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Baraboo, Wisconsin area "fantasy" runs
Parfrey's Glen and Durward's Glen

   Running through a conservancy area which is part of nearby Devil's Lake State Park (thus a fee or State Parks sticker is required for the parking area), Parfrey's Glen boasts a cute little waterfall. A half-mile hike (initially on a former roadway, narrowing to a gravel path, then yielding to a boardwark in the glen proper) brings you to a fine view of this falls as the boardwalk dead-ends.
   Please, obey the signs and stay on the boardwalk. Failure to do so is punishable by fines. Part of the conservancy effort is to preserve the fragile habitat in the glen around (upstream and upslope of) the falls. While a search of topo maps will reveal fine gradient upstream (as well as down) of the falls, most of it is very even, consistent, boulder-bed stuff, with many down trees which would block a boaters progress. Keep in mind this is a conservancy area -- removal of snags would be unauthorized and (I expect) illegal. Additionally, the extremely small watershed area means it would take a heavy storm to make anything approaching 'boatable' levels in this tiny creek (though obviously this happens on occasion).

Parfrey's Glen waterfall rockfall blockage
   Sloping sandstone substrate leads to a steep angle plunge into a shallow pool as the stream reaches the area accessable by the boardwalk (shown above left). After a brief pool the river trips over a short rocky section leading to a complete blockage of the stream (above right) where a large section of the rock-wall has collapsed into the glen. Downstream the creek winds under the boardwalk through the tall, narrow walls of sandstone and conglomerate rock. Low grade boulder-bed rapids lead out of the glen, where the creek becomes a generally gentle stream meandering thru open meadow and trees.

Durward's Glen waterfall Sandstone and conglomerate bluff
   Running through the grounds of a religious retreat center, another small creek has cut a scenic glen. Messages posted on a bulletin board near the 'outer' parking area welcome respectful visitors to enjoy a small system of nature trails leading to Durward's Glen. To see the glen proper, one must hike upstream a bit to the edge of the church property. After meandering through a quarter-mile of open-meadow/pasture-land, the creek reaches a fence (and boulders and snags at the property line) before it spills down a short rapids/falls (pictured above left). Downstream, cobbles make up the streambed as the creek heads to a short section of sandstone bluff (above right) which reveals layers of conglomerate near its base.

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