Hiking

The park has more than 6 miles of hiking trails. The stairway to the top of the 300-foot Roche-A-Cri mound is one of the highlights of the park and offers spectacular views.The stairway is open from 6 a.m. to sunset.

Visitors can stop at the park office to check out a handheld GPS unit that is preloaded with geocaches at both Buckhorn and Roche-A-Cri state parks. There are also packets to check out with local caches.

Mound trail and stairway (0.3 miles)

The Mound trail is a short trail connecting the Acorn trail to drinking water, the kiosk area and the stairway to the top of the mound. The stairway to the top of the 300-foot Roche-A-Cri mound is one of the highlights of the park and offers spectacular views. The stairway is open from 6 a.m. to sunset. Food, drinks (except water) and pets are not allowed on the stairway.

Users must stay on the trails, stairway and on top of the mound to help to protect the sensitive natural vegetation and wildlife habitats of the Roche-A-Cri natural area.

Spring Peeper trail (0.25 miles)

This quarter-mile trail is named for the small frogs that abound in this area of the park. The trail goes through mature oak and maple woods adjacent to Carter Creek. In season, see dragonflies, swallowtail butterflies, nesting birds, marsh marigolds, turk's-cap lilies and cardinal flowers. The trail may be closed during high water.

Acorn trail (3.5 miles)

This 3.5-mile trail makes a meandering circle around the entire Roche-A-Cri Mound. This wide mowed trail is used for cross-country skiing in winter.

Turkey Vulture trail (0.9 miles)

This 0.9-mile loop branches off the Acorn trail. The Turkey Vulture trail leads through pine, oak and maple woods and out onto a restored prairie. This is the best place to watch the vultures soaring between Roche-A-Cri and the Friendship Mound a half-mile to the south. The birds are most active between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Chickadee Rock trail (0.3 miles)

This accessible trail with a crushed gravel base follows a game path through oaks and jack pines. There are six interpretive signs along the trail. Blueberry and huckleberry bushes and various ferns grow along the trail. Chickadee Rock is a rock formation that rises about 25 to 30 feet above the trail. A bench near the base of the rock is a nice place to rest and listen to the sounds of the surrounding woods.

Eagle Ridge trail (0.35 miles)

The Eagle Ridge trail is a short trail connecting the Acorn Trail to the Historical Marker. You can park in the small lot along the road by the roadside historical marker and do a short or long hike from here.