Wednesday, December 7, 2022

The Devil's Punchbowl

Last week I finished my summer travel series to Minnesota's North Shore and now I'm going to share a few posts of our fall hiking adventures.  

Every Sunday, weather permitting, we went hiking after church.  We went to some familiar places, but we also found a few new places to hike like "The Devil's Punchbowl".


The Devil's Punchbowl is a nature preserve located in Menomonie, Wisconsin.  The "bowl" was carved by water over the course of thousands of years.  What you see at the bowl depends on the season, in the spring you could see water flowing over the edge into the bowl, and in the winter there are fabulous ice formations.  We were there in fall, and there was no waterfall, but we could definitely see water seeping from the rocks.


There are two short trails leading to the bowl.  The first one, gives you a view from of the bowl from the top.  The second trail takes you right into the bowl.

This is the view from the first trail, looking down into the bowl.


Now it was time to descend a lot of stairs down into The Devil's Punchbowl.





The bottom of the bowl is very muddy.  I did not bring appropriate footwear, so I stayed close to the stairs while hubby ventured further.

The punchbowl was deemed a "scientific study area" in the 1990's as it is basically a mini ecosystem with cliffs, waterfalls, underground springs, and other incredible natural features. 



The stairs were just re-done, and I must say they did a fabulous job!




I really enjoyed our little stop at The Devil's Punchbowl, but I'd love to see it in other seasons like spring/summer where I can see the waterfall and lush foliage and rare fauna, or in winter to see the amazing ice formations made by the water.  We might just have to go back!

Have A Great Day!  Amy

Linking Up with these Fabulous Blogs HERE!





 

31 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Yes there are, ya need them to go down into the bowl.

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  2. The Red Cedar Trail is our favorite biking trail, so we always go to the nearby Devil's Punch Bowl for a look-see. I went to college in Menomonie.

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    1. We actually stopped there first for a picnic lunch then walked up to the trail to a peek at it. We're not bikers, so we've never been on it. What a small world that you went to college in Menomonie.

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  3. I really miss hiking! The boys sports kept us busy this fall and Sundays we have been resting. I am hoping for some hikes soon and maybe during the break if the weather is decent.
    This place looks neat.
    www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com

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    1. Oh hiking in the fall is just the best, but I remember when our kids were the same as yours, we were always busy with school activities and didn't have time for hiking. Luckily you have warm winters and can still go hiking then.

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  4. Oh How cool is that!!!! What an amazing little world of its own!! and a LOT of stairs!!! good work out!!

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  5. Looks peaceful although I think they could have picked a better name for such a serene place. Thanks so much for linking up at the Unlimited Link Party 92. Shared.

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    1. Oh, I so agree. We have noticed they tend to name a lot of natural beauty after the devil which really gets our ire up as the devil had nothing to do with it...God is the creator! We hardly ever see things named for God, although Zion National Park has quite a lot: "Angel's Landing", "The Three Patriarchs", "The Watchman", and "The Great White Throne" to name just a few.

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  6. Oh very cute photos darling
    Happy Day

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  7. Beautiful scenery and love the fall colors! There is a "Devil's Punchbowl" at Iowa's Wildcat Den State Park. I does make me wonder too how so many beautiful places are called a "Devil's something"....

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    1. It sure is. I keep reading about a lot of cool places to see in Iowa. I need to check that state out more instead of driving so far away all the time. Yes, lots of places are named after the devil. It's ridiculous. He didn't create anything but trouble...people need to stop naming things after him. :)

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  8. That looks like such a fun place to hike!

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  9. Fantastic Photos And So Pleased To See You Out And About - Stay Adventurous My Friend

    Cheers

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    1. Thank you! I will, "adventure" is my middle name. :)

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  10. What a fun place to go to, hike and visit. It looks so beautiful and peaceful. We don't hike much but I'd love to do this one!

    Maureen | www.littlemisscasual.com

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    1. Yes, it was a lot of fun. I'm sure you'll hike more when your boy is a little older.

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  11. Saw you at travel Tue - this is a beautiful place - they should find another name (even though it may be a treacherous climb/descent:))

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    1. Yes it is! And I agree, I dislike the name. The sad part is this is the third time it was renamed. The first time they called it "Black's Ravine" in reference to its first owner Samuel Black. Then they renamed it "Paradise Valley". Finally it was changed to "The Devil's Punchbowl" most likely in reference to the "Blue Devil's" mascot of the nearby university. I prefer both the previous names to the current one. I wish it were never changed.

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  12. Love the photos and the autumn colours. So magical and amazing!! They certainly did a great job with the stairs, I really like the way you photographed it!

    -Soma

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  13. Amy, this was a great tour. Love going on virtual trips with you.
    Thank you bunches for sharing this with Sweet Tea & Friends this month.
    Merry Christmas Sweet friend.

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  14. This looks like such a beautiful and peaceful place! The stairs certainly make it safe and accessible for people to get down and back up. (I'm sure the upward climb is quite exhausting!) Thank you for sharing this post in the Talent-Sharing Tuesdays Link-Up 45.
    Carol
    http://www.scribblingboomer.com

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    1. Yes it is, and I always appreciate it when they make trails accessible for everyone. You're welcome.

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  15. What a beautiful place. Very nice. Merry Christmas to you and your family.

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