About this spot
Pewit's Nest State Natural Area is a glacier-carved sandstone gorge on Skillet Creek in Sauk County, about a mile off US-12 via County Road W southwest of Baraboo. A small fee-area parking lot (Wisconsin State Park sticker required; don't park along Cty W) sits a short walk from the rim, open 6 a.m.-8 p.m. with no camping. The gorge itself runs 30-40 feet deep with pools at the base. Cliff jumping here is explicitly banned: after at least 13 rescues since 2001, the Wisconsin DNR prohibited jumping, rock climbing, fires, and swimming from the ledges in 2017, backed by a $175 fine. Even viewing from the trail, wet sandstone edges are slick and the gorge walls are unstable.
Safety first. Cliff jumping is inherently dangerous and can cause serious injury or death. Conditions — water depth, submerged hazards, and access — change constantly. CliffScout is community-sourced reference information, not a guarantee a spot is safe. Always assess the conditions yourself before jumping, and never jump where you're unsure. You assume all risk.