Natural Bridge: A Window Through Time

Not far from the quiet village of Leland in south-west Sauk County, you’ll find one of Wisconsin’s most remarkable landmarks, a natural sandstone arch carved by wind and water over countless millennia. The opening stretches 25 feet high and 35 feet wide. It’s hard to imagine, but this elegant span was already standing when the glaciers began to retreat, more than 10,000 years ago.

Just beneath the bridge, researchers discovered something extraordinary.

In 1957, Warren Wittry and a team from the Wisconsin Historical Society excavated the rock shelter tucked under the bluff. They uncovered charred wood and remnants of fire pits dated to around 9000 BC—evidence that, from their perspective, points to human presence here not long after the last Ice Age.

Their best understanding is that the shelter may have first been used seasonally, perhaps as a hunting camp, and then later as a more permanent dwelling. These interpretations are based on radiocarbon dating and sediment analysis, but as with many ancient sites, there are still unanswered questions—and perspectives that aren’t always reflected in the archaeological record.

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A Gathering Place for Generations

The natural bridge has drawn people in for generations. It appears in settler reports from 1874, and by the late 1800s, it was already described as a popular destination.

Over the years, it hosted July 4th celebrations, May Day picnics, and harvest dances. Students once carved their names into the stone arch. Those markings are gone now, but the sense of history remains.

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Before You Visit

If you go, be aware that there are no restroom facilities. The old vault toilet was removed and has not yet been replaced. You’ll also notice signs of a recent prescribed burn, which opened up the surrounding forest and cleared out some of the undergrowth.

Still, the bridge itself looks much as it always has, tucked back in the woods, half hidden, like it’s being slowly swallowed by the forest.

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Park Info

Natural Bridge State Park is managed by Devil’s Lake State Park and became a state park and natural area in 1973. A Wisconsin State Park Sticker is required for vehicles. It is day-use only, open year-round from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., and located just ¾ mile east of Leland on County Highway C, in Wisconsin’s Sauk County.

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If you visit, take a quiet moment under the arch. Think about all the people who’ve stood in that same spot, from Ice Age hunters to spring picnickers. That long thread of time, stretching out beneath your feet, is what makes this place so deeply worth protecting and maintaining.

More Info

Natural Bridge History (WDNR) – https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/parks/naturalbridge/history
Natural Bridge State Park (WDNR) – https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/parks/naturalbridge/info