Cox Hollow Campground
Campground
Campground · 0.3 mi from the trail
Wisconsin · Rock climbing · Dodgeville · Near Spring Green
Illusions Area
Photo: Corey Coyle, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)- 6 routes
- V1 – V8-
- Bouldering
- Apr–Oct
- best months
Illusions Area is a bouldering area in Governor Dodge State Park in Wisconsin, managed by the State Department of Natural Resources. It sits among a cluster of climbing spots, with Loch Ness Boulder and Danny's Imaginary Boulders each about 0.1 mile away and Boat Landing Boulders about 0.2 mile off. The closest hike is Pine Cliff Trail, roughly 0.4 mile away. The area is a bouldering destination, with six routes all rated on the V scale. The easiest is Freaney's Fin at V1, and the hardest is Two tickets to paradise at V8-. Illusions of Paradise and The Bulge are both V6. The routes were first ascended by climbers including John Freaney, Paul Dieterle and Dobbe. Summer is the most comfortable time to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Dodgeville show July highs around 81°F with lows near 60°F, while winter brings highs in the 20s and regular snow days from December through February.
Around this trail
Add any of these when you start a tripSleep close Eat after If it rains Prairie Overlook
Viewpoint
On your way back · 10 mi
Places © OpenStreetMap contributors
More in Spring GreenBest time to go · Apr–Oct
Best time to visit Illusions Area
Best months: April–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
26° / 9°
9 wet · 6 snow
Feb
31° / 12°
8 wet · 5 snow
Mar
43° / 23°
9 wet · 3 snow
Apr
56° / 34°
11 wet · 1 snow
May
68° / 46°
12 wet
Jun
78° / 56°
11 wet
Jul
81° / 60°
10 wet
Aug
80° / 58°
9 wet
Sep
72° / 49°
9 wet
Oct
59° / 38°
9 wet
Nov
44° / 26°
9 wet · 2 snow
Dec
31° / 16°
9 wet · 4 snow
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Dodgeville Wwtp, WI, 3.7 mi away at 1,118 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive
Photo: Corey Coyle, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Loch Ness Boulder
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6 boulder routes in Wisconsin ranging across 4 grades.
Photo: Corey Coyle, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Danny's Imaginary Boulders
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Photo: Corey Coyle, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Cox Hollow
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Photo: Corey Coyle, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Box Canyon Boulders
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Photo: Corey Coyle, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Cannon Boulder
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Photo: Corey Coyle, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Mustache Boulder
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Photo: Corey Coyle, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Seein' Elle Boulder
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Photo: Corey Coyle, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Godfather Boulder
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Godfather Boulder in Wisconsin has 12 bouldering routes across 9 difficulty grades.
Photo: Corey Coyle, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Governor Dodge State Park
~1 min drive
Wisconsin climbing at Governor Dodge State Park with varied routes for multiple abilities.
CLIMB
Boat Landing Boulders
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Boat Landing Boulders is a bouldering area in Wisconsin with 16 routes.
