parfrey's glen

A nice leisurely hike will give you views of our beautiful natural area. She has suffered two floods and the end of the trail has been shortened. If you decide to proceed further, you will experience an interesting but cautious adventure.

We visited on a January Saturday afternoon and the there were more people than I had expected, but it was very enjoyable. We have visited here a few times in the summer and fall so it was interesting to see it in the winter. With the snow and ice it was quite slippery in places so it is necessary to take your time but it is very doable and worth the effort. The stream and waterfall are not frozen over so you still need to cross the stream in a few places. Some of the rocks we used to get across the water were slick but just taking it slow we made it with dry feet! Towards the end of the trail there is an area where the water coming out the rock walls has frozen and it looks like little mini glaciers completely with a pretty blue tint (unfortunately that didn't show up well in the photos).

This is just a small hike, not very strenous, but you can experience really nice views. As htere was a flooding a few years ago, and it wasnt the first time, the trail wasnt rebuilt, so you have to cross the small river sometimes.

I really enjoyed making a trip here. I personally like hiking and this was a really fun hike. There are some really nice views and everything looks beautiful! My only complaint is there is spots that are not easy to climb up, walk through or not fall off and hurt yourself. Making it not quite so easy for older people or people in a wheelchair

This trail is great for water exploring, rock hopping and some rock climbing. My husband and I visited here on our way to Devil's Lake to see the fall colors. This our type of trail! It's a little bit of a challenge to figure out how to get to the waterfall without getting wet! Enjoyed checking out the rock formations and LOVED the smell of fall in the air. Very serene to watch the leaves falling and listen to the babbling creek. This would be a great place to bring kids and let them explore in the creek- not deep at all and very clear- saw a few fish. Also would be fun to let the kids challenge themselves with the rock hopping and a little rock climbing. This trail reminded us of the Grotto Falls trail in Smoky Mt. National Park.

The glen is very popular. We live near enough that we pass by quite often, and there are always cars parked in the lot and lining the roadway. (Wisconsin seems very accommodating with parking roadside and NOT ticketing, so this is a plus!) FYI: Requires a park pass if you park in their lot. The hike starts out on flat grassland but pretty quickly gets very rocky. You may get wet feet at certain parts of the trek to the "waterfall" which was minimal when we saw it. The hike is about 3/4 of a mile. We will take this hike again, as it was very scenic. You'll want a camera along to document the beauty.

The second I walked into the glen I felt like I was in a whole other world. I have found my new favorite place in Wisconsin. Perfect place for a sunny fall day. The walk wasn't too difficult but the rocks and roots were dry. I could see how this could be slippery after rain. There is some rock climbing to be done but its easier than it looks. You get quite comfortable in a short period of time and its worth the walk to see the waterfall. I would recommend going early or on a weekday. We got there around 10am on a Sunday and got the last spot in the parking lot. By the time we left there were cars parked 15 deep along the side of the road. Its defiantly more peaceful alone. I didn't appreciate the dogs barking too even though it clearly says no dogs allowed. Next time we go back it will be a weekday so we can enjoy some peace and quiet alone in this magical place.

I've lived in Wisconsin my whole life and had never heard of this place. It's a beautiful place to visit, particularly on a cool fall day. It's a bit hard to find and has a very small parking lot. If you go make sure you either have a Wisconsin State Park sticker or fill out the envelope they provide because the DNR was active in the area.They have a hollow metal pole for the envelope and required $7. The slot in the pole was so thin we couldn't even fit the envelope and $7 through it so we just shoved the singles in by themselves. If they want to charge for this place maybe they should have someone there to take your money.

Beautiful, easy hike along a babbling creek. The rocks are easy to climb and tip toe back and forth over the creek. Don't give up because the waterfall at the end is beautiful and accessible for up close photography. Great hike and mini rock climbing adventure for the beginner. It's easier than it looks, so don't give up!

This a great place for people looking for something a little different than a hike on a trail. Once you get passed the gravel portion of the trail, you're in for a fun walk of rock hooping and easy scrambling over large rocks. Nothing too strenuous but you do need to take your time, sometimes backtracking a bit if you come to a dead end. You probably will get your feet wet. We had our grandson (9) wear his rain boots so he had a blast sloshing around. This is a wonderful place for kids to explore! Finding the snake and toad were bonuses.The rock formations are interesting and the green is so vivid! If you can go during the week and you probably will have the place to yourself. This is a great side trip if you are visiting Devil's Lake State Park. This is a fee area of the WI State Park system. There are (clean) pit toilets and picnic tables. There is also a trail head for a portion of the Ice Age Trail that can be accessed from this parking lot.

Beautiful hike into what looked like a secluded land from a movie. Waterfalls, fern- and moss-covered rock walls. Loved it.

This glen is hard to find, located on a remote road, and is poorly marked. There is a small parking area that is very easy to miss. We were relentless and finally found it. We walked about a mile until we came to a creek that required "rock hopping." My wife did not want to get her shoes wet so she turned back. I continued on and was glad that she turned back. The remainder of the trail is very rocky, uneven, and somewhat difficult. Normally I would plan to wear hiking shoes on a trail like this. I continued to the small falls at the end of the trail. The glen is quite beautiful and reminds me of slot canyons in the US Southwest. This glen is the first area in Wisconsin preserved for its natural beauty and unusual environmental character.

Don't blink or you might drive right past. Went here last week. The weather was beautiful. The parking lot was small but empty. Starts out on a paved trail then leads to rocks and a small creek. Absolutely gorgeous walk that leads to a small waterfall. A little bit of rock climbing involved but it's not a very tiring hike. Would recommend if you're in the area.

There are NO signs. We passed it once and lucked out the second time because there was a school bus parked in front so we figured that must be it. There is a small parking lot but you have to pay to park (or have a state park pass). The trail is nice, there is a stream. When we were there a mud/rock slide blocked the path about 20 minutes into the trail. It was not worth the risk of trying to get past it.

One day, out of the blue, I decided to travel to Devils Lake and visit Parfrey's. I was surprised to see that there was ONLY one car in the parking lot. So, what the heck...I walked the quarter mile to where the trail got a little steeper. The trail was easy and it was spring so the birds were in full throat with their calls. Love the ambiance!! The flowers were perking out of the cliff, the water was gurgling and trail had no people, so I had a chance to soak in this place. Once the trail ended and you had to go rock hopping to get to the end of the trail, it got adventurous. If you do not mind getting your feet wet, venture to the end. You will see so much flora/fauna as you approach the falls. I took the time and soaked in the sight, smells and peacefulness of this place. As I exited the falls area, the throngs of people started coming in waves toward the falls area. Most of the kids were having a blast splashing in the creek. So, if you get there get there early.