In the middle of Wisconsin farm and logging country, the Devil’s Punchbowl is a unique geological formation carved out of the sandstone just outside of Menomonie, Wisconsin. The natural rock amphitheater, which dates back 515 million years, rises 45 feet above the base of the “bowl” and is ringed with flowing water. In the winter, the main waterfall and its smaller offshoots freeze and sheath the rocks in ice; the small creek that runs through the center of the preserve also freezes, allowing visitors to get right up to the frozen waterfall. This year, the frozen ice was not as dramatic as past years, but it was still an interesting site to see.

Owned by the West Wisconsin Land Trust, the Devil’s Punchbowl is free and open to the public to explore. There’s a small parking lot that allows access to two flights of stairs; one goes down into the bowl, and the other leads to a landing that overlooks it. There is really no hiking other than descending the stairs and wandering around inside the preserve, which is only about 3 acres.

The Devil’s Punchbowl is considered a Scientific Study Area and contains an abundance of mosses, ferns, and liverworts. Two uncommon ferns are found there, as well as 19 different species of land snails. Because of the fragile soil and plants, visitors are asked not to climb on the rocks and to respect its natural sounds and silences.

There was no information at the site as to how the preserve got its name, but a sign did mention that it has its share of lore and legends including gnomes, ghosts, and other strange phenomenon! It does seem like the perfect place for mythical beings to hang out… Maybe I’ll spot them next time I visit.