Definitely wear solid shoes with good traction if you plan to climb the rocky trail to the top. Oh boy. I only made it half way, it's quite challenging! Very steep in parts. If you don't want to climb up to catch the views, there is still beauty all around and you can walk by the lake or around the flatter trails. $16 was the daily fee for my car, as I have Illinois plates. I'm guessing it's cheaper for folks who live in Wisconsin. I will have to return in the spring to see the colors! But this state park was gorgeous, even on a chilly March day! read more

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DLSP is deceptive from the parking lot. It looks pretty chill, but once you venture forward, you come to find out that it is in charge, not you. If you have not read up on the history, please do, it is humbling how much time has transformed this place. There is a LOT to unpack. If you came here planning to trail run the park, you can try, but in my first experience, this is not the place, you would be better off doing that in Mirror Lake. We decided to explore the east bluff which is where the majority of the scenic points are located. I would not classify this hike as a casual jaunt, it was well earned. The scenic points were marked, but not explicit in their execution imho. Sometimes you got to a point marker only to find out that the scenic point was at the bottom of the bluff, so you had to hike down to the bottom of the bluff from the top of the bluff and then back up again, this was not obvious. The maps and trail heads could use some help imho, meaning that it was not obvious to the casual hiker where sh*t was exactly. Having said that, the park did not disappoint, it was amazing and I can't wait to come back again and experience additional aspects of it. read more

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Wanted to go hiking to see balanced rock and devils door. Had never been in the area before, but watched a few videos before going to try to get an idea of what id need to do when I got there. Got to the park around 5 and all the concessions were closed. Couldn't find anyone to speak to but there was a machine to buy a parking pass and found the map so I could figure out the trails. Made my way up to balanced rock but it was getting late and started to lose sunlight so didnt make it to devils door. Wouldn't say it's a easy hike but my girl never did anything like it and she did it just fine. Rocks slippery but I feel it was worth the views. Beautiful park and would definitely go back. read more

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This SP surprised me! I didn't expect the gorgeous rocky cliff bluffs and panoramic views of the lake. We hiked up the mountainside to walk the cliff above the lake (not sure the name of the trail) then to Tumbled Rocks trail that takes you on a paved path right along the lake. The cliff top trail will take some endurance as it's a steep incline to get to the top. My 60 year old dad and uncle could do it. The lake was frozen (February) so there were ice fishermen out which was neat to see! We also walked on the lake which was a new experience! Sadly the nature center/ gift shop was closed which was disappointing as I always like to buy a memento from a new park. read more

Devil's Lake State Park - Parks Near Me - Baraboo, Wisconsin

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Me and my wife recently came here over Memorial Day weekend since she's never been to Devil's Lake State Park. It was really tough trying to find parking here but thankfully I found another spot away from the area just to avoid the parking fee generally. This place is really popular and a lot of people are here for a variety of attractions from the scenic views, the beaches the nice walks, boating rafting kayaking Etc Many of the people here are nice and respectful I'm so happy to say that I did not find any litter either throughout my walk the lake was crystal clear I highly recommend checking this place out if you're in need of a nature break. read more

Devil's Lake State Park - Parks Near Me - Baraboo, Wisconsin

Devil's Lake State Park has breathtaking views, a beautiful waterfront, and amazing rock formations. Visiting Devil's Lake is one of my favorite things to do in the fall. The colors are stunning! Kayaking on the water in the summer is also a highlight. read more

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The park was beautiful. I stopped by on a Sunday. There was a good crowd. Luckily I got a parking spot right away. Walk through the Tumbled Rock trail was not too easy, but not difficult either. There was an ice cream stand selling Cedar Crest ice cream. I had a couple of scoops. Store had nice memorabilia. read more

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The most interesting discovery we made beyond the already discovered balanced rock was the deep rail push-up. This is done by extending your hands and feet to touch both sides of the rail lines and attempt a push-up. Few have the wingspan to do it, luckily at the main lodge there's a large avian wingspan chart to see if you measure up. read more

Devil's Lake State Park - Parks Near Me - Baraboo, Wisconsin

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We got engaged in the area so this place holds a special place in our hearts. Great to see the expansion of things like the chateau for concessions, souvenirs and supplies for those camping/hiking. The staff at the chateau were very friendly and helpful. Lots of t- shirts, hoodies, shoes, toys, etc for purchase. The trails were a bit tougher this go around. So many steep trails to get to the top of the bluffs. By the end of it, an oktoberfest beer and cone of ice cream at the end really hit the spot. Be prepared if you hike here - good, grippy shoes, plenty of water and perhaps some snacks to keep you fueled. read more

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This was my second time coming to Devils Lake and I enjoyed it just as much! This state park offers hiking, walking trails, paddle boat/kayak/paddle board rentals, and camp ground sites. I visited on a beautiful summer Sunday which meant a lot of families were out enjoying the water, trails, and picnic grounds. The main parking lot is $16 for out of state residents and $13 for in state residents for a day pass; however, one may be able to park at non-centralized lots to avoid the fee. We hiked the full circle around the lake which ended up totaling close to 5.5 miles with two spirts of +400 feet elevation. Below more details: -West Bluff Trail: This trail is listed at 1.4 miles and a +400ft elevation. The north trail entrance is a mixture of some stairs and some incline hiking. The steepness was doable and I enjoyed the vantage points along the trail before hitting the final look out which was breathtaking! Immediately after the main look out is the south entrance down. This way is all incline hiking. *Tumbled Rocks Trail is alternative trail along the lake with no elevation. -Balanced Rock Trail: This trail is listed at 0.4 miles and a +300ft elevation. This entry point was ALL ROCK STAIRS. There are no safety banisters and had some drop off points adjacent to stairs. Balanced Rock itself is very pretty and we saw many rock climbers on this path. Still, this is not for the faint of heart. -East Bluff Trail: This trail is listed at 1.1 miles and about a +100ft elevation. There is a mixture of steps and hiking path with gorgeous look out points. The northern entrance was where we descended and was more hiking incline which was appreciated. They have north and south concession and ice cream spots as well as bathrooms. The north end restrooms, by the visitor center, were more well kept than the south. The visitor center also has order in food, merch, and to go snacks. read more

