Devil's Lake State Park Trails

Devil's Lake has trails for hiking, bicycling, and cross-country skiing. Some visitors also enjoy climbing and snowshoeing at the park.

Tumbled Rocks Trail on a warm spring day.
DNR Photo by Bonnie Gruber

Hiking Trails

Devil's Lake has 29.9 miles of trails, all of which are open for hiking in spring, summer, and fall. Trails range from easy, short, and level meadow walks to rugged staircase-like stone steps steeply ascending several hundred feet up to the bluff tops. Trail sections can be combined to create walking routes of .5 mile up to more than 10 miles. The statewide Ice Age Trail goes through the park and includes about half of the park's trails.

The park has 1.5 miles of trail that are accessible for people with disabilities. These include Tumbled Rocks Trail (the roughly paved northern half may be accessible to strollers and wheelchairs with adventurous attendants), Grottoes Trail (fairly smooth and level with a fine gravel surface), a sidewalk and wooden boardwalk along the south shore of the lake, and the paved pathways in both the north and south picnic areas.

Bike Trails

The park also has 8.0 miles of off-road bike trails—the Upland Trail Loop and the connector between Steinke Basin and the North Shore Picnic Area. Trails ope to bikers are so posted. A state trail pass is not required to use the mountain bike trails. Bicyclists must use caution and give hikers the right-of-way.

There are no official paved road-bike trails in the park, although many people enjoy riding several miles on all the paved campground roads. Many of the roads in the park and surrounding areas are not biker friendly, since roads are often narrow, hilly, and winding, with guardrails and narrow shoulders. Park roads have more than their share of scenery-distracted drivers and inexperienced motor home operators. A 2-mile paved bicycle trail extends from the park's north shore entrance to the City of Baraboo.

Climbing

Many people rock climb and go bouldering at Devil's Lake but the park is not maintained for rock climbing; do it at your own risk. No permits are issued; particular areas or routes are not reservable. The park neither prohibits nor promotes rock climbing in the park.

Climbers may encounter loose rocks. Every year there are some accidents and injuries, rarely involving trained and experienced climbers. Most accidents involve inexperienced people unfamiliar with standard safety precautions and those who have been using alcohol.

Rock climbing instruction groups come to the park, but the park does not maintain information about these private businesses.

For campsite availability, call (888) WI PARKS ((888) 947-2757) or check the Web. For other information, ask Devil's Lake State Park, (608) 356-8301.