Wisconsin State Natural Area No. 206 — Baraboo Hills
McGilvra Woods State Natural Area
Near Baraboo, Wisconsin • About 15 minutes northwest of Devil’s Lake State Park • Free admission • No developed trail
Fast takeaway: One of the most concentrated spring wildflower displays in the Baraboo Hills — more than 110 ground-layer species in a strikingly open, well-lit forest. There is no developed trail; you explore on foot from a small parking area.
McGilvra Woods is one of the richest southern mesic forests in southwestern Wisconsin. The 72-acre site sits on a gentle northwest-facing slope at the edge of the Baraboo Hills, where sugar maple and basswood form the canopy above an unusually open understory that floods with light in spring. The ground layer holds more than 110 species, including uncommon plants such as leatherwood and putty root orchid alongside hepatica, nodding trillium, woodland phlox, wild geranium, bellwort, and May-apple. A knob of exposed sandstone bedrock near the southeast corner and the pronounced root flares at many tree bases point to a shallow soil layer over bedrock — worth exploring past the main footpath. The site was designated a State Natural Area in 1986 and is owned by the Wisconsin DNR. It sits just down the road from Pewit’s Nest State Natural Area.
Plan your visit
Location & Directions
From the intersection of Highways 12 and 136 in West Baraboo, go south on Highway 12 for one mile, then west on County Highway W for 2.8 miles, then north on Far View Road 0.28 miles to the DNR parking area on the east side of the road. No roadside parking — vehicles may be fined or towed.
Access & Hours
Parking area may not be plowed in winter. Verify conditions before an off-season visit.
Amenities
No facilities on site. Nearest services are in Baraboo.
Admission
McGilvra Woods is a DNR-owned State Natural Area. No vehicle admission sticker is required. Entry and parking are free.
Fee status verified May 2026. Verify before your visit at dnr.wisconsin.gov.
Trail
A short informal path leads from the parking area into the woods. A topographic map or GPS is useful if you plan to explore the full 72 acres, including the sandstone bedrock outcrop near the southeast corner.
Parking
The lot fills quickly on spring weekends during peak wildflower season. Arrive early or plan a weekday visit in April and May.
On-the-ground details
Best Time to Visit
- Mid-April through mid-May is peak for spring ephemerals. Hepatica blooms first, followed by trillium, woodland phlox, and orchid species as the season progresses.
- Early morning or late evening offers the best light in the open understory. The forest is well-suited to photography throughout the day in spring.
- The site is accessible year-round. Winter visits by snowshoe are possible when conditions allow.
Good to Know
- Most visitors walk only a short distance from the parking area. The interior, including the sandstone outcrop, sees very little foot traffic.
- The pronounced root flares at many trees suggest a shallow soil layer over bedrock — an unusual feature that becomes more apparent as you move away from the entrance path.
- McGilvra is a short drive from Pewit’s Nest. Both sites can be visited in a single morning trip from Devil’s Lake.
Rules & Restrictions
- No camping or campfires — prohibited on all Wisconsin State Natural Areas.
- No collecting of plants, fungi, rocks, minerals, fossils, soil, downed wood, or any natural material. Scientific collecting requires a DNR permit.
- Dogs must be leashed (max 8 feet) at all times unless used for hunting during an open season.
- No bicycles, ATVs, or motorized vehicles except on designated roadways. Access is by foot only.
- No geocaching. Earthcaching and virtual caching are permitted with prior SNA Program approval.
- No horseback riding and no rock climbing or rappelling.
- Hunting is permitted in season on this DNR-owned SNA, subject to Wisconsin state regulations.
Rules governed by Ch. NR 45, Wis. Admin. Code. Full regulations at dnr.wisconsin.gov.
Spring wildflowers on the forest floor
The open understory is a defining feature of the woods
Woodland phlox among the spring ephemerals