Skip to content
Byway
Nature reserve · Wisconsin

Fern Dell Gorge State Natural Area

Fern Dell Gorge State Natural Area from directly overhead

Fern Dell Gorge State Natural Area is a nature reserve in Wisconsin, at a modelled elevation of 269 m. Happy Hill stands 451 m to the south, 12 miles off. The nearest named place is Mirror Lake Pine-Oak Forest State Natural Area, a nature reserve 0.3 miles away. Lower Wisconsin River Road Scenic Byway passes 19 miles off. 37 named summits stand within 25 miles.

Fern Dell Gorge features a small but spectacular gorge cut into Upper Cambrian sandstone. The narrow, mile long gorge is a tributary to the larger Mirror Lake gorge. According to geologic interpretations, Dell Creek eroded the Mirror Lake gorge after the

Visiting

What to expect

Operated by
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Getting there

How to reach it

Driving directionsPlan a drive around it
Coordinates43.56441, -89.82097
Around it

Named places within 25 miles

Parks
  • Mirror Lake Pine-Oak Forest State Natural Area: 0.6 mi
  • Ralph Hines Memorial Park: 2.0 mi
  • Captain Bob's Park: 2.1 mi
  • Lake Delton Skate Park: 2.3 mi
  • Wilderland Park: 2.7 mi
Attractions: 49
Nature reserves: 41
Peaks: 37
  • Rattlesnake Knob: 5.0 mi
  • Diamond Hill: 7.6 mi
  • Blue Mound: 7.8 mi
  • Grubb Hill: 8.5 mi
  • Devils Chair: 9.0 mi
Cliffs: 32
Historic sites: 24
  • Dawn Manor: Site of the Lost City of Newport: 3.8 mi
  • Wisconsin Dells: 4.7 mi
  • Wisconsin Dells Firefighters Memorial: 5.1 mi
  • Van Hise Rock: 7.1 mi
  • Ring of Honor: 8.0 mi
Museums: 17
Beaches: 8
Ghost towns: 6
Artworks: 5
Rest areas: 4
Gardens: 2
  • Secret Garden: 7.4 mi
  • Knot Garden: 7.4 mi
Springs: 2
Waterfalls: 1
  • Skillet Falls: 8.5 mi
Picnic sites: 1
On the horizon

Summits around it

The highest named summits within 25 miles of Fern Dell Gorge State Natural Area. Elevation from each summit’s own record; bearing measured between the two coordinates.

SummitBearingElevationDistance
Happy HillS 190°451 m12.1 mi
Sauk PointSE 139°449 m12.4 mi
Sauk HillSSE 165°445 m11.6 mi
Maple HillSSW 201°424 m12.4 mi
Daylight HillWNW 300°396 m22.1 mi
Cascade MountainESE 108°388 m15.9 mi
Potato HillWNW 300°384 m15.1 mi
Townhall HillESE 111°380 m15.8 mi
Conditions

When to go

Light through the year

DateSunriseGolden hourSunset
March equinox07:0318:3419:12
June solstice05:1920:0120:45
September equinox06:4718:2118:59
December solstice07:3015:3916:26

Local time (America/Chicago).

Climate normals

Months averaging 50–80 °F: May–Sep.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Avg °F172133455767716961483524
Precip in1.31.42.34.14.45.14.04.23.82.82.21.8

1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, NOAA NCEI — Wisconsin Dells Wwtp, 4 mi away.

Sources

Where this comes from

Location and category confirmed against OpenStreetMap.

OpenStreetMap

OpenStreetMap element way/373293738

More nature reserves in Wisconsin

Drive to it

Byway plans a real route around stops like this one.

Plan a driveMore nature reserves
Private beta · Free to join

Take the scenic way to Fern Dell Gorge State Natural Area.

Byway plans around your taste, verified places, real weather and opening hours — then opens every leg in Google Maps with one tap.

Private beta · Free to join · No card · Invite when a spot opens