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Places We Protect

Baxter’s Hollow

Wisconsin

A creek flows between rocky banks in a forest carpeted with ferns and moss.
Otter Creek Beautiful Otter Creek is home to a rich collection of aquatic life, including frogs and caddisflies. © Steve S. Meyer

Baxter’s Hollow is The Nature Conservancy’s largest preserve in Wisconsin.

Overview

Description

Remarkable for the large area of deep forest and the mountain-like creek that it protects, Baxter’s Hollow, in the Baraboo Hills, is TNC’s largest preserve in Wisconsin.

The area has a rich human history. In his book “Natural Areas in the Baraboo Hills,” Harold Kruse—local farmer, naturalist, writer and conservationist—lists a few of the human activities in the hollow. These included “...an unsuccessful attempt to establish a village—Otterville, a brief gold mining operation (no gold found), several saw mills and a feed mill, maple syrup and sorghum making, a commercial campground, and harvest of wood products.”

Yet, despite years of human habitation, this area still seems wild and untouched.

The rich forest covering Baxter’s Hollow is part of the state’s largest intact southern deciduous forest. The forest is a mosaic of many parts. Thick stands of oak, hickory, maple and ash grow on the quartzite bluffs that dominate the landscape. In the gorge that gives the preserve its name, yellow birch, white pine, maple and basswood grow along the edge of Otter Creek.

Access

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

The unmarked trail is very primitive. Off-trail conditions are very rocky.

Hours

Open year-round, sunrise to sunset.

Highlights

Spring wildflowers, birding, fall color

Size

5,910 acres

Explore our work in Wisconsin

Photos from Baxter’s Hollow

From spring ephemeral wildflowers to migrating birds, this preserve is home to a diverse array of species for visitors to enjoy.

A blue-grey gnatcatcher sits on a branch with its head cocked to its right.
Light purple hepatica flowers blooming on the forest floor.
A forest in the height of summer, with green ferns and other plants growing under tall trees.
An adult male scarlet tanager perched on a branch.
Closeup of spring beauty flowers, with their delicate white petals.
Shooting star spring wildflowers blooming on the forest floor.
A male chestnut-sided warbler perches on a branch.
A pileated woodpecker perched on the side of a tree’s trunk, looking for food.
White dogtooth violet flowers on the forest floor.
A brown frog with dark brown spots sits on the forest floor among dead leaves.
A blue-grey gnatcatcher sits on a branch with its head cocked to its right.

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher: These tiny birds are summer residents in southern Wisconsin's forests, where they breed and raise their young for the season. © Sujata Roy

Light purple hepatica flowers blooming on the forest floor.

Hepatica: This spring wildflower can be found blooming on the forest floor from about mid-April to mid-May, before the trees leaf out fully. © Kent Montgomery/TNC

A forest in the height of summer, with green ferns and other plants growing under tall trees.

Otter Creek : Flowers and moss-covered rocks line Otter Creek, which flows through Baxter's Hollow. © Steve S. Meyer

An adult male scarlet tanager perched on a branch.

Scarlet Tanager: Scarlet tanagers make Wisconsin their summer home, nesting high in the forest canopy at Baxter's Hollow and throughout the state. © Steve S. Meyer

Closeup of spring beauty flowers, with their delicate white petals.

Spring Beauty: A low-lying spring ephemeral, spring beauty blooms are white or light pink with darker pink stripes on each petal. They grow on forest floors in early spring. © Oliver Starks

Shooting star spring wildflowers blooming on the forest floor.

Shooting Stars: This ephemeral spring wildflower can be spotted growing in the glades throughout Baxter's Hollow. © Steve S. Meyer

A male chestnut-sided warbler perches on a branch.

Chestnut-sided Warbler: These tiny birds are spring and fall visitors to Baxter's Hollow, where they stop over to feed and rest on their migrations from and to Central America. © Steve S. Meyer

A pileated woodpecker perched on the side of a tree’s trunk, looking for food.

Pileated Woodpecker: One of the biggest birds in the forest, pileated woodpeckers can be spotted year-round in Wisconsin, looking for insects under the bark of trees. © Steve S. Meyer

White dogtooth violet flowers on the forest floor.

