The Kickapoo River Valley
The Kickapoo River Watershed covers four counties in Wisconsin: Monroe, Vernon, Richland and Crawford. The Kickapoo River flows through many towns from Wilton to Wauzeka on its way to the Wisconsin River. Its tributaries cover over 500 miles. This winding river lives up to its name, which is an Algonquin term meaning "That which goes here, then there." In this 65-mile long valley, the Kickapoo travels 125 miles!
[map of the Glaciers and Driftless Area]
Glaciers, which left deposits of soil and rock called "drift" in much of Wisconsin, did not come to the area around the Kickapoo River. Sandstone hills, covered with hard dolomite that were formed 500 million years ago by early Cambrian seas, are still visible today in this beautiful region known as the Driftless Area. Because it was never covered by ice, life here continued more or less uninterrupted. The Driftless Area has 34 species of plants found only here.
[map of the Kickapoo River Valley]
Marker can be reached from State Highway 33 0.8 miles north of County Road F, on the right when traveling north.
Courtesy hmdb.org
