South Bluff/Devil’s Nose State Natural Area

South Bluff/Devil’s Nose lies within Devil’s Lake State Park and encompasses a huge expanse of the forested southern flank of the Baraboo Hills, providing habitat for numerous rare plants and animals. The majority of the site is southern mesic and dry-mesic forest of sugar maple, red oak, white oak, basswood, and hickories. Within the site is Pine Glen, a deep spectacular gorge cut into the Baraboo quartzite. On its south slope is a small cedar glade and dry prairie that have unusual floras including rare species such as tubercled orchid, slender bush-clover, and purple milkweed. Cold air drainage at the lower end of Pine Glen harbors northern plant species such as white pine, oak fern, yellow blue-bead-lily, and rosy twisted stalk that thrive in the cool ravine.

Also in the area is spring-fed Messenger Creek, which occupies an ancient valley, cut into the Precambrian Baraboo quartzite. The rich wooded area contains yellow birch, eastern hop-hornbeam, and ironwood and is rich in mosses and uncommon ferns. One of the primary features of the natural area is the presence of several uncommon to rare plant species.  The site also harbors many rare birds including Acadian flycatcher and worm-eating, hooded and cerulean warblers.

South Bluff/Devil’s Nose is managed by the DNR and was designated a State Natural Area in 1972.