Roche-a-Cri State Park — Attraction in Town of Preston

Sunday, October 2, 2016, my family drove an hour and 15 minutes (arriving at 3:00pm) to hike at Roche-A-Cri State Park. A friendly gentleman at the gate told us, "She just closed down the park." When we explained our situation, he told us the female attendant (I won't say her name here) was in the office and we could ask her if we could still hike. As we came into the park, she drove her utility vehicle straight at us, pointed her finger toward the gate and shouted "OUT!!". We sheepishly drove out and as we did, she hollered to the man, "Lock the gate!".

We had checked the website before we left home and it stated the park was open 6:00am-11:00pm. We fully understand there may have been a valid reason to close the park. However, the treatment we received was atrocious when a simple conversation could have easily cleared up the matter. This makes us very leery of setting out on a road trip only to find the state park closed...

This review is for specifically during COVID. As of 8-16-20, the observation deck and stairs are still closed. BUT there are still many more cool things to explore. I’ve attached a photo of the map- green lines indicate what is still open. There is great day hiking for a weekend trip. The acorn trail almost loops around the entire park. We took a small detour on the road at the Petroglyphs as part of the Acorn trail is blocked off to deter people from going on the mound trail which is closed. The best entrance to the Acorn trail is at the Chickadee rock which is open and you can climb on it. The petroglyphs are open to view as well. If you take the prairie trail all the way to the winter parking lot you can get a nice view of the mound. Also on the prairie trail there is a small side trail to these beautiful evergreens and a bench I recommend exploring. Overall, while the whole park isn’t open, it is still...

I recently visited Roche A Cri state park and it truly captivated by its natural beauty. The park offers stunning landscapes, wildlife, and a variety of scenic trails that make it a perfect destination for nature enthusiasts and families alike.

The highlight of my visit was the pertoglyphs which provided breathtaking views and a serene environment. The lush greenery, picturesque water bodies, and the peaceful ambiance were simply mesmerizing.

However, I did notice that some of the trails could benefit from better maintenance. Certain paths were overgrown and had debris, making it a bit challenging to navigate in some areas with little kids.

Despite this, I recommend this State Park for anyone looking to immerse themselves in nature and enjoy some short outdoor activities. With a bit of trail maintenance, this park could easily become a top-tier destination for...