Overlook Height Table

Compiled by Duke Addicks

May, 2004

In my article entitled "Looking Down On the River" in Big River Magazine (May-June, 2004) I did not include my calculations as to the heights of the overlooks above the pools formed behind the locks and dams on the Mississippi River.

The following calculations of the heights of the listed overlooks above the Mississippi River are based on the following information. The elevation of the actual overlook may be lower than the highest elevation of the bluff.

The elevations of the pools located behind the locks and dams on the Mississippi were supplied to me by the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers. These elevations are also indicated on United States Geological Survey (USGS) Quadrangle Maps.

The elevations of the listed overlooks are based on contour line elevations and unofficial bench mark elevations found on USGS quadrangle topographic maps. The names of the maps used are given in the table below.

The scale of these maps is (1: 24 000). Most of the available maps are based on old vertical datum unconfirmed for the most part by modern survey methods.

The locations of these overlooks are usually not indicated on these maps. The locations have been determined by my familiarity with the area (I have personally visited each overlook) and my guess as to the exact location of the overlooks on the maps.

Because of the above problems, it is therefore difficult to estimate with precision the exact height of the overlooks. Thus, the calculations in the following table are little more than guesswork on my part. Errors of plus or minus ten or fifteen feet should be expected.

I'd be glad to hear from anyone who disagrees with my calculations or has more accurate knowledge of the elevations.

Also, if I have omitted an overlook that is open to the public and which should be included in the table below, please let me know. I'd like to make a complete list of all of the public overlooks located on blufftops above the Mississippi from Clinton, Iowa, to Mendota, Minnesota (the junction of the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers.

I used the most recent printed quadrangle maps in my research. However, quadrangle maps can be found on the Internet at:

http://www.trails.com (topozone.com joined with trails.com )

http://terraserver.homeadvisor.msn.com/

There are other sources as well.

Heights of Public Overlooks above the Mississippi River

from Clinton, Iowa, to the Twin Cities, as estimated by Duke Addicks.
May, 2004

Name of Overlook and Quadrangle Map Used (all elevations are in feet)	Estimated Bluff Elevation	Pool #	Pool Elevation	Height of Overlook above pool
Indian Mounds Park in St. Paul, MN Quad Map Name: St. Paul East, Minn.	914	2	687	227
Schaar's Bluff in Dakota County's Spring Lake Park Reserve, MN Quad Map Name: St. Paul Park, Minn.	838	2	687	151
Barn Bluff in Red Wing, MN Quad Map Name: Red Wing, Minn.-Wis.	980	4	667	313
Sorin's Bluff in Memorial Park in Red Wing, MN Quad Map Name: Red Wing, Minn.-Wis.	1040	4	667	373
Point-No-Point Overlook on Garrard Bluff in picnic area in Minnesota's Frontenac State Park, above Old Frontenac, MN Quad Map Name: Maiden Rock, Wis.-Minn.	1075	4	667	408
Buena Vista City Park Overlook in Alma, WI Note: overlook is just above Lock and Dam 4 so the calculations are above both Pool 4 behind the dam and 5 below the dam). Quad Map Name: Alma, Wis.-Minn.	1200	4 and 5	667 or 660	533 or 540
Mount Charity Overlook in Minnesota's John A. Latsch State Park Quad Map Name: Cochrane, Wis.-Minn.	1160	5	660	500
Garvin Heights City Park in Winona Quad Map Name: Winona West, Minn.-Wis.	1180	6	646	534
Brady's Bluff in Wisconsin's Perrot State Park near Trempealeau Quad Map Name: Trempealeau, Wis.-Minn.	1170	6	646	524
***King's Bluff Overlook in Minnesota's Great River Bluffs State Park. Quad Map Name: Pickwick, Minn.-Wis.	1200	7	639	561
*Picnic Grounds Parking Lot Overlook in Minnesota's Great River Bluffs State Park. Quad Map Name: Pickwick, Minn.-Wis.	1270	7	639	631
**Winona County's Apple Blossom Overlook Park on Apple Blossom Scenic Drive north of La Crescent, MN Quad Map Name: La Crescent, MN-WI	1250	7	639	611
****Grandad Bluff Overlook in Hixon Forest City Park in La Crosse, WI Quad Map Name: La Crosse, Wis.-Minn.	1183	8	631	552
Genoa Area Scenic Overlook north of Genoa, WI just off of Highway 35. Quad Map Name: Genoa, Wis.-Minn.-Iowa	1080	8	631	449
Mount Hosmer City Park in Lansing, Iowa Quad Map Name: Lansing, Iowa-Wis.	1000	9	620	380
Eagle Rock Overlook in Effigy Mounds National Monument, Iowa Quad Map Name: Prairie du Chien, Wis.-Iowa	1020	10	611	409
Pike's Peak Overlook in Iowa's Pike's Peak State Park Quad Map Name: Clayton, Iowa-Wis.	1125	10	611	514
Point Lookout Overlook in Wisconsin's Wyalusing State Park Quad Map Names: Clayton, Iowa-Wis. And Quad Map Name: Bagley, Wis. Iowa	1149	10	611	538
Guttenberg, Iowa, Roadside Overlook south of the city on Highway 52 Quad Map Name: Turkey River, Iowa-Wis.	900	11	603	297
Wisconsin's Nelson Dewey State Park Quad Map Name: Turkey River, Iowa-Wis.	927	11	603	324
Eagle Point City Park Overlook in Dubuque, Iowa Note: overlook is just above Lock and Dam 11 so the calculations are above both Pool 11 behind the dam and 12 below the dam). Quad Map Name: Dubuque North, Iowa-Wis.-Ill.	869	11/12	603/592	266/277
Gramercy City Park Overlook in East Dubuque, Illinois Quad Map Name: Dubuque South, Iowa-Ill.	860	12	592	268
Illinois' Bellevue State Park Overlook Note: overlook is just above Lock and Dam 12 so the calculations are above both Pool 12 behind the dam and 13 below the dam). Quad Map Name: Springbrook, Iowa-Ill.	840	12/13	603/592	237/248
Illinois' Mississippi Palisades State Park just north of Savanna, Illinois Quad Map Name: Savanna, Ill.-Iowa	820	13	592	228
Eagle Point City Park in Clinton, Iowa Quad Map Name: Clinton NW, Iowa-Ill.	760	14	572	188

* Probably the highest overlook above the Mississippi River.

**Probably the second highest overlook above the Mississippi River.

***Probably the third highest overlook above the Mississippi River.

****Probably the fourth highest overlook above the Mississippi River