Columbia County High Point Trip Report
one area on the South Range (1,480+ ft)
Date: October 6, 2001
Author: Bob Schwab
From the intersection of Interstate 90/94 and Wisconsin 78, proceed south and west on Route 78 for
roughly 6 miles to an intersection with Petra Road going to the left and Owen Park Road on the right.
Turn right (north) onto Owen Park Road and drive up the hill for 1.5 miles. The road will bend to the left,
then sharply right up a hill, then sharply left again as the road flattens out. You will see a large tower to the right
and Owen Park Overlook on your left (south). As you continue, the main road will bend sharply to the right
again, but continue straight (west) on Thresher Road to its end in another 0.5 mile. The tower on my topo
map has been relocated somewhat north of the end of Thresher Road, and there is a complex of barns and a
house immediately to the south. This is the Dean and Wendy Mayer home, and their daughter gave me
permission to cross the horse pastures and paddocks to the woods behind their farm complex.
I circled the barns by going north and then west, and found myself crossing four pens and paddocks, all filled
with young, high-spirited horses. When I reached the edge of the woods, I found dense undergrowth with
lots of briars and nettles. I worked my way south in the undergrowth, and found what was apparently the
ruins of an old collapsed building of some kind which sat on the edge of a partially open area. Just south of
this area, I found the county high point in the woods, near some low rocks.
On my way out of the woods, I found an easier way back to my car. Near the old collapsed building there is
a path of sorts that leads back to the horse paddocks. I found an old gate in the fence which connects to a
runway that goes between the paddocks. I followed the runway back to the complex of barns and then
turned right (south) for about 200 yards. You must pass all the buildings and then circle around the Mayer's
home to get back to your car. In doing so, you will cross the property of the homeowner who lives south of
the Mayers, but I met him and found him to be quite friendly. He had no problem with me crossing his
property in search of the county highpoint, and I discovered that his property might be an alternate route
back to the woods if the Mayers' aren't home to give their permission. I would recommend that future
visitors consider circling clockwise (to the south, then west) and use the runway route. Don't jump into the
horse paddocks if you don't have to!