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Natural Bridge State Park (Wisconsin)
Encyclopedia
Natural Bridge State Park is an 530 acres (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.
in an unglaciated Driftless Area of south-central Wisconsin. Outcrop
s 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 (10.7 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 (18.3 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 fern
s 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
.
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 artifact
s 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.
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 trail
s 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.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
state park featuring the largest natural arch
Natural arch
A natural arch or natural bridge is a natural geological formation where a rock arch forms, with an opening underneath. Most natural arches form as a narrow ridge, walled by cliffs, become narrower from erosion, with a softer rock stratum under the cliff-forming stratum gradually eroding out until...
in the state. Directly beneath the arch is a rock shelter
Rock shelter
A rock shelter is a shallow cave-like opening at the base of a bluff or cliff....
once used by Paleo-Indians. The park is located southwest of Baraboo
Baraboo, Wisconsin
Baraboo is the largest city in, and the county seat of Sauk County, Wisconsin, USA. It is situated on the Baraboo River. Its 2010 population was 12,048 according to the US Census Bureau...
between the unincorporated communities of Leland
Leland, Wisconsin
Leland is an unincorporated community in the town of Honey Creek, Sauk County, Wisconsin, United States. Leland is located on County Highway C south of Natural Bridge State Park, west-northwest of Prairie du Sac....
and Denzer
Denzer, Wisconsin
Denzer is an unincorporated community in the town of Honey Creek, Sauk County, Wisconsin, United States. Denzer is located on County Highway C east of Natural Bridge State Park, west-northwest of Prairie du Sac....
, in the town of Honey Creek.
Natural history
The park is on the edge of the Baraboo RangeBaraboo Range
Baraboo Range is a monadnock located in Columbia and Sauk Counties, Wisconsin. It consists of highly eroded Precambrian metamorphic rock. It is about long and varies from 5 to in width. The Wisconsin River, previously traveling in a north to south direction, turns to the east just north of the...
in an unglaciated Driftless Area of south-central Wisconsin. Outcrop
Outcrop
An outcrop is a visible exposure of bedrock or ancient superficial deposits on the surface of the Earth. -Features:Outcrops do not cover the majority of the Earth's land surface because in most places the bedrock or superficial deposits are covered by a mantle of soil and vegetation and cannot be...
s of sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
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 (10.7 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 (18.3 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
Prairie
Prairies are considered part of the temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome by ecologists, based on similar temperate climates, moderate rainfall, and grasses, herbs, and shrubs, rather than trees, as the dominant vegetation type...
remnants with grasses and cactus. Around the outcrop walls grow fern
Fern
A fern is any one of a group of about 12,000 species of plants belonging to the botanical group known as Pteridophyta. Unlike mosses, they have xylem and phloem . They have stems, leaves, and roots like other vascular plants...
s such as the walking fern (Asplenium rhizophyllum
Asplenium rhizophyllum
Asplenium rhizophyllum, the American Walking Fern, is a rare, low lying fern native to North America. It is a close relative of Asplenium ruprechtii which is found in East Asia and also goes by the common name of walking fern.-Description:The name walking fern was derived from the way the fern...
), slender lip fern (Cheilanthes feei
Cheilanthes feei
Cheilanthes feei is a species of lip fern known by the common name Slender lip fern. It is native to much of western North America from British Columbia and Alberta to northern Mexico, and throughout much of the central United States....
) and the rare purple cliffbrake (Pellaea
Pellaea
Pellaea is a genus of ferns in the family Pteridaceae. The name is derived from the Greek word πελλος , meaning "dark," and refers to the bluish-gray stems. Members of the genus are commonly known as cliffbrakes...
atropurpurea
Pellaea atropurpurea
This is a fern, P. atropurpurea, commonly known as purple-stem cliffbrake or just purple cliffbrake. Brake is an old word for fern, related to the word bracken. Like many other members of the Pteridaceae, it is a rock plant, needing a calcareous substrate.P...
). The shade of the rock faces also supports Solidago sciaphila, a rare goldenrod
Goldenrod
Solidago, commonly called goldenrods, is a genus of about 100 species of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. Most are herbaceous perennial species found in the meadows and pastures, along roads, ditches and waste areas in North America. There are also a few species native to Mexico, South...
.
Cultural history
An archaeological excavation of the rock shelterRock shelter
A rock shelter is a shallow cave-like opening at the base of a bluff or cliff....
was conducted in 1957 by Warren L. Wittry of the Wisconsin Historical Society
Wisconsin Historical Society
The Wisconsin Historical Society is simultaneously a private membership and a state-funded organization whose purpose is to maintain, promote and spread knowledge relating to the history of North America, with an emphasis on the state of Wisconsin and the trans-Allegheny West...
. His team found evidence of human use over a long time period. The remains of 50 vertebrate
Vertebrate
Vertebrates are animals that are members of the subphylum Vertebrata . Vertebrates are the largest group of chordates, with currently about 58,000 species described. Vertebrates include the jawless fishes, bony fishes, sharks and rays, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and birds...
and 15 mollusc species were identified. The oldest artifact
Artifact (archaeology)
An artifact or artefact is "something made or given shape by man, such as a tool or a work of art, esp an object of archaeological interest"...
s 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
Tourist attraction
A tourist attraction is a place of interest where tourists visit, typically for its inherent or exhibited cultural value, historical significance, natural or built beauty, or amusement opportunities....
for modern visitors since 1870. The state park
State park
State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
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
There are two trail
Trail
A trail is a path with a rough beaten or dirt/stone surface used for travel. Trails may be for use only by walkers and in some places are the main access route to remote settlements...
s 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.