. Please practice “garbage-in, garbage out” especially as you will not find any trashcans on site.
- Remember to leave rocks, vegetation and other artifacts alone. Do not take these with you.
- To help you better visualize and understand Mississippian culture, check out the Milwaukee Nature & Culture Museum of Wisconsin’s Aztalan Collection or the Aztalan Museum in Lake Mills, Wisconsin!
- A Wisconsin state park and forest pass is required for admission. You can purchase a 12-month pass or day pass online. If you plan to pay in person at the property, you can pay by cash on site. There are little brown boxes where you can drop your fee. Or you can scan a QR code visible on the pay boxes.
Do we recommend a visit to Aztalan State Park?
We can highly recommend a visit to Aztalan. It lost us slightly in the middle of the field section but overall, it’s interesting stuff. If not directly for its landscapes, then definitely to wonder at the lifestyles and habits of the ancient peoples who once lived here.
We hope you get to hike and explore Aztalan State Park one day, the crown jewel of archaeological sites in all of Wisconsin. By the time you visit there may have been even more exciting archaeological discoveries made!
-Alyssa + Justin
Parks and Planes is an informative resource for readers. Due to unforeseen conditions like State Park closures, policies, construction and other natural changes to a park and its trails, Parks and Planes, LLC does not assume liability for the accuracy of posts, trail conditions and directions. Parks and Planes strives to accurately describe and document details as experienced during the date and time of the visit. Please travel safely when hiking here and visiting recommended sites and places mentioned in this blog post. All photos, content and opinions are our own.
