Trempealeau County Highpoint Trip Report

one unnamed area (1,360+ ft)

Date: April 17, 2005
Author: Mark Ness

Trempealeau County's highpoint is located in Section 8 of Chimney Rock Township.

Trempealeau County is like Houston County, Minnesota inasmuch as it is surrounded by driveways, but none of them come close to the top. I chose one that ends in the middle of Section 8, about a half-mile from the top. One might try the other approaches, also.

From the intersection of U.S. Highway 10 and County Road BB (about 4 miles east of Mondovi), I drove south on BB for 6.87 miles, and turned left onto C.R. Z. I drove on C.R. Z for 2.2 miles, and turned right onto C.R. V. I drove on C.R. V for 0.65 mile and turned left onto Severson. I took the branch to the left, and drove up the driveway to the middle of Section 8. There were two men there. They told me that they were in the process of buying the land, and mentioned that the previous owner seemed to have abandoned the place, leaving her effects in the house.

They insisted that Chimney Rock was the hill I wanted to climb, claiming that it was the county high point, and the sixth highest in the state. In fact, it is more than 100 feet lower than the unnamed HP that I was seeking. They agreed to let me go, though.

I started hiking uphill to the northwest of the farmplace, with the idea that I was going to Chimney Rock. I made it to the first rock outcropping, which was 1300+ feet, and then circled around to the right, staying on the ridge line, though, at first, I was below it, and kept having to go up and down gullies. Once on the summit ridge, though, it was marked by a woods road, a fairly easy hike with little bushwhacking.

I arrived at the summit in about 46 minutes. It was a typical woods hill, with some fallen trees and brush. I examined all the area near the top, but it was fairly well defined.

From the top, I mostly walked west, then northwest back to my car. I took a woods road for a while, but it soon started going the wrong way, 37 minutes to get down, and 85 minutes round trip.