Welcome to Pewit's Nest State Natural Area! Because this is owned by the DNR, a WI State Park/Natural Areas sticker is required to park here. You can walk in for free, but keep in mind there is no road parking allowed.
The walk back is about 0.5 miles, with forest cover including red cedar, white pine, hemlock, and yellow birch. However, the real attraction is the deep Cambrian sandstone gorge, lying below many various overlooks. This gorge was carved out by the fast-moving Skillet Creek after glacial Lake Baraboo drained, rerouting the creek. Tree roots are also eating away at the side of the gorge, molding it further. Waterfalls and potholes abound. Prior to 2017, visitors could walk to some amazing vantage points to view the falls and pools. Jumping off the cliffs into the pools was always prohibited, but sadly, that did not stop people from doing just that. Damage to the landscape, along with many injuries, resulted in fences being installed in 2017. Many of the great vantage points are now cut off. Climbing on rock walls, cliff jumping or entering the closed area for any reason is prohibited. Other rules include no food or beverage, and no parking on the road. Hours are 6:00am to 8:00pm.
So why is it called Pewit's Nest? Per the DNR website-
H.E. Cole wrote of the area: "At one time the jaws at the mouth of the nest supported a great iron shaft, a cumbersome overshot waterwheel. . . . Before the building of the mill, an individual lived in the solid sandstone, like a gnome in a cavern. His abode was some ten feet above a deep pool of water. This dwelling resembled the nest of a phoebe (or peewit, an earlier name for this bird), hence dubbed by early settlers the 'Peewit's Nest.'"
Oh yeah... The EarthCache! Here are the questions you need to answer.
#1- What is the approximate height of the gorge? Take your best guess.
#2- From near the coordinates at the mouth of the gorge, how many waterfalls can you see from here?
#3- What is pictured on the "Swim at Own Risk" sign near the rock wall, just off the trail?
#4 (optional)- Take a picture of you or your GPS (or smartphone) at Pewit's Nest.
Message all answers to us when you have them at the time of logging. Do not post the answers in your log.
The Geocache Notification Form has been submitted to Thomas A. Meyer Conservation Biologist, State Natural Areas Program. Geocaches placed on Wisconsin Department of Natural Resource managed lands require permission by means of a notification form. Please print out a paper copy of the notification form, fill in all required information, then submit it to the land manager. The DNR Notification form and land manager information can be obtained at: http://www.wi-geocaching.com/modules.php?name=Wiki&pagename=Hiding%20A%20Cache