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    Pewit's Nest State Natural Area

    4.1 (19 reviews)

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    Nick J.

    I have been hiking the Nest for several years. It's gorgeous. It deserves 5 Stars, more than most trails. You hike along the crest of a very long very steep bluff-lined ravine, where a stream flows through stair-like gorges and falls. Unfortunately, some years ago, some folks were cliff jumping here, and things did not end well. So they put up a lot of signage to limit people from hiking too far back or too close to the edge. It definitely took a star away from my review, but it's definitely not the park or nature's fault, just human stupidity. To this day, it is still one of my favorite stops when venturing out to hike. The scenery reminds me a bit of Parfrey's Glenn, nearby, which is more of an ambitious/adventurous hike. So if you have experienced one and liked it, I recommend the other.

    From the trail
    Sydney T.

    This hiking location was so fun! Although it's a short walk to get the this swimming hole it was absolutely beautiful once we were in! The water wasn't to cold and the rock area was so beautiful! Can't wait to go back and explore more trails and adventure further!

    Yikes!  That's a long ways down
    Mark R.

    Pewit's Nest is a gorgoues gorge state natural area (no pun intended). The hike back is pretty easy and the gorge is absolutely stunning. If you really want to experience it, wear a swimsuit and watersocks....it's best viewed from inside by hiking, climbing, swimming in the creek. Along the top, there are numerous trails. Be warned - it can be VERY dangerous! There are no railings and the rocks/soil can be slippery. If you screw around, there is a really good chance you will fall over the cliffs, down anywhere from 20 to 50+ feet, break numerous bones, if you don't outright die, and it will take ages to rescue you! So, wear your hiking shoes, bring a camera, bring some friends, and please, the soils here are very erodible, tread gently so we may all enjoy it! Hint: do NOT bring dogs. If they get off leash, they may very easily run right off the edge of a cliff. Much of the cliff edge is obscured from above - you can't see it from the trail, so if you crash through the brush, you'll suddenly realize you've run out of land, are standing in mid-air and you can't fly. OUCH! Hint: Hint: Driving directions (no street address) Access: From the intersection of U.S. Highway 12 and County W in southwest Baraboo, go west and south on W 1.5 miles to a small parking area south of the road.

    Eric E.

    Pewit's might be the quickest hike for a good reward. The Pewit's gorge is roughly a half mile from the parking lot but the trail east and down by the Skillet Creek adds to the visit. The funny thing about Pewit's is, you'd probably never guess something like this was back here. Surrounded by corn fields north and south of the gorge, the area is pretty condensed. Total trail time might be a 2-3 miles (less any trail pursued west of the gorge by the creek). The gorge itself is a thing of beauty..but it's just..small. The large rock formation that you see once you approach the creek isn't to be taken lightly. Bad footing or stupidity will send you over a cliff, so respect the area (and signage). I'm glad I ventured back but this park left me yearning for more.

    Shayn L.

    We came here because many locals have been telling us how beautiful this place truly is. They were telling the truth. And it is free to the public..... Pictures don't do this place justice! There are trails to hike on that vary in difficulty levels. I will say you must be in good health and physical condition to come here. Trails have several stumps exposed and tree roots. There are cliffs and rock edges were people can fall and get hurt. I would reccomend you bring water shoes if you plan on swimming or walking down in the water. I highly reccomend any young children have life vests on. There was several deep spots. Beautiful place.... we are glad we came and both said we will be planning another trip back soon. Make sure to pack water on a hot day!

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    1 year ago

    Scenery was great. The group that I was with was also amazing. I go back in a heartbeat.

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    8 years ago

    Such a gorgeous place to explore and play. Hike, climb, multi terrain and water streams what could be better!

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    Mirror Lake State Park

    Mirror Lake State Park

    4.1
    (40 reviews)
    8.1 mi

    We rented kayaks on Mira Lake. It was one of the most beautiful kayaking trips we've taken. We did…read moreit an early fall, and it was absolutely perfect. The scenery is beautiful. The water was calm. And there weren't a lot of other people kayaking at the time. Highly recommend if you're in the Dells area.

    Wonderful State Park! Memorable experience! Would certainly plan to return!…read more Our big annual camping trip with the family recently took us to Mirror Lake, a spot that was new to all of us. It's an easy distance from where we live in Milwaukee, as it's in close proximity to the Wisconsin Dells. That said, even though we were deep in the woods camping, there was plenty of civilization close by should we have needed to restock on anything. Since we had quite a big group, we booked a double-site and boy did we luck out. I think we had the largest double that was available. It fit two large RV/campers and five tents, leaving ample room for tons of chairs around the fire pit and the big picnic tables provided. Oh and they are *electric campsites* which can be hard to find! No water hook up though. Not too far down from our site was the big shower houses/bathrooms. And let me just say, these are NICE! Like very nice. And very clean. Probably the best campsite bathrooms I've ever seen. I feel as though the building was very new / freshly redone. Other pros: plenty of lake activities (we rented both kayaks and pontoon boats), great walking paths (freshly laid wood chips and clear signage), lakeside beaches, and various playgrounds for the kiddos. Oh and fun planned experiences by the park - it was "Smokey Bear's birthday" when we were there and they had a firetruck on-site, water games, bday treats, prizes, and a meet and greet with the bear himself. A hit with our kids. Even if you're not camping, this state park would be wonderful for a day trip!

    Photos
    Mirror Lake State Park
    Mirror Lake State Park
    Another view of Echo Rock.

