Devil’s Lake State Park

Devil’s Lake State Park in Wisconsin is one of the most beautiful, biggest, and most visited parks in the upper Midwest. Known for spectacular 500’ bluffs overlooking a sparkling 360-acre lake, it boasts 29 miles of trails and some of the best scenery in the Midwest.

Within its 10,000 acres you can hike, camp, picnic, rappel, rock climb, boulder, swim, bicycle, scuba dive, canoe, kayak, fi sh, birdwatch, rollerskate, play volleyball, geocache, view autumn colors, drive, take pictures, and enjoy the scenic vistas. Tourists have been coming to Devil’s Lake since the mid-1800’s. Native Americans built effi gy, linear, and conical mounds near the lake over 1000 years ago.

The landforms of the park vividly show off the ancient and glacial natural history of Wisconsin. Four state natural areas are enclosed within the park. You might spot whitetail deer, turkeys, raccoons, possums, snakes, bats, skunks, turkey vultures, and many migratory birds. Anglers are tantalized by a variety of fi sh, including small and largemouth bass, walleye, brown trout, yellow perch, crappies, northern pike, and bluegills.

Check out the Nature Center’s exhibits - see a snake, feel a raccoon fur, look at historic pictures, or discover the unusual geology of the park. You can borrow a GPS, fi shing equipment, a forestry pack, or snowshoes from the Nature Center.

From May through October, visit the north shore Chateau, the Snack Stand, the South Shore Facility or the Ice Age Convenience Store for food, espresso, ice and souvenirs, or to rent kayaks, canoes, rowboats and paddleboats. Five picnic shelters are rentable for family reunions, company picnics, and weddings. In winter, enjoy quiet solitude and try out the cross-country skiing, ice fi shing, snowshoeing and winter camping.

S5975 Park Road, Baraboo, WI 53913 608-356-8301, www.wiparks.net

For camping reservations, up to 11 months in advance, call 1-888-947-2757 or go to www.wiparks.net and click the link for reservations.

Pick up a map at the park, or go to www.wiparks.net and select Devil’s Lake State Park

A GEOLOGICAL HISTORY THAT ROCKS

When we say this park is as old as the hills, you can take that literally. The towering 500-foot bluffs surrounding Devil’s Lake – part of the ancient Baraboo Range – are estimated at 1.6 billion years old. Magnificent geological formations, including Devil’s Doorway and Balanced Rock, were created by water freezing and expanding in cracks in the rock. Though today they’re harder than granite, these pink quartzite outcrops actually started out as sand deposited into shallow ancient seas. Having been buried by surging water and sediment and surviving the Ice Age glaciers, the Baraboo Hills are a National Natural Landmark and one of fewer than a hundred Last Great Places in the world named by the Nature Conservancy.

Visit the nature center at Devil’s Lake to learn the entire incredible story of how this geological gem came to be! ALL THE FUN YOU CAN DREAM UP

If it’s outdoors on land or water, you can probably do it at Devil’s Lake. You’ll find nearly 30 miles of hiking trails, including the adjoining Ice Age National Scenic Trail and along with paved and off-road bike trails. You can even rock climb the bluffs with a permit.

The 360-acre Devil’s Lake offers two boat landings, two swimming beaches, great fishing, and canoe and kayak rentals, and is popular for SCUBA diving for its clear water and 45- to 50-foot depths. Stay for the day with abundant picnicking areas and five shelters available for rent, or set up for the night at one of three campgrounds. Parties of up to 20 people can choose from nine group campsites. After opening specified areas of the 9,217-acre park for hunting season, Devil’s Lake keeps the fun going all winter with crosscountry skiing, snowshoeing and even dogsledding on the trails, as well as a popular sledding hill and ice fishing equipment checkouts.

NATIVE LORE AND NATURAL SURROUNDINGS

Native Americans, particularly the Ho-Chunk but also Sauk, Fox, Kickapoo and possibly other tribes, were the first people to inhabit the area around Devil’s Lake after the glaciers receded 15,000 years ago. The lake got its name from a poor translation by trappers and traders of the original Ho-Chunk name, “Ta-wa-cun-chuk-dah,” which roughly translates to “Spirit Lake,” “Holy Lake” or “Sacred Lake.”

