Glacier left gifts for you in Baraboo
When the last glacier receded from Baraboo, Wisconsin 12,000 years ago, it left behind some treasures for you.
The glacier shifted stone and sand as it melted, plugging a river valley gorge and creating Devil’s Lake. That peaceful lake and the 500-foot quartzite bluffs above now form Devil’s Lake State Park. A haven for wildlife and a playground for paddlers, anglers, hikers and climbers, Devil’s Lake is Wisconsin’s most-visited state park.
That melting glacier also left behind a babbling brook that became the Baraboo River. On its banks the Ringling Brothers created the Greatest Show on Earth. Today on those very grounds you’ll find Circus World, a historic site that presents shows under the big top twice daily.
Right next door, the river’s pristine waters become premium spirits at Driftless Glen Distillery. Driftless Glen’s craft whiskey, bourbon, gin and vodka have become perennial award winners. An on-site restaurant pairs distinctive cocktail recipes with a gourmet menu featuring steak and seafood.
Visitors tend to work up an appetite and a thirst, whether they’re paddling the Baraboo – the longest restored, free-flowing river in America – or hiking the Ice Age Trail. This footpath follows the scenic ridges that blocked the glacier’s advance and now form a gateway to the rolling hills of Wisconsin’s Driftless Region.
Spend a weekend in Baraboo exploring the outdoors, enjoying the Greatest Show on Earth and savoring award-winning flavors. These treasures are a gift to you 12,000 years in the making.
Photo credits: Devil’s Lake, Yenti Eilertson; Circus World, Bill Johnsen; Driftless Glen, Carla Minsky; Ice Age Trail, Skillet Creek Media
