State Natural Area — Baraboo Hills
Parfrey’s Glen State Natural Area
Near Baraboo, Wisconsin • 2.5 miles from Devil’s Lake State Park • State Park Pass required
Fast takeaway: Deep sandstone gorge 2.5 miles east of Devil’s Lake; reaching the small waterfall requires rock scrambling & wading the creek. A state park pass is required to park, and no pets are permitted.
Parfrey’s Glen State Natural Area is a 508-acre sandstone gorge about 2.5 miles east of Devil’s Lake State Park in Sauk County, and Wisconsin’s first designated State Natural Area (1952). Repeated flooding over the past two decades destroyed the historic boardwalk and bridges, making Parfrey’s Glen more challenging to explore fully. The property is administered by Devil’s Lake State Park — a Wisconsin State Park vehicle admission sticker is required to use the parking area. For a similar gorge experience, you may want to visit Pewit’s Nest State Natural Area.
Plan your visit
Location & Directions
From Baraboo, take Hwy 113 south and turn left (east) on County Hwy DL; the parking area is on the left a few miles down. If you reach the Old Schoolhouse Restaurant at a four-way stop, you have passed it — backtrack about half a mile. Do not park along the road; use the designated lots only.
Access & Hours
Hours last verified April 2026. Verify before your visit.
Amenities
Day use only.
Pass & Fee
Although Parfrey’s Glen is a State Natural Area, a Wisconsin State Park vehicle admission sticker is required to use the parking lot. A credit card kiosk is available on-site to purchase a pass if you don’t have one; cash is not accepted at the kiosk.
Pass requirement last verified April 2026. Verify before your visit.
Trail
A designated trail runs partway in; beyond its end, visitors must remain within 20 feet of the creek bed and may not proceed past the base of the waterfall. Creek crossings are required in sections.
Parking
Parking lot provides direct trail access to the glen and the Sauk Point Trail (IAT). Parking fills quickly on summer weekends and holidays. Arriving before 9 a.m. is the most reliable strategy. No overflow parking is available nearby.
Parking enforcement is active during busy periods.
On-the-ground details
Best Time to Visit
- Late spring (May through early June) brings the most visible wildflowers in the gorge.
- Weekdays are significantly less crowded than summer weekends and holidays.
- Winter is worth the trip if you are prepared for creek crossings; ice forms on the rocky walls and in the stream channel.
Good to Know
- Most popular natural area in the state and is often very crowded on weekends.
- Waterproof footwear is practical.
- Pit toilet and a few picnic tables are available near the parking lot.
Rules & Restrictions
- Pets are not allowed anywhere in the natural area.
- Beyond the designated trail, visitors must remain within 20 feet of the creek bed and may not proceed past the base of the waterfall.
- Rock climbing, rappelling, and off-trail exploration are prohibited.
- Collecting of plants, seeds, rocks, fossils, or other natural materials is prohibited.
- Drones and other unmanned aircraft are not permitted without DNR authorization.
Fine amounts not confirmed for this SNA. Confirm current rules and fine schedules with the Wisconsin DNR before your visit.
The wooded trail section near the parking area
The waterfall at the upper reach of the accessible glen
Sandstone walls embedded with quartzite pebbles