Pewit's Nest State Natural Area

Pewit’s Nest State Natural Area near Baraboo, Wisconsin, protects a small but striking gorge where Skillet Creek cuts through shaded Cambrian sandstone cliffs. Formed after Glacial Lake Baraboo drained, the chasm includes potholes, small waterfalls, and exposed rock layers that reveal the region’s geologic past. The surrounding northern dry-mesic forest includes red cedar, white pine, hemlock, yellow birch, and red pine. Its name grew from an early settler story about a dwelling above a deep pool that resembled a phoebe’s nest. Once the site of a waterwheel and mill, it became a State Natural Area in 1985, though its narrowest section has since been closed because of overuse and safety risks.

West Baraboo, Wisconsin · United States