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Places We Protect

The Baraboo Hills

Wisconsin

A rocky bluff stands out among the red, yellow and orange leaves on the trees at Ableman’s Gorge with blue sky and puffy white clouds overhead.
Baraboo Hills: Fall splashed the forests at Ableman’s Gorge in the Baraboo Hills with color. © Gerald H. Emmerich, Jr.

The Baraboo Hills are all that remain of one of the most ancient rock outcrops in North America.

BARABOO HILLS

The Baraboo Hills of Sauk and Columbia counties are all that remain of one of the most ancient rock outcrops in North America. A forested sanctuary underlain by durable rock called Baraboo quartzite, the Hills are an ecologically unique part of the Midwest.

The oak, maple, and basswood forests of the Baraboo Hills constitute the largest block of upland forest still standing in southern Wisconsin. They provide habitat for more than 1,800 kinds of plants and animals.

THE NATURE CONSERVANCY

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) first came to the Baraboo Hills in the early 1960s at the request of local residents and university professors who knew how ecologically unique this area was and who wanted TNC's help in protecting the area. We continue to work with partners to protect the exceptional diversity of animals and plant communities in the Baraboo Hills at places like Baxter’s Hollow and Hemlock Draw.

CONSERVATION GOALS

Protecting the large block of forest from scattered rural residential development (TNC concentrates its efforts on the forest block west of Devil's Lake State Park).

  • Managing our preserves to support healthy populations of wildlife, in particular, songbirds that need to nest in large blocks of forest.
  • Providing information about the plants and animals of the Bluffs forest and compatible forest management to area residents and other interested parties.
  • Working with other organizations concerned with the health of the Bluffs forest.
  • Working to protect the forest block while balancing human needs and economic health in the region.

HOW WE ACCOMPLISH OUR GOALS

Land acquisition from willing sellers and generous donors (TNC pays fair market value; contact the Baraboo office for more information).

  • Conservation easements (voluntary legal agreements that compensate landowners who protect the conservation value of land by permanently limiting its future uses while keeping it in private ownership).
  • Land/Forest management (research, removal of non-native plants; forest stand improvement).

CONSERVING FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS

TNC has been working in the Baraboo Bluffs for more than 30 years and community concerns are important to us. The following is a list of some of the things we do to "give back" to the community:

  • We open our preserves to the public for low-impact, compatible recreation like hiking and bird watching.
  • We open most of our lands to deer hunting.
  • We preserve some of the most pristine and biologically unique areas for future generations to enjoy!

TNC NATURAL AREAS IN BARABOO HILLS

TNC owns 9,844 acres at 10 preserves in the Hills, including:

TNC has helped protect a total of 12,421 acres in the Hills. This figure includes lands owned and managed by TNC, conservation easements, government co-ops and assists.

GET INVOLVED

Join other volunteers one Saturday each month at a preserve in the Baraboo Hills. Activities include controlling invasive plant species, maintaining hiking trails, tree planting, seed collection, tree monitoring and working on fire breaks. Contact Sherren Clark (608-225-2974 or sclark99@outlook.com) to be added to the Baraboo opportunities e-mail list.

Most TNC preserves are open for hiking, bird-watching, nature study, photography and other low-impact recreating opportunities.

BARABOO OFFICE STAFF

Ann Calhoun, Baraboo Hills Project Coordinator
Caleb Klima, Baraboo Hills Land Steward

If you have any questions about The Nature Conservancy's Baraboo Hills project, please call us at 608-356-5300 or stop by our office at 124 Second Street, Room 33, Baraboo, Wisconsin.

WHAT TO SEE AT BARABOO HILLS

Hemlock Draw Plants and birds typically found in northern Wisconsin coexist here with those found in the southern parts of the state. © Clint Farlinger
Blackburnian Warbler The vivid orange color of this bird is usually best seen in the breeding of males. © Steve S. Meyer
Hepatica This lovely member of the buttercup family is among the earliest flowers to bloom in the spring. © Hans Hillewaert
× Hemlock Draw Plants and birds typically found in northern Wisconsin coexist here with those found in the southern parts of the state. © Clint Farlinger
× Blackburnian Warbler The vivid orange color of this bird is usually best seen in the breeding of males. © Steve S. Meyer
× Hepatica This lovely member of the buttercup family is among the earliest flowers to bloom in the spring. © Hans Hillewaert

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