With more than 2.5 million visitors each year, Devils Lake is Wisconsin’s most popular state park, and for good reason. Visitors from across the land flock to enjoy its dramatic bluffs, sandy beaches, and extensive forests, but most of them come in the fall and summer. We’ve got some tips for how to enjoy this park throughout the year. You can beat the crowds and get the most out of Devils Lake State Park even in midwinter!
About Devils Lake
History
Over 15,000 years ago, the Wisconsin Glacier receded after grinding its way through the area, depositing rock and earth in a river valley that threaded through the Baraboo Hills. These glacial deposits dammed the river, creating what we now refer to as Devils Lake.
Devils Lake is located on ancestral Ho-Chunk land. The Ho-Chunk called it Sacred/Spirit Lake, and believed its iconic rock formations were formed during an earth-shaking battle between the thunderbirds and water spirits. The park also has several effigy mounds, or animal-shaped structures of spiritual significance.
European settlers began to develop Devils Lake into a vacation destination in the 1850s, and the resort and hotel that once stood on the shores of the water were visited by people including Mary Todd Lincoln and Ulysses S. Grant.
Founded in 1911, Devils Lake was Wisconsin’s third state park. From 1933 to 1942, the area benefited from 200 members of the Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC), who built many of the stairs on the steepest trails.
This colorful article from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has more details.
Features
Open every day from 6 am—11 pm, the park boasts varied terrain, with 500-foot quartzite bluffs rising above a mile-long lake.
Hikers have access to nearly 30 miles of hiking trails through woods and prairies. In the warmer months, visitors paddle and swim in the lake, bask on its sandy shores, use the public picnic benches and grills, and buy concessions on the north and south ends of the park. Climbing and bouldering are popular pastimes, with over 1,600 routes to choose from.
Our typical hike is “bluff-to-bluff.” We start at either the North Shore or South Shore parking lot and hike counter-clockwise, covering about 5 miles and getting two good ascents, one on each bluff. We prefer going counterclockwise because the climbs are steeper but the descents are gentler. We stick to the East Bluff trail instead of the East Bluff Woods trail for superior views despite the popularity of the latter.
There are also 423 campsites at Devils Lake, which tend to fill up quickly from May to September, particularly on holidays and weekends. (Tip: You can book a site up to 11 months ahead, so we recommend snagging one in the dead of winter when sleeping in a thin nylon structure isn’t exactly top of mind for everyone.)
The nature center offers exhibits about the natural and human history of the area and is the headquarters for events such as scavenger hunts, birding walks, and full moon hikes. Concessions are sold on both the north and south shores of the lake.
Winter
Although it’s not the most popular time of year to visit, a winter trip to Devil’s Lake is absolutely worth it! Camping and swimming are out of the question, but the area is ideal for ice fishing—when the ice is solid, you’ll find a veritable village of hearty anglers stooped on buckets, hoping for trout or pike to come their way.
The nature center is also open on select Saturdays throughout the winter and offers free snowshoe rentals on a first come, first served basis.
You may spot deer, coyote, muskrat, beaver, or raccoon tracks in the fresh snow. We’ve also seen bald eagles, red-tailed hawks, and peregrine falcons soaring overhead on recent winter hikes on the bluffs.
➜ We recommend:
- Checking out the trail conditions here before you set off on your adventure. Quartzite is slippery when wet and even slicker when icy.
- Wearing yaktrax or snowshoes for traction—the bluffs can get slick, especially on the downhills!
- Planning your bathroom breaks. Not all restrooms (particularly flush toilets) are open year-round, so consult this map to avoid preventable emergencies!
- Bringing a hot drink in a thermos to warm up as you stop to enjoy the many viewpoints along the trail
- Dressing in lots of layers! If you’re anything like us, you’ll shed layers on the uphills, get cold on the flat straightaways and downhills and bundle up again, and repeat the whole cycle several times…Good gloves, a hat, and a scarf go a long way.
- Downhill skiing in the area! If you’re bold and happen to be visiting on a Thursday afternoon, nearby Devils Head Ski Resort has 18 dollar lift tickets for 4 PM until 10 PM (close). We repeat, 18 dollar lift ticket for 6 hours of downhill ski. In this economy?
Spring
Spring is a lovely time of year at Devils Lake! As the ice thaws and temperatures rise, you’ll find native plants like hepatica and Dutchman’s Breeches studding the ground and migratory birds including red-winged blackbirds and sooooo many turkey vultures making their return to the area. It’s also a quieter time in the park to hike some of the more popular bluff trails and check out sites like Devil’s Doorway.
➜ We recommend:
- Riding the Merrimac Ferry on your way to the park if you’re driving over from the Madison area. The free-of-charge ferry, named Colsac III, crosses the Wisconsin River in 7 minutes between April and late November.
- Listening for spring peepers. These frogs sing their springtime songs when temperatures rise to around 50 degrees. It’s best to venture to the ponds along the Johnson Moraine at dawn and dusk to hear a chorus. Learn more here.
- Taking advantage of the Friday fish fry (10 am—5 pm) at the North Shore Chateau. In true Wisconsin fashion, get your battered or baked cod after a nice hike. Just remember to bring cash; cards are not accepted.
- Combine your trip to Devils Lake with other adventures around Baraboo and Wisconsin Dells. The International Crane Foundation, The Aldo Leopold Shack, The Circus World Museum, and Ishnala Supper Club (open April through October) are a few of our favorites.
Summer
Ahhh, summer! It’s the classic time to visit Devils Lake, you’ll find vacationers of all ages out enjoying the sun, especially on the weekends. We love this time of year but like to make a few adjustments to avoid the crowds.
➜ We recommend:
- Camping in the middle of the week, then waking up early to do a sunrise hike before heading back to town and (sigh) work
- Kayaking or Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUPing) in the lake. You can rent watercraft at the North Shore Chateau (where you can also buy ice cream)!
- Avoiding the busy parking lots at the North and South Shores and enjoying the long days by doing extended hikes that are (for the most part) away from the hubbub of the bluffs and lake.
- One option is to park at Parfrey’s Glen and hike to the East Bluff and back, which ends up as a respectable 12.5-mile hike round-trip. You’ll get to the savior the lake views from the top of the East Bluff after a longer, gentler, and more solitary climb as compared to starting at the South Shore. Hiking along the East Bluff itself can become crowded.
- A slightly shorter variant would to park at the Ice Age Trail segment lot and hike up through the East Bluff Basin. This ends up being 8 miles round-trip.
- Signing up for the Dances with Dirt trail run (10k, half marathon, marathon, or 50k)
Fall
Admire the changing colors of the oaks and maples lining the trails and feel the brisk air during autumn at Devils Lake. It’s a glorious time to be outside!
➜ We recommend:
- Camping in September before it gets too cold. You can buy firewood at the park to stay nice and cozy at your campsite.
- Hiking by Devil’s Doorway for a classic photo op and to take in the iconic view
- Planning your leaf peeping with a fall color report! There are lots of good ones out there but we like to refer to this one to perfectly time our trips. Mid-October is generally a prime time in the park.
- Going apple picking at Ski-High Fruit Farm, where you can also buy cider, donuts, and pies, and pet cute animals…the whole shebang.
- Having some post-hike libations and sustenance at Tumbled Rock Brewery, just a few minutes away from the park. Sometimes there’s live music on the patio, and dogs are allowed outside.
- Checking out one or more of the many festive fall events happening in the area.
What’s your favorite time of year to go to Devils Lake? Let us know in the comments!
Leave a Reply