Canyon Park Cabin

Here’s a fun and fashionable way to view the countryside and the studios of local artists. A drive from Mineral Point to Spring Green (we are centrally located) is a pleasant experience, well worth the trip and is about 25 miles. Stopping at the studios can make this an all day expedition. This is a three day event, so you could make the entire weekend an art expedition! A broad array art-forms, styles and interpretations are available. Some of our favorite artists are on the tour. Check it out.

Fall Art Tour

Canyon Park might be considered “trophy ground” for hunting whitetail deer. It’s ideal for the whitetail, cool clear water running through the canyon with it’s ample cover. On top, farmers fields and neighbors yards to feed on. It’s about perfect for whitetails.

Over the years we have begun to understand a little about the deer herd, mostly by observation. We have had encounters many times with many different deer. There are that many! We are in the CWD zone (none from Canyon Park have tested positive) and happen to think that there are just to many deer for the overall environmental health of Canyon Park. But that’s a different post.

We totally support the idea of the Traditional Deer Season in Wisconsin. We also support the “earn-a-buck” (or at least, work for two deer) idea and utilize it with hunting here. Herd reduction is a primary objective. 

The hunting experiences have been great. I don’t really hunt much but the first time I ever went I was face to face with a perfect ten pointer. He definately knew more about what was going on than I did. Last year two buck were mounted from the property; a 14 point and a ten pointer, just because it was that nice. A couple of years ago, Mitch on his first hunt, shot a seven year old doe (good genetics and ample cover). And other stories, too.

We’ve also come face to face. I’ll never forget this one; my son-in-law Jude’s first visit from New Orleans. We go for a hike around the loop and stop at Four Oaks Point (right next to my hunting spot), there were maybe six people on top of the rock. Kodi, the dog, took off down the trail. Next thing I know I hear something coming up the other side and a really nice ten pointer busts through the saplings and is standing on the rock with us!

And Jude says, “That’s pretty cool”.    

Thanksgiving is booked but the weekends on either side of the holiday are available. If your interested in a comfortable, exciting and challenging hunt let us know.  

The woodpeckers were busy everywhere. I spotted a pair of Downy woodpeckers, what I think was a Red Bellied Woodpecker, and a Flicker. We also saw where a Pileated Woodpecker had been at work, but never got a glimpse of the shy bird.

The hepaticas are the second wildflower we see; clusters of white and purple flowers everywhere, catching every breeze. They bloom before their leaves emerge.

We saw 6 mallard ducks at the pond. If I’m very quiet, I can watch them from the top of the bluff, as they swim and chatter amongst themselves. The slightest noise will send them flying off.

Madison Environmental has some good links about the frogs

We hear the spring peepers in late March and it’s such a welcome sound!

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.

It was Blustery. A spring evening, cool and real windy.

There are giant trees all around and the sounds are awesome. It seems that the trees create a bigger sound when there are no leaves. When the wind blows in a certain direction the huge poplars along the driveway roar. It sounds like a train is coming down the drive. The wind changes and the giant white pines make a new sound, a different pitch, a higher note. And almost as loud as the poplars.

A front moves in, some stuff flies across the yard - the winds are now sustained. A little lightning and one big roll of thunder.

It’s exciting but does make a person a little bit jumpy.

She’s waiting for you at Canyon Park!

Weekly rentals year round. 608-230-5579

The first flower to be seen is the Skunk Cabbage.

The birds are busy busy busy and we heard lots of early songbirds last week. The cardinals, blue jays and robins are the least shy and easily identified. The bluebirds and the smaller birds are more elusive.

All you really need to do is sit still for a few minutes to watch and listen. There is so much activity in the woods this time of year.

Our grandson found a nice shed antler and we also discovered some good fossils on our morning walk.

We saw a deer coming down across the neighbors field, and heard some great horned owls conversing across the canyon.

Sat outside late into the evening, enjoying refreshments and conversation, until the wind kicked up and we decided to get to bed.