Lower Narrows

State Natural Area (No. 533)

Location: Sauk County. T12N-R7E, Section 26. 106 acres.

Access: From the intersection of Highway 33 and County T in Baraboo, go east on 33 4 miles, then go west on Man Mound Road 0.1 mile to a pull-off east of the road (into the old quarry).

Description: Lower Narrows SNA features a very scenic and unique geological feature of the Baraboo Range, and is an important educational tool that helps explain the glacial history of the area. About 900 feet wide and 230 feet high, the Narrows represents a historic break in the Baraboo Range through which the Baraboo River now flows. Historically, The Narrows was probably cut by a preglacial river before the last ice age some 12,000 years ago. Although most of the gorge is Precambrian Baraboo quartzite, part of the bluff is composed of rhyolite, and here one can see the vertical stratification in the Baraboo quartzite and also see the under laying volcanic rhyolite. The area is quite scenic and supports several rare and uncommon species including maidenhair spleenwort and eastern prickly-pear cactus. Along the west flank of the Narrows is a southern dry-mesic forest dominated by red oak, white oak, and basswood. The ground flora contains numerous showy spring-blooming wildflowers including Dutchman’s-breeches, rue anemone, wild geranium, bloodroot, shooting star, and large-flowered bellwort. Other species include common ninebark, red elder, wild columbine, maidenhair fern, white baneberry, and black snakeroot. Lower Narrows is owned by the Wisconsin DNR and was designated a State Natural Area in 2006.