Canyon Park Cabin

The cabin is located just to the west of Canyon Park Road, not at the end of the road but an end of the road (some old maps show the canyon road extending to the north, probably merging with Evans Quarry Road). Originally the cabin was used just in “season” and was designed as a park ranger station.

When you enter the original cabin area one of the things you’ll notice is the inscription over the fireplace, it states By Nature All Men Are Brothers. The rest of the fireplace is constructed of stone that is native to the park. These stones have been arranged symmetrically and some hold fossils. The oak floor in the same room was milled from trees on the property. The logs in the original cabin area where manufactured and delivered from Door County, Wisconsin. The logs have been milled with a concave edge and tongue and groove, so they are tight and sit properly. There is a sample sitting on the mantel. Check it out.

But why is the cabin here? Just take a look around. There are giant white pines, spectacular cliffs, 15 or twenty springs, a pond (dam; circa 1933) and a little cave. All of these features combine to make the park a destination in itself. You can take a walk on the Loop and down through the canyon and back in about an hour. We recommend it!

Some maps still show the portion of Canyon Park Road that winds down into the canyon. Nevertheless, there’s no traffic, just a few deer and hikers.

Here’s a photo of the sign that used to be on the highway, when there was a highway. The road is now Cty. YZ. This sign was at the corner of Canyon Park Road and Highway 151. It’s one sided and was placed on the roadside, only visible heading east from Dodgeville.

There is part of an old rusty door off a Model T. It’s lying just west of the road, just beyond the cave on the swamp side. It’s hard to see, in fact, you’d never know it was there unless you look.

Here’s the story; It was spring time and Mr. Woerpel was out picking up rocks. He had the old Model T pickup up on the loop and was throwing the rocks onto the truck. As he went around the loop he would stop the truck, load the rocks that were in the way and move to another spot and do the same.

After a couple of hours, he gets near the spot we call “Four Oaks”. It’s an outcrop, about 100 feet, straight down, at the apex and just big enough for a Model T pickup. There must have been rocks in the area that needed to be hauled. The truck was maneuvered onto the top of the cliff, or at least, the access area to the cliff. The path needed to be kept clear!

In a Model T, you need to use the parking brake. As the brake was set it became clear that it was not operational. And Mr. Woerpel had to sit with his foot on the brake and wait. And wait. Finally he devised a plan. He had located a rock that he thought he could grab and stick under the wheel. Thereby keeping the truck in place. So after quite a bit of deliberation he decided to go for it.

He planned his jump out of the truck, his grabbing of the rock and the stuffing of it under the wheel. He also thought that he had enough time to accomplish those tasks. Things went fairly well, the rock was in place and the truck had hardly moved. But it was pretty heavy, with the load of rocks and all. The truck just rolled over the rock. The tire squished a bit and the inertia and the weight all conspired. It just rolled over the rock.

It must have been something….. it HAD to have gone right off the end, right off the apex! Because there are trees all around this cliff and down the side. The trees would prevent a truck, even old Model T from going all the way down. For the truck parts to be in the swamp, it HAD to have gone right of the end! 100 feet, straight down. Then bounce. Right in the swamp.
Sheesh.

The story goes on. Earlier in the day the boys had decided to go to the cave. The cave is at the bottom of the Four Oaks cliff. No kidding. The cave is on the south side of the giant rock and is tucked under a bit of a rock shelf above it. Luckily, the Model T went off the end of cliff, which has a northern orientation. The boys said that they must have been in the cave at the right time, they didn’t hear a thing.

The cave is located just north of the clearing in the canyon, it’s on the right side about 30 feet up the hill. Check it out.

As you go past the cave keep your eye on the swampy area to your left, there are three springs there. And an old rusty door off a Model T.