Red Cedar State Trail--Menomonie (Dunn Co.), Dunn County, WI, US - eBird Hotspot
Devil's Punchbowl, Dunn County, WI, US - eBird Hotspot
Habitats: Bottomland Hardwood Forest, Marsh, Open Water.
Best Birds: The deep ravine called The Devil’s Punchbowl is traditional habitat for Louisiana Waterthrush and sometimes Winter Wren. Barred Owl, Virginia Rail, Cliff Swallow, and Yellow-throated Vireo are regular. Many passerines use the riparian corridor during migration.
Directions: 24 miles west of Eau Claire. This 5.3 mile scenic road winds south from Menomonie through the bluffs of the Red Cedar River. It parallels the Red Cedar State Trail. This area can be birded by car with frequent stops or on foot on the Red Cedar State Trail which closely follows the river. The north end of this drive is at the intersection of County Rd P and 410th St on the west side of Menomonie. If using the trail, start at the parking lot south of Hwy 29 (44.87500, -91.93960). The rustic road wanders south on 410th Street (Paradise Valley Road) and then at County D jogs 0.1 mile west and picks up again at 420th St. before ending further south at the intersection with 370th Ave (44.81282, -91.96238). Parking south of Irvington on 420th allows further access to the trail (44.81542, -91.94861). Along the route is The Devil’s Punch Bowl, a steep ravine with a waterfall, now a 2.9 acre preserve (44.85082, -91.95228).
Site Address and Additional Information:
Paradise Valley Road, Menomonie WI
Devil's Punchbowl - Landmark Conservancy (landmarkwi.org)
Steve Betchkal, Nina Koch, Carl Schroeder
