|
Tour and directions are in a
counter-clockwise direction.
Starting Point: US Hwy 12 at West Baraboo. Traffic lights at intersection
of Hwy 12 and State Hwys 33 and 136. Turn left (west) onto Hwy 136 toward
Rock Springs.
Drive west about 5 miles. After a 25 mph curve you will descend into a
beautiful valley. At the base of the hill you will intersect with County
Road I. Turn left (south) onto Cty I into North Freedom. Cross the
railroad tracks. Stop at the stop sign downtown. Turn right onto West
Walnut Street and proceed a quarter mile to the Mid-Continent Railway
Museum. The museum parking lot is to your right before the railroad
tracks. Visit the Depot and Gift Shop. Ride the train and visit the
various museum building with rolling stock in various stages of
restoration. A “must see” for all ages!
When finished at the museum leave the parking lot and turn to your right
and cross the track heading west. Very quickly the road will split. Follow
the road to the right, Koch Road, and go thru a series of curves. In about
half a mile, Koch Road makes another S-curve…first to the left and then to
the right…follow Koch Rd to the right (do NOT go straight onto Diamond
Hill Road). From now on you will be driving in the Baraboo Hills. In about
a mile Koch Rd will intersect with County Rd DD (which is Not marked at
this intersection). At the stop sigh turn right (north) onto Cty DD and
proceed a mile into the Village of Rock Springs.
In Rock Springs stop at the intersection in downtown Rock Springs. Here
two state highways (154 and 136) and Cty DD intersect. Go straight (north)
onto State Hwy 136.
Observe the exposed Baraboo Quartzite rock face of the hill on your left
as you leave Rock Springs.
FREE SPRING WATER
Immediately after the last house in town (which is on the left) you will
see a small blacktop-paved pull-off area to the right. Pull in and park.
(On the left is Rock Springs Corporation and you will probably see a
couple tanker trailers parked there). Here you will find a pipe from which
is a constant flow of spring water. You may fill up you water containers
and take some of this clean, clear spring water home with you.
This next paragraph is for folks with
physical limitations:
Across the highway to the right of the Rock Springs Corporation parking
lot you will see a closed gate and access road to the Ableman’s Gorge
State Natural Area. If someone in your group has difficulty walking,
difficulty breathing or other physical limitations or medical
conditions…and may find walking the regular trail into Abelman’s Gorge
difficult…this alternate entrance is recommended. Drive across the highway
and park in the small area next to or in front of the closed gate (do not
park on private property). There is a walking path to the right of the
closed gate into Ableman’s Gorge. Go up the slight incline to your left
and you will be in the gorge area. There is a bench inside the stone blast
house. From this area you can view the main portion of the gorge. If able,
continue to walk up the slight incline to the left of the blast house and
visit Dott’s Glen. Of course, each person must determine individual
capabilities regarding these trails.
After enjoying some clear spring water, get back on Hwy 136 and slowly
continue heading north out of town. The river is on your right. On your
left you will pass next to an outcrop of Baraboo Qaurtzite known as Van
Hise Rock. On your right you will see a second paved parking area with a
historical marker and a very large fallen rock. Turn right into the
parking area. Van Hise Rock is a National Historic Landmark. Camera Time!
Read the historical marker. Follow the short blacktop path toward the
curve and to the large fallen rock on and read the plaque.
As you walk back to the parking lot, look back down and across the highway
for an opening in the trees and a walking path of crushed stone. This is
the beginning of a very short trail into Ableman’s Gorge State Natural
Area. Cross the road and read the trail markers with information about
Ableman’s Gorge, then follow the short trails for a very interesting tour.
Interesting for all ages! You stop here may be from 1 to 1.5 hours
depending upon your interest.
After wandering around Ableman’s Gorge, get back into your vehicle and
turn right out of the parking lot onto Hwy 136 and around the curve and
over the Baraboo River Bridge. Continue about a mile to the intersection
with the township road named “Mile Road” which turns to your left at a
picturesque farmhouse. Also on Hwy 136 at this intersection with Mile Road
is a yellow “School Bus Stop Ahead” warning sign on the right. At this
intersection turn left onto Mile Road. IMMEDIATELY make another left turn
onto Buckeye Road. Enjoy the beautiful vistas of the Baraboo Hills.
At the next tri-section Buckeye Road continues straight ahead and also
turns to the right. The street sign shows “Buckeye Rd” and “Buckeye Rd”.
