North Bluff

North Bluff can be reached by climbing the second observation tower along the Trumpeter Trail in Sandhill Wildlife Area. It offers a sweeping view of several nearby bluffs and the idyllic countryside – taking in a 20-mile vista. North Bluff stands as a lone sentinel in an expanse of flat land, rising 200 feet above the surrounding landscape.

The volcanic rock (called rhyolitic rock) was forged by the same forces that formed the Baraboo Hills to the south and Rib Mountain to the north. Its bulk gradually sank under hundreds of feet of sea water that flooded Wisconsin’s landscape for 300 million years. Sandy sea sediments slowly piled up, totally burying North Bluff. Finally, the earth’s crust heaved giving rise to a land smoothed by ocean sediments. Wind, water and glaciers followed, finally revealing North Bluff.

From the observation tower, visitors can view the sandstone escarpment to the south and west and scattered – outliers: remnants of an ancient sea floor that once imprisoned the old bluff. Thermal updrafts created by the sun-heated rock, provide air currents favored by turkey vultures. These great blackish-colored birds, with wingspans in excess of 6 feet, have weak breast muscles and so rely heavily on winds for soaring. They are frequently seen circling North Bluff.

[Note – Caution! The trail that leads from the parking lot to the summit of North Bluff is rugged and can be slippery when wet. The trail is not recommended for people with heart conditions or those who must avoid strenuous exercise]

Source: WDNR