
One of the largest natural bridges in Wisconsin, Rockbridge is 20 feet wide and 10
feet high. Archaeological investigations have revealed that the bridge's sandstone
overhang was once used as a shelter by Native Americans. Through the efforts of
local citizens, Rockbridge was made a public park in the early 1920s. The West
Branch of Pine River flows under Rockbridge, joining the Pine River a few hundred
feet to the east. Long ago, however, the West Branch of the Pine River flowed
south in its own river valley on the other side of this sandstone ridge. Like most
rivers, the West Branch of the Pine River and the Pine River shifted back and forth,
gradually scouring away, grain by grain, their sandstone river bottoms. Eventually
these rivers undercut their valleys along the east and west sides of the sandstone
ridge and created the cliff overhang and natural bridge opening here. Spilling
under Rockbridge, the West Branch of the Pine River merges with the Pine River to
flow south towards the Wisconsin River.
Erected 1998 Pier County Park, Hwy. 80, 8 miles N. of Richland Center Village of Rockbridge, Richland County Wisconsin
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