The Hill Has Eyes
Haunted attraction · Franklin · Wisconsin
Billed as the Midwest's top outdoor haunt, this Franklin attraction south of Milwaukee sends guests through about an hour of terror across four fully-outdoor walk-throughs - Dead End, Failed Escape, Hunger Hollow and CARNIvore - one admission for all four, with a Party Pit between the scares.
Don’t miss
Plan your visit
Color nearby peaks: October 17–October 21
Color builds from October 4 · mostly bare by November 9
Method: daily ERA5 temperatures drive a photoperiod + chilling phenology model, sampled at The Hill Has Eyes’s own coordinates and elevation (246 m) rather than a regional average. Estimates, not promises — check locally before you plan a trip around it.
The Hill Has Eyes on the map
More things to do in Wisconsin
Peninsula State Park
State parkPeak October 15
Door County's flagship park, established 1909, covers 3,776 acres and eight miles of Green Bay shoreline near Fish Creek and Ephraim. Climb Eagle Tower or bike the shoreline trails as sugar maples turn against the water. It's the peninsula's most photographed fall scenery, peaking late Sept into early Oct.
Don’t miss: Eagle Tower observation deck · 8 miles of Green Bay shoreline · peak color late Sept to early Oct
Devil's Lake State Park
State parkPeak October 15
Wisconsin's most-visited state park rings a 360-acre lake with 500-foot quartzite bluffs near Baraboo, its 9,217 acres crossed by 29 miles of trail past formations like Balanced Rock and Devil's Doorway. Oak and maple color the bluff tops in early October above climbers and lake-trail hikers alike.
Don’t miss: 500-ft quartzite bluffs · Balanced Rock and Devil's Doorway · 29 miles of trails
Holy Hill Basilica
ViewpointPeak October 16
A minor basilica built by Discalced Carmelite friars crowns a Kettle Moraine hilltop in Hubertus, where a 178-step observation tower climbs above the church for 360-degree views over turning maple and oak, with Milwaukee's skyline visible some 30 miles off on a clear fall day.
Don’t miss: 178-step observation tower · 360-degree Kettle Moraine views · working Carmelite monastery
Apostle Islands National Lakeshore
National parkPeak October 11
Established in 1970, this Lake Superior park protects 21 islands and 12 miles of mainland shoreline near Bayfield, home to the National Park System's largest collection of lighthouses. Fall boat and kayak tours thread sea caves and sandstone cliffs backed by turning birch and maple, usually peaking late September.
Don’t miss: 21 Lake Superior islands · largest NPS lighthouse collection · sea cave boat and kayak tours
Plan from a city
Frequently asked
- When does The Hill Has Eyes peak in 2026?
- Peak color is predicted for October 17–October 21 (best estimate October 19). Color starts around October 4 and is mostly bare by November 9.
- What is The Hill Has Eyes best for?
- Milwaukee thrill-seekers who want an outdoor haunt.
- How do I get to The Hill Has Eyes?
- The Hill Has Eyes is in Franklin. The closest city is Milwaukee, about 10 mi away (it's right in town). It's part of Wisconsin's fall lineup.
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