Dogtooth Violet: Also known as trout lily, dogtooth violets are a spring wildflower that can be found early in the season along the hillsides of Baxter's Hollow. © Charles Larry

A brown frog with dark brown spots sits on the forest floor among dead leaves.

Pickerel Frog: A species of special concern in Wisconsin, pickerel frogs can be found at Baxter's Hollow, where they depend on the preserved creek, vernal pools and ponds to survive. © Matthew L. Niemiller

Visit

  • Note: Stones Pocket Road (the road leading into Baxter’s Hollow) is a public town road maintained by the Township of Sumpter. TNC has no authority over when the gate on Stones Pocket Road is opened or closed. The gate is typically closed in late fall or early winter (usually when we’re expected to get a measurable snowfall) and remains locked until springtime when snow has fully melted. For this reason, we recommend visiting in the spring, summer or early fall. 

    The rich forest covering Baxter’s Hollow is part of Wisconsin’s largest intact southern deciduous forest. You can see oak, hickory, maple, ash, yellow birch, white pine, and basswood.

    Spring is an especially good time to visit: the wildflowers are in bloom, such as Jacob’s ladder and marsh marigold in low-lying spots; carpets of spring beauty, dogtooth violet and hepatica on hillsides; and shooting stars and alum root in the glades.

    Additionally, the migratory songbirds have returned from their wintering grounds in Latin America. More than 92 bird species breed here, making the Hollow one of the most important nesting areas for forest-dwelling birds in southern Wisconsin.

    Birds that are rare in the state—such as the cerulean warbler, worm-eating warbler and the hooded warbler—can be found here.

    During the summer growing season, impressive wildflowers such as bee balm, common spiderwort, compass plant and blazing star are on display, and wildlife such as butterflies, bees and other pollinators frequent the preserve.

    Be sure to check out Otter Creek; this beautiful stream ties the preserve together. The creek is home to a rich collection of aquatic life rare in Wisconsin, including the pickerel frog and at least 78 species of caddisflies.

    As fall approaches, the summer colors fade to red, orange and gold. Migratory birds such as cerulean warblers, worm-eating warblers and hooded warblers are on the move, and you’re likely to spot raptors such as broad-winged hawks.

    Many of our preserves allow deer hunting from October through the first week of January, so wearing blaze orange is suggested when hiking in these areas during hunting season.

  • Baxter’s Hollow is a wonderful place to hike, bird watch, take photos and enjoy the sights and sounds of nature.

    TRAILS

    The unmarked trail is about 5 miles round-trip and is primitive with uneven, rocky areas. It will be muddy on and after rainy days and when snow is melting.

    FISHING

    Fishing is allowed at most publicly accessible sites in Wisconsin.

    HUNTING

    Hunting is permitted on most Wisconsin preserves. Click here to learn more about hunting opportunities. 

    PERMITTED ACTIVITIES

    The following activities are permitted on TNC preserves in Wisconsin:

    • Birdwatching
    • Cross-country skiing
    • Hiking
    • Nature study
    • Photography
    • Snowshoeing
    • Videotaping for personal use (if for commercial use, you must obtain permission from the Wisconsin Chapter office in Madison-see below for contact information)
    • EarthCaching and geocaching are allowed on our preserves in Wisconsin. Caches should be placed at parking lots and entry ways or along trails. Objects placed for geocache sites should be no larger than the size of a coin, film canister or a tube of lip balm. See geocaching.com for additional guidelines and recommendations. Please contact our TNC office near you prior to placing a cache.

  • HOURS
    Sunrise to sunset

    PARKING
    There is designated parking along Stones Pocket Road. 

    RESTROOMS
    There are no restrooms available.

    VISITOR CENTER
    There is no visitor center.

    PICNIC AREA
    There is no designated picnic area.

    WILDLIFE VIEWING AREAS
    While you can view wildlife throughout the trail, there are no designated overlooks, platforms or wildlife viewing areas.

    EV CHARGING
    EV charging is not currently available.

    CELL PHONE AND WIFI SERVICE
    Most TNC preserves are located in remote areas, meaning cell phone and wifi service may not always be available.