The lake’s over-the-top name, sensational tales of monsters in the water and a tragic love story between a Native American princess and French trader have entertained tourists flocking to the area since the mid-1800s, but the Ho-Chunk people believed the lake was the site of a mighty ancient battle between the thunderbirds and the water spirits that shook the earth and formed the magnificent surrounding bluffs. At one time, countless Native American effigy mounds were scattered throughout the area that is now Sauk County. Devil’s Lake State Park preserves the largest remaining group of these mounds, which include bear, lynx and bird shapes and linear and conical designs.

Sauk County remains a region of incredible natural beauty today, with 24 state natural areas – more than any other county. In addition to nearly half of Wisconsin’s bird species and 880 types of plants, you’ll find three of these state natural areas within Devil’s Lake State Park, including Wisconsin’s oldest, Parfrey’s Glen.

Extend your visit a little longer and see more of Sauk County’s scenic natural wonders!

DEVIL’S LAKE IS ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO FISH IN WISCONSIN

Devil’s Lake is an extremely popular state park which annually receives over one million visitors. The park is a great place to camp, walk, and hike the rock hills and woods that surround this scenic lake with its magnificent scenery, fauna, and flora. The park and lake are extremely popular, but few visitors fish the lake’s waters, and when they do it’s usually from shore. Devil’s Lake, all 369 acres, doesn’t allow outboard motors which scares away some fisherman with big water boats. Trolling motors are allowed, so make sure that your batteries are charged to the maximum when fishing this lake. This is a perfect lake for fishing from a smaller boat, canoe, fishing tube, or kayak. Before you go, do some research on websites like Fishidy where you can connect with local anglers to find out which species of fish are currently biting.

Brown trout are the most plentiful and sought after gamefish in the lake. Devil’s Lake has good depth, clear water, some rock structure, and an assortment of beautiful green weeds. All of these attributes make this a perfect little lake for a varied and diverse fishery for any angler. Besides, the stocked brown trout, Devil’s Lake has northern pike (some over 20+ pounds), walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and plenty of eating-size bluegills and crappies.

Courtesy of travelwisconsin.com

HIKING & NATURE TRAILS

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which takes you past the rock features and historic site as well as a scenic overlook, while the other longer trail loops through a wooded landscape resplendent in hardwoods and ferns.

6. Ferry Bluff State Natural

Area

Located five miles west of Sauk City, Ferry Bluff State Natural Area is a part of the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway. Ferry Bluff and the adjacent Cactus Bluff tower more than 300 feet above the confluence of Honey Creek and the Wisconsin River. At the nature area’s trailhead, hikers have the option to follow one trail down to the riverbank or the other trail up a 20% grade to the top of Cactus Bluff. This sandstone overlook offers scenic panoramic views allowing you to see for miles in most directions, while the river valley below is simply stunning. Dusk is considered one of the best times to hike the trail so you can see the moon reflected in the river surrounded by the soft hues of sunset.

7. Fern Dell Gorge State

Natural Area

Fern Dell Gorge, located within Mirror Lake State Park, features a small but spectacular gorge. The narrow mile long swath is a tributary to the larger Mirror Lake gorge and is blanketed in an ocean of ferns. Getting to this amazing variety of ferns isn’t an easy task, but it’s definitely worth the adventure. There are no maintained trails into Fern Dell Gorge, and the journey involves following deer paths. Visitors need to make their own way through the woods and bramble and clamber down the cliff walls, or enter the gorge by canoe or kayak from Mirror Lake tributary. Park Rangers at Mirror Lake State Park can assist you with directions to this truly hidden gem.

Want to read more? Check out these seven natural wonders in our state, and keep an eye on TravelWisconsin. com as we roll out more articles in this series on scenic wonders by county.

While you’re in the area, CHECK OUT MORE OF NATURE’S BEAUTIFUL WONDERS

at any of these other Sauk County destinations:

• Bakken’s Pond at the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway • Bear Creek Sedge Meadow at the Bear Creek Fishery Area • Cady’s Marsh • Dells of the Wisconsin River • Devil’s Lake Oak Forest • South Bluff/Devil’s Nose • Hemlock Draw • Honey Creek State Natural Area • Hulburt Creek Woods at Hulburt Creek Fishery Area • Lower Narrows • McGilvra Woods • Mirror Lake Pine Oak Forest at Mirror Lake State Park • Pan Hollow • Pine Hollow • Schluckebier Prairie • Spring Green Preserve