STATE NATURAL AREAS

Sauk County is home to 26 state natural areas. Most are open to the public for hiking and wildlife viewing. Guidelines for visiting.

• Ableman’s Gorge, Rock Springs, Wis. Home to a Baraboo Quartzite mine, the largest open pit mine in the state; contains a classic, geologically and biologically significant gorge.
• Baxter’s Hollow, North Freedom, Wis. Scenic gorge through Baraboo quartzite cut by Otter Creek, a Class II trout stream with unique aquatic insect fauna. White pine dominated forest along the stream. Contains a significant portion of the Big Woods, the largest, intact, contiguous, southern dry-mesic forest in Wisconsin providing critical habitat for many rare bird species.
• Ferry Bluff, Prairie du Sac, Wis. A former peregrine falcon eyrie, the area continues as an important winter roosting site for the bald eagle. Raptor concentration area in spring. Ferry Bluff and the adjacent Cactus Bluff tower more than 300 feet above the convergence of Honey Creek and the Wisconsin River. See rare species such as the Acadian flycatcher, peregrine falcon and black rat snake.
• Honey Creek, Prairie du Sac, Wis. This natural area lies along a portion of Honey Creek, a Class II trout stream, and contains a wide range of topography and soils that support unusual flora and fauna, more than 180 species of birds during the nesting season including 31 warblers. Unusual nesting species include veery, blue-gray gnatcatcher, yellow-throated vireo, blue-winged warbler, Louisiana waterthrush (Seiurus motacilla), and Acadian flycatcher (Empidonax virescens). The Wisconsin Society for Ornithology and The Nature Conservancy own this natural area, originally protected as a bird sanctuary.
• Parfrey’s Glen, Merrimac, Wis. Wisconsin’s first State Natural Area abuts the Inn at Wawanissee Pointestate’s southern border. A spectacular sandstone gorge amid the Baraboo quartzite of the Baraboo Bluffs, with steep, shaded cliffs that create a microclimate more typical of northern Wisconsin. Home to rare plant and bird species such as the state-threatened cerulean warbler and Acadian flycatcher.
• Pewit’s Nest, Baraboo, Wis. Skillet Creek cuts a narrow canyon 40 feet deep through sandstone to form this beautiful gorge with shaded cliffs and a northern dry-mesic forest. At one time a man lived in an unusual dwelling 10 feet above a deep pool of water; it resembled a phoebe’s nest, a bird previously called peewit, so early settlers named the gorge in kind. Later the water turned a mill used to repair manufacture equipment. Read more about the history of this gorge.
• The Nature Conservancy Natural Areas of the Baraboo Hills. Free, open to the public for hiking and wildlife viewing.
• More State Natural Areas In Sauk County
• Spring Green Preserve, Spring Green, Wis. Known as Wisconsin’s desert, this rolling, sand prairie is on an old Wisconsin River terrace. Forest meets bluff and then levels off into plains and sandy dunes. A diverse bird life among the desert-like flora includes large numbers of rare, open-country birds such as the dickcissel, grasshopper and lark sparrow. Home to prickly pear cactus, rare prairie fame-flower and other interesting flora and fauna, including unusual invertebrates not found elsewhere in Wisconsin. Self-guided trail with an informational pamphlet that corresponds to numbered markers along the way. Owned by the Nature Conservancy.

STATE PARKS

• Devil’s Lake State Park, Baraboo, Wis. A historic, geological treasure of 10,000 acres, 500-foot cliffs, 360-acre, spring-fed lake. Spectacular scenery, full-time naturalist with nature programs and hikes. A unit of the Ice Ag National Scientific Reserve and Scenic Trail. Hiking, rock climbing, biking, picnicking, camping, swimming, fishing, boating, kayaking (rentals available) and cross-country skiing. Accessible for people with disabilities. Admission fee. Devil’s Lake State Park Visitors Guide
• Mirror Lake State Park, Lake Delton, Wis. (adjacent to Wisconsin Dells) Sandstone bluffs border a quiet 137-acre creek-fed lake with a wooded shoreline surrounded by 2,200 acres. 20 miles of hiking trails, 9 miles of off-road bike trails, picnicking, swimming, fishing, boating (slow-no-wake only), canoeing and kayaking. Rent kayaks, canoes, paddle boards, fishing boats, pontoons and bikes at the Park’s official outfitter Mirror Lake Rentals. Basic fishing equipment for free use from the Park office. 17 miles of groomed cross-country ski trails. Guided hikes and nature programs. Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Seth Peterson Cottage located in park (tours available). Admission fee. Mirror Lake State Park Visitors Guide
• Natural Bridge State Park and Natural Area, Leland, Wis. The highlight of this 530-acre park, which includes a 60-acre, state natural area, is a large, sandstone arch or bridge, under which is a rock shelter believed inhabited by Paleo Indians 10,000 years ago, making it one of the oldest human-occupied sites in northeastern North America. A two-mile hiking trail from the parking area loops through the site, past the bridge. Admission fee. About 37 minutes west of the Inn.
• Rocky Arbor State Park, Wisconsin Dells, Wis. A 244-acre park abutting the village open year-round for hiking, snowshoeing and picnicking amid pines and sandstone bluffs. One-mile self-guided nature trail. Admission fee.
• Tower Hill State Park, Spring Green, Wis. Restored shot tower and melting house. See how lead shot was made in the 1800s. Hike challenging bluff trails.