    • Wear comfortable footwear suitable for natural trails, but please do not wear heavy, cleated boots that can damage the natural habitats.
    • To protect yourself from ticks, poison ivy or poison sumac, wear long pants and tuck them into your socks.
    • No matter the season, each person in your party should bring a full water bottle. Dehydration is a serious risk year-round.

    To get the most from your visit, you may want to bring some or all of the following items:

    • Snacks
    • Camera
    • Insect repellent
    • Rain gear
    • Sunscreen
    • Binoculars
    • Compass
    • Field guides (wildflowers, birds, butterflies & other natural features)
    • First aid kit

  • Our vision is of a world where people and nature thrive together. The Nature Conservancy encourages people of all ages, experiences and abilities to visit our preserves and has a zero-tolerance policy for discrimination of any kind.

    We encourage you to hike open trails and enjoy bird and wildlife watching and other permitted activities.

    Please do not trespass (or park) on private property adjacent to TNC preserves. Property lines are clearly marked with yellow signs featuring TNC's logo.

    SERVICE ANIMALS
    Service animals specifically trained to aid a person with a disability are welcome.

    DOGS AND OTHER PETS
    In general, we do not allow pets (even on a leash) on our preserves in Wisconsin, except for service dogs as noted above. There are some exceptions for dogs during hunting season; see the Wisconsin hunting program page. Information is also posted on the sign at each preserve entrance.

    OPDMD USE/PROHIBITION INFORMATION NEEDED

    To protect the plants and wildlife that call the preserve home, TNC prohibits the following at this preserve:

    • Biking and mountain biking
    • Camping, campfires and cooking
    • Caving
    • Horseback riding
    • Hang gliding or paragliding
    • Ice skating
    • Picking flowers, berries, nuts or mushrooms
    • Removing any part of the natural landscape (shells, rocks, etc.)
    • Rappelling
    • Rock climbing
    • Snowmobiling
    • Swimming
    • Firewood collecting
    • Littering (please remove all trash)

    DRONES
    AKA personal aircraft, unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV)

    Self-propelled or other aircraft are prohibited from taking off, landing or being operated on any TNC preserve except for official TNC purposes, approved research or in an emergency landing situation. We prohibit the private use of drones on our preserves for the following reasons:

    • Privacy and enjoyment of other preserve visitors—In order to avoid capturing images of people who are not related to TNC, and from whom a necessary photo release has not been obtained.
    • Wildlife disturbance—To make sure drones will not disturb resident wildlife, especially in areas with many birds or ground-based nests.
    • Preserve management—Unauthorized drones operating in areas where active land management is taking place, such as prescribed burning, could lead to potentially dangerous interactions.
    • Respecting neighboring property—Preserve boundaries are not always apparent from the ground. We wish to be good neighbors and minimize the risk of drones accidentally crossing over from our preserves to non-TNC property.

  • If you are experiencing an emergency, please call 911.

    We hope that you will enjoy a safe, interesting visit.

    If you experience any vandalism or other problems, please contact our office by phone at (608) 251-8140 or email at wisconsin@tnc.org.

Our Work

The Nature Conservancy first came to the Baraboo Hills in the 1960s at the request of local residents and university professors who recognized the unique nature of this area. They wanted TNC’s help in protecting it.

Baxter’s Hollow is an important site for at least two reasons: it contains a good portion of the Otter Creek watershed, and it provides the deep woods that forest songbirds need.

Since 1969, when Dr. Donald Kindschi donated several parcels of land to TNC to establish the nature preserve, TNC has steadily been acquiring parcels of land here. Private landowners in the Baraboo Hills have been important to our preservation efforts at Baxter’s Hollow, making cooperative conservation of this critical bird and wildlife habitat possible.

While the forests of the Baraboo Hills are in relatively good condition, we are losing oak trees, putting the birds, insects and other wildlife that depend on them at risk. In 2014, we began to restore the oak forests at Baxter’s Hollow Preserve, using thinning and prescribed fire to set the stage for acorns to germinate and take root and for oak seedlings to have plenty of light to compete well.

Nearby Preserves

Need more nature? Visit The Nature Conservancy’s other preserves.

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