Discovering Parfrey’s Glen trail Toddler Friendly Hike- 1.8 mile

Hey friends!

I really missed the waterfalls from our time in Utah. So, I decided to gather a few moms and their kids to explore a spot I heard about – Parfrey’s Glen in Merrimac, near Baraboo. It’s a real hidden gem, about a 45-minute drive from Sun Prairie. You even get to take a ferry across Lake Wisconsin, which is pretty cool!

The trail starts paved but quickly changes to gravel, and you have to cross a little stream along the way. What I loved about this hike, which ends at a mini waterfall, is that the kids and moms stayed entertained the whole time. We listened to birds chirping, searched for berries, and the kids had a blast throwing rocks in the water.

When we got to the part where we had to cross the stream to see the waterfall, I was so excited! Just a heads up: if you’re going in the summer, wear waterproof shoes like Keen, Teva, or Chaco—you’ll thank me later!

The weather was perfect, and as we hiked through the canyons, it felt like we were in our own little world. I was totally hit with nostalgia, reminding me of those amazing spots back in Utah.

Climbing up the big rocks was a fun challenge! We even had a brave 4-year-old with us who reached the top with some extra help.

On the way back, we ran into many other families enjoying the trail. Armani, our little adventurer, was picking up sticks and exploring. This trail is super kid-friendly; she held it together until she finally found a spot to take a break!

Before we knew it, we were off the trail, and the kids raced to the picnic tables, laughing the whole way. We thought we heard a thunderstorm, but it turned out to be just an airplane flying overhead—it was pretty loud in the canyons!

Just a tip: the parking lot is tiny, so try to get there early, like around 9:30 am, especially on school holidays. You’ll need a Wisconsin state park sticker for your car, or you can grab a day pass for $8 since street parking isn’t allowed.

Where to find it:

Parfrey’s Glen State Natural Area
1377 County Rd DL, Merrimac, WI 53561