SAUK COUNTY PARKS

Nine parks including several boat landings provide various amenities. White Mound Park in the heart of the county, near Plain, Wis., is the largest. For more information about park locations and activities call 608-546-5011.

• Hemlock Park, LaValle, Wis. Fishing, accessible pier, boat landing, picnicking.

• Man Mound Park, Baraboo, Wis. Small park of a historic effigy mound in the shape of a man.

• Mirror Lake Dam, Lake Delton, Wis. Canoe launch, access to Mirror Lake.

• Redstone Park, LaValle, Wis. On Lake Redstone, swimming beach, picnicking, boat launch.

• White Mound Park, Hillpoint, Wis. The county’s largest park, 1,100 acres near the heart of the county. Hiking, cross-country skiing, snowmobile trails, horse trails, fishing, swimming, boating, kayak rentals, camping, shelters, picnicking.

• Yellow Thunder, Baraboo, Wis. Small wayside park with Chief Yellow Thunder’s burial marker and picnic area.

• Aldo Leopold Foundation, Baraboo, Wis. 11 miles northeast of here is the Leopold Shack and Farm, a National Historic Landmark, and The Leopold Center, its Platinum LEED® Certified visitor center. Open April-October, Monday through Saturday. 2.5-mile interpretive trail network through 305 acres of oak savanna, wetlands and a dry prairie remnant overlooking the Wisconsin River, critical habitat for grassland birds and staging for migrating sandhill cranes, is open year-round for hiking during visitor hours and weekdays in the off season. 16,000-acre Leopold-Pine Island Important Bird Area is across the road, which is Rustic Road 49 Levee Road, along the Wisconsin River, and hosts 40 migrating and 108 breeding species. Much of the land is privately owned, but you will find excellent birding along the 11 miles of Levee Road. There is some public land to explore.
• Ice Age National Scenic Trail Also visit the Ice Age Trail Alliance’s Web site. The Ice Age Trail is a system of exceptional hiking trails and a conservation resource for silent-sport and outdoor enthusiasts that traverses some of Wisconsin’s most picturesque landscapes. Trails highlight the state’s unique geologic features to tell the last Ice Age’s story. One of eight National Scenic Trails. Open year-round. Out the Inn’s back door: 13.2 miles of intermediate to difficult trails beginning at Parfrey’s Glen State Natural Area, which abuts the Inn’s property to the south, through Devil’s Lake State Park, concluding at the Roznos Meadow adjacent the Riverland Conservancy’s Merrimac Preserve. Maps for trails near the Inn at Wawanissee Point.
• International Crane Foundation, Baraboo, Wis. See all 15 of the world’s crane species, hike prairie and wetland trails, view the art exhibit and shop the gift store. Guided and self-guided tours. Plan at least two hours for your visit. Open daily April 15-Oct. 31. Admission fee. 10 minutes north of Baraboo.
• Riverland Conservancy-Merrimac Preserve 1,900 acres of forest, prairie, savanna, wetlands and streams with 12.7 miles of trails, including 3.2 miles of Ice Age Trail, connecting to Devil’s Lake State Park, two miles from the Inn. Free, open to the public for hiking and wildlife viewing.
• Van Hise Rock, Rock Springs, Wis. A National Register of Historic Places named for the pre-eminent 19th century geologist Charles Richard Van Hise. This nearly 14-foot high monolith of pink quartzite and phyllitic quartzite in vertical layers marks the remnants of an ancient mountain chain that may have risen 1,600 feet above the plain. Geology students from around the world visit this and several other important geologic markers in the Baraboo area. This stone led Van Hise to a key interpretation of structural Precambrian rocks in Wisconsin.
• Wisconsin 400 State Trail, Reedsburg to Elroy, Wis. Also visit www.400statetrail.org. Hike, bike and snowmobile 22 scenic miles of a former railroad crisscrossing over the Baraboo River, American’s longest main-stream, free-flowing river. See wetlands, sandstone bluffs and rolling farmland. The trail connects to the prestigious Elroy-Sparta trail. Bike rentals available. Trail pass required. The renovated Reedsburg Depot is the trail headquarters and home of the Reedsburg Area Chamber of Commerce, for information call 608-524-2850.
• Wisconsin Big Cat Rescue & Educational Center, Rock Springs, Wis.