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    Another view of Echo Rock.
    Governor Dodge State Park

    Governor Dodge State Park

    4.2
    (56 reviews)
    33.6 mi

    Every year my family goes on a big camping trip, and this year we visited Governor Dodge! A first…read morefor us. Looking back, I'd say overall it was A-OK. We booked a double site as we had two RVs and multiple tents. It sure was plenty spacious! However, we all had noted it would have been great to see photos of the site when booking so we could know more that to expect. It was 100% full sun, and truly not chance for shade. Most other sites at this park had lots of tree coverage, which we would have loved and likely swapped to giving the chance. Being in a wide open space in the dead of summer can be tricky. The grounds are massive and well-kept, with tons of great hiking trails. Overall stunning views and vast green spaces. There's two large lakes with options to kayak, canoe, fish, ,etc. Concession stand with tasty ice cream, and a handful of convenience-store type items. Oh and we also definitely enjoyed the playground area with the kiddos. On the bad side: the shower-houses were pretty terrible. At least the one nearest to our site. It was to the point that half of us chose to forego showering all together just to avoid it. We also had a bummer experience at one of the beaches. We arrived around 10am and were all swimming for a few hours (along with tons of other visitors), when the rangers arrived and promptly closed the beach due to dangerous water bacteria. The closing wasn't the issue, but instead allowing 50+ folks to swim and fish in it before doing so. We'd all wished this water testing was done before the beach 'opened' for the day, as it left us fairly nervous having the quickly be rushed out. Overall, plenty of positives to this gorgeous state park - we made some great camping memories! Just hope those few shared pieces of feedback could help for future plans/changes.

    What an absolute 'Sconi gem!…read more Anything other than 5-stars is insane! Awesome trail system with great views. The trails are wonderfully maintained. If you just want to laze about on a lake-beach, you can do that too! I have family that live less than an hour from here and they haven't been in 10+ years, that is CRAZY!

    Photos
    Hiking trails
    Hiking trails
    Near Waterfall
    Near Waterfall
    Governor Dodge State Park

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    Pope Farm Conservancy

    Pope Farm Conservancy

    5.0
    (6 reviews)
    28.2 mi

    I read about Sunflower Days in a recent summer piece on Madison, and was happy that my Madison…read morevisit coincided with opening weekend of this year's sunflower bloom. The sunflower bloom is definitely worth the trip and parking lot traffic and walk up the hill- it's simply amazing. Over 500,000 sunflowers will bloom in a one week period! There's a bit of an uphill climb to get from the parking areas to the sunflowers and the farmland, so expect that. This is a free event, so feel free to donate to the conservancy, cheapskates! There's as much or as little walking here as you want. Get a few pics of the sunflowers and go home, or walk around the whole sun field, walk past the oak savannah and prairie, or walk around the whole farm (which is quite a hike)! Bring water, bring a blanket, bring a picnic!

    I cannot believe I didn't know this hidden gem existed. Their sunflower days are absolutely…read morestunning! It's definitely an attraction close to Madison that's not to be missed. To be honest, I have only ever been to the Pope Farm Conservancy for the sunflowers. But it seems like a beautiful place to stop year round for a hike or to cross country ski. It gets crowded during their sunflower days, so it's best to go during off hours. The Conservancy does an excellent job marking off parking spots and directing traffic. They have plenty of volunteers to answer questions and everything appears to be very well run and organized. People come to take family photos, have a picnic, or just go for a nice stroll to watch the sunset over a beautiful field of sunflowers. However, leave your dog at home because pets are not allowed. The sunflower days attraction is free however donations are accepted. Definitely worth a trip to the far west side of Madison.

    Photos
    As far as the eye can see
    As far as the eye can see
    Magical.
    Magical.
    Flowers marching

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    Flowers marching
    Indian Lake Park

    Indian Lake Park

    4.6
    (14 reviews)
    19.4 mi

    I have been going to Indian Lake for several years. I love that it's a short drive from Madison and…read morehas some nice, moderate inclines for hiking. The trails are mostly shaded too which is great, especially when it's super hot out! There are several variations to check out. I typically follow the outer loop trail which is about three miles. I rarely run into people while on the trail; however it has definitely become more popular in the last couple of years. If you want an extra bonus, check out the short trail to the little church and lean about the history while enjoying the view. This gem is worth visiting!

    Great place to take medium to larger dogs. There is ample space for them to run. The woods offers…read moreexcitement for them and the lake side is a great place for them to cool off on warm days. This is the best dog park we have ever used. There is a fee for those out of town folks who may wish to run their 4 legged friend. All the dog owners we have encountered are great. This is the place to socialize your dog, do not keep them on a leash because they can feel trapped when meeting other dogs. The dogs figure out how to relate to each other. The only mark against this place are the walkers who don't have dogs who choose to walk thru the park. They seem to be annoyed that dogs run up to them. I don't care because they have acres and acres of amazing paths in the woods to trek, the dogs only have this one smaller place. I say if you don't like dogs then don't walk thru THEIR part of the park!

    Photos
    Enjoying nature with my sister (and funny faces) is the best! Indian Lake is behind us poking through the foggy January day.
    Enjoying nature with my sister (and funny faces) is the best! Indian Lake is behind us poking through the foggy January day.
    St Mary of the Oaks shrine located on the park grounds
    St Mary of the Oaks shrine located on the park grounds
    Old ruins of a house with Indian Lake in the background

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    Old ruins of a house with Indian Lake in the background

    Pewit's Nest State Natural Area - parks - Updated July 2026

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