Natural Bridge State Park (Wisconsin)

Coordinates: 43°20′39″N 89°55′47″W / 43.34417°N 89.92972°W / 43.34417; -89.92972

Natural Bridge State Park
Wisconsin State Park
Wisconsin's largest natural arch is protected in Natural Bridge State Park.
Country	United States
State	Wisconsin
County	Sauk
Location	Leland
- coordinates	43°20′39″N 89°55′47″W / 43.34417°N 89.92972°W / 43.34417; -89.92972
Area	530 acres (214 ha)
Founded	1972
Management	Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
IUCN category	V - Protected Landscape/Seascape

Natural Bridge State Park is an 530-acre (214 ha) Wisconsin state park featuring the largest natural arch in the state. Directly beneath the arch is a rock shelter once used by Paleo-Indians. The park is located southwest of Baraboo between the unincorporated communities of Leland and Denzer, in the town of Honey Creek.

Natural history

The park is on the edge of the Baraboo Range in an unglaciated Driftless Area of south-central Wisconsin. Outcrops of sandstone deposited 1.6 billion years ago jut out of the tops of these hills.

The arch and rock shelter have been weathered out of one such outcropping. The top of the arch is 35 feet (11 m) above the ground. The arch opening is 25 feet (7.6 m) wide and 15 feet (4.6 m) high. The rock shelter is 60 feet (18 m) wide and 30 feet (9.1 m) deep.

The park's hills are forested with oak and other hardwoods. Some ridge tops bear small prairie remnants with grasses and cactus. Around the outcrop walls grow ferns such as the walking fern (Asplenium rhizophyllum), slender lip fern (Cheilanthes feei) and the rare purple cliffbrake (Pellaea atropurpurea). The shade of the rock faces also supports Solidago sciaphila, a rare goldenrod.

Cultural history

An archaeological excavation of the rock shelter was conducted in 1957 by Warren L. Wittry of the Wisconsin Historical Society. His team found evidence of human use over a long time period. The remains of 50 vertebrate and 15 mollusc species were identified. The oldest artifacts were pieces of charred wood, presumably from fire pits, which were dated to between 9000 and 8000 BCE. This would make the rock shelter "one of the oldest dated sites for human occupancy in northeastern North America," according to a sign in the park. There also was artifacts such as antler-scrapers dating back to six to seven thousand years ago. Evidence indicates that the shelter was used only periodically at first, perhaps as a hunting or seasonal camp. Later it was inhabited year-round.

The natural bridge has been a tourist attraction for modern visitors since 1870. The state park was established in 1972, and the following year 60 acres (24 ha) centered on the arch were given a further level of protection as Natural Bridge and Rockshelter State Natural Area.

Recreation

A park map is posted at most trail intersections.

Natural Bridge State Park is open year-round but unstaffed. Visitors needing a parking pass for their vehicle must purchase one from a self-registration stand. Amenities at the park are limited to picnic tables and restrooms. There is no overnight camping.

There are two trails in the park, totalling about 3.5 miles (5.6 km). The arch and rock shelter are short distance up the Indian Moccasin Nature Trail, which then loops further through the wooded hills. Signs along the trail interpret the medicinal uses of many native plants. The longer Whitetail Hiking Trail leads across the highway to the less-used southern half of the park.

The southern portion of the park is open for hunting during parts of autumn.

References

• Hasheider, Philip. "Treasures close to home; unspoiled beauty is a hallmark of areas at the western edge of the Baraboo Range, in Sauk County." Wisconsin State Journal. Madison, Wis. May 8, 2005. pg. H1.
• Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Park signage and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources website.

External links

• Natural Bridge and Rockshelter State Natural Area official website