Last Updated: 08/25/25  Reading Time: 10 Minutes

Spring, Summer, Winter or Fall, Aztalan State Park's over 170 acres of restored prairie and Oak Savannah is a Lakes Edition recommended daytrip for hiking, fishing, learning about Wisconsin's history, play or picnic with families and friends. This oft underused state park is full of educational displays, hiking trails and recreations of the original stockades that once bordered the human built effigy and ceremonial mounds dating from 900 A.D. - 1300 A.D. Imagine that, all this history in one park right here in Southern Wisconsin. To put this in a human history context, the Norsemen did not arrive in North America (L'Anse aux Meadows in what is now Newfoundland) until the 10th Century. 

Bordering the Crawfish River, is one of Aztalan's most exciting features, the stockade (a 1968 reconstruction) of the 20' + high wooden posts that protected the community. Other unique features are the earthen pyramid mounds or platforms. Three original, flat-topped pyramidal mounds still exist today. The largest mound resides in the southwest corner of the stockade. Another large earthen pyramid is located in the northwest corner. And be sure to visit the often overlooked effigy mounds along County HWY Q which reside outside the ancient town's footprint.

Aztalan State park is a National Historic Landmark (NHL) one of 45 sites in the state, and the only in Jefferson County.  Aztalan contains one of the Badger state's finest restored, archaeological sites and Southern Wisconsin is certainly blessed to be home to it.  A testament to Aztalan's long standing, historic significance in 1966, the park was added to the National Register of Historic Places (NHRP.) It is believed that Aztalan was designed and built by the Native American culture known as the Middle Mississippian Tradition. The ancient, thriving town was part of a large trading route that was centered at Cahokia which is located along the Mississippi River in Western Illinois.  Aztalan's close proximity to Rock Lake likely fueled the mythology and speculation of pyramidal shaped forms on the lake's bottom.

Open all year, Aztalan is an interactive, educational field trip for young and life long learners. It also a great place to picnic there are a few places that have fixed benches in place, but you can bring a blanket or folding chairs and find a great, green tranquil spot in this wonderful park.

And if you go, Please remember to pick up after yourself, and buy your state park sticker online! Those annual Wisconsin State Park stickers available for purchase from the WI DNR support the maintenance of great historic places in our state like Aztalan State Park.

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