GO STRAIGHT AHEAD and immediately you will crest a small hill and will see
Skyline Road to the left. Turn left onto Skyline Road. Drive slowly and
enjoy the scenic vistas to your right as you drive up the hill and make
the curves. You will drive on Skyline Rd for about two-thirds of a mile to
the intersection of High Low Road. (The road sigh is mis-marked and say
“Hight Low Rd”.) Don’t follow Skyline Road any further, but turn right
onto High Low Rd and follow it slowly down the hill to the intersection
with Hwy 154. Cross Hwy 154 and stay on High Low Rd and cross the creek.
Enjoy the tree covered roadway.
At the next intersection, turn left onto Golf Course Road. Follow Golf
Course Rd straight to Cty D. Turn right onto Cty D and up a long hill. At
the top of this hill Cty D curves to the right. Halfway thru this curve
turn left off of Cty D and onto Rock Elm Road. Notice the county church
and cemetery immediately on your left. Follow Rock Elm Rd for about a mile
where you will drive up another hill. At the top of this hill, turn left
onto Stone Church Road. Look to your left and back near the edge of the
woods you may see square white bee hives stacked. Follow Stone Church Rd
and at the top of the hill slowly descend as it curves and winds downhill
to its end and where it intersects with Cty W (Cty W is unmarked). This
intersection is a “Y-intersection” with a stop sign on each side of the
road. Turn left onto Cty W and follow it. Stay straight on Cty W at the
intersection with Cty DD. After a mile, and before the railroad crossing,
turn right onto Diamond Hill Road (the sign may be mis-printed and say
Diamon Hill Rd). Follow Diamond Hill Rd south and cross the river to the
T-intersection with Cty PF and turn left onto Cty PF into the hamlet of
LaRue. You will cross the Mid-Continent Railway tracks at LaRue. Watch for
the train, it runs 4 times daily.
Cross the river bridge, then turn right onto McCoy Road. Watch for the
refurbished residence that used to be the McCoy School on the left (this
is private property, so observe from the roadway). Follow this scenic road
as it winds uphill under a canopy of trees, and back to Cty PF.
Turn right on Cty PF and then Cty PF will make a 15 mph curve to the left
(north) and IMMEDIATELY is the intersection with Cty W which turns to the
right (east). Turn right and follow Cty W to the east. Look left to view
the rock outcroppings. In a mile and a half just as you start to descend a
hill marked with a traffic sign for a 45mph S-curve, you will see
Kohlmeyer Road on the left. Turn left onto Kohlmeyer Road. In half a mile
as you pass a small woods on your left, you will see a road to your right
which is Hoot Owl Valley Road. Turn right onto Hoot Owl Valley Rd. Very
soon Hoot Owl Valley road seems to split at a Y-intersection. (The natural
tendency will be to turn to the left, but DON’T turn left because this is
a PRIVATE DRIVEWAY.) Hoot Owl Valley Road becomes narrow and actually
turns to the RIGHT into some trees and down a hill. Drive SLOWLY AND
CAREFULLY down this steep hill into a picturesque valley and cross a
one-lane bridge. Stop a moment and watch for wildlife and birds. Look to
your right at the rocky formations. Now slowly and cautiously wind your
way uphill and follow Hoot Owl Valley Road almost to its end where it
intersects with Rock Hill Road and Cty W.
Turn left onto Rock Hill Rd and drive up the hill. There is a beautiful
cemetery at the top of the hill with a very scenic view. Continue on Rock
Hill Road, another windy and beautiful, tree covered road. Cross the
railroad tracks and follow the curve to the right. On your left is the
Baraboo River and Giese Park, a nice place to stretch your legs. This
township park has a picnic table, grill and an outdoor toilet (recommend
bringing your own toilet paper).
When leaving the park turn left and drive to the stop sign at Hatchery
Road. Proceed straight on Hatchery Rd. When crossing a creek look left and
notice the stone arch railroad bridge over the creek. The next road to
your right is Lovers Lane. Turn right (south) onto Lovers Lane and drive
about half a mile to the intersection with Cty W. Turn right onto Cty W.
Your next stop is Hwy 12 at West Baraboo. This is a controlled
intersection with traffic lights. You may turn left on Hwy 12 to reach the
starting point of this tour at the intersection of Hwys 12, 33 and 136.
Or, if you live to the south, you may turn south (right) onto Hwy 12 and
head home.
Thank you for taking this beautiful Day Trip thru the Baraboo Range. |
