South Bluff/Devil's Nose

State Natural Area (No. 97)

Location: Within Devil's Lake State Park, Sauk County. T11N-R6E, Sections 23-27, 34, 35, 36. T11N-R7E, Sections 29, 30, 31. 3,480 acres.

Access: From the intersection of U.S. Highway 12 and State Highway 136 in West Baraboo, go east (south) on 12 4 miles, then east on Ski Hi Road 1.2 miles, then south (right) on South Shore Road 0.2 mile, then south on Burma Road 1.5 miles to its end. Or from the intersection of Burma and South Shore Road, continue on South Shore Road 0.6 miles to a parking area south of the road. Walk west along Messenger Creek into the site.

Description: South Bluff/Devil's Nose encompasses a huge expanse of the forested southern flank of the Baraboo Hills and provides habitat for numerous rare plants and animals. The majority of the site is southern mesic and dry-mesic forest of sugar maple, red oak, white oak, basswood, and hickories. Within the site is Pine Glen, a deep spectacular gorge cut into the Baraboo quartzite. On its south slope is a small cedar glade and dry prairie that have unusual floras including rare species such as tubercled orchid (Platanthera flava), slender bush-clover (Lespedeza virginica), and purple milkweed (Asclepias purpurascens). Cold air drainage at the lower end of Pine Glen harbors northern plant species such as white pine, oak fern, yellow blue-bead-lily, and rosy twisted stalk that thrive in the cool ravine. Also in the area is spring-fed Messenger Creek, which occupies an ancient valley, cut into the Precambrian Baraboo quartzite. The rich wooded area contains yellow birch, eastern hop-hornbeam, and ironwood and is rich in mosses and uncommon ferns. One of the primary features of the natural area is the presence of several uncommon to rare plant species including drooping sedge (Carex prasina), Hooker's orchid (Platanthera hookerii), nodding pogonia (Triphora trianthophora), and one-flowered broomrape (Orobanche uniflora). The site also harbors many rare birds including worm-eating (Helmitheros vermivorus), hooded (Wilsonia citrina) and cerulean warblers (Dendroica cerulea), and Acadian flycatcher (Empidonax virescens). Also present is the rare arrowhead spiketail (Cordulegaster obliquus). South Bluff/Devil's Nose is owned by the DNR and was designated a State Natural Area in 1972.