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Our family with kids hiked around the whole lake, and the scenery was stunning! Gorgeous bluffs and rock formations. We'd love to go back and do some of the water activities. We stopped halfway through our hike at the concessions area for lunch, and it was friendly service and good concession type food. They even had a black bean burger, and the ice cream was delish with good variety. read more

Devil's Lake State Park - Devils Arch rock formation - Parks Near Me - Baraboo, Wisconsin

Plenty of parking, tons of picnic seating, and what looked like plenty of water activities once it's warmer (kayaks etc.) The lake itself is beautiful and the trails were upkept and easy to follow. Very relaxing site and interesting people/animal watching. read more

Devil's Lake State Park - Lake with some of the picnic tables - Parks Near Me - Baraboo, Wisconsin

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Wow! Now I see why this is the number one state park in Wisconsin. Peace and serenity and beauty throughout, and the amenities! Being a city girl I need my shopping lol and this checks all the boxes there are three sizable gift shops, ice cream shop, espresso, and drink bar, bar, and grill with ample seating. Plenty of parking and a picturesque lake which feels like you're in another state. read more

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Very beautiful. Day pass is $13 per vehicle. The trail around the perimeter of the lake is about 3.5 miles according to my watch. It's an easy walk. You will be getting full sun, so wear sun protection. You'll also be walking on stones, so wear tennis shoes with plenty of cushion or hiking boots. To be very honest, I was somewhat underwhelmed by the trail - I actually think the Estabrook Park trail along the Milwaukee River is better. I will definitely like to come back and try their other, more challenging trails. I would definitely not walk on the East side of the lake, on those train tracks. There was nothing grandiose about it, and walking on those rocks was brutal (sort of my fault for not having comfy shoes I guess). We didn't have time this time, but I also definitely want to come back for some water time. read more

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Just wow- breathtaking views from the West Bluff trail. The climb is worth it! It took about an hour and 45 minutes to complete the trail and return via Tumbled Rocks, and we stopped to take pictures plus had a dog. Trail was clean, well maintained, and no bugs! Very busy, but clean and maintained park and picnic area. Absolutely enjoyed my time here. Parking lot got pretty full after about 1 PM. read more

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breathtaking views from the west and east Bluff trail. The climb is worth it! It took about an hour and 45 minutes to complete the trail and return via Tumbled Rocks, and we stopped to take pictures Trail was clean, well maintained, and no bugs! Very busy, but clean and maintained park and picnic area. Absolutely enjoyed my time here. Parking lot got pretty full after about read more

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Such a good spot to hike and get some workout on! Highly recommend, a good spot to bring your friends and family and grill. So much to do! We hiked and got some ice cream! And we're able to get all our steps in for the day! read more

While we didn't use all the services at this park, there were certainly spectacular views while hiking! Restrooms were clean & did I mention the views? I'd absolutely go back, tho, I will acknowledge that signage wasn't good & was conflicting at times, we used downloaded maps without issue. read more

Pretty sure it's acclaimed as the jewel of the state park system. We had done the east bluff before but this time did the west bluff and hiked back along the Tumbled Rocks trail. The west bluff started up straight up the hill, a mixture of high pitched trail and rock steps. Once we did the initial ascent, it became more of a walk through the woods, but just when we would think the next small rise would be the last, there would be another to come. Throughout the bluff side hike there were great views across to the east bluff and down to the lake. It definitely struck you how straight up above the lake you seemed to be. There were benches at many of the overlooks and rock outcroppings as well. We were there on a misty morning so that added some cool effects to the views. Downhill on the south side didn't seem as bad, although the last stretch of spread out steps was somewhat interesting to navigate. Walking back among the talus was an easy enough hike but also interesting surroundings. All in all, well worth it and we'll plan to get back regularly. read more

Devil's Lake State Park - The foggy view down from the top in the midst. - Parks Near Me - Baraboo, Wisconsin

There's a ton to do here at Devil's Lake State Park from chilling lakeside, picnicking, water activities in the summer, hiking with trails of various difficulties and more! Personally I found the trails to be pretty well marked and easy, some though are a little steep and some are on the side of the hill? Mountain? Anyway there's no railings for that particular trail but I never felt unsafe. HOWEVER for people that have a fear of heights that trail may not be for you. Long story short I learned how bad my husband's fear of heights was. But i also saw a pre-teen who was literally using his hands to stay low to the ground while walking/climbing up. They have a small off-leash dog-friendly area next to one of the boat launches pretty close to the entrance. It's not super well-marked, but there's a small sign just sort of right of the boat launch. It's not completely fenced off or anything but there's some plant growth between the lake and the road. It was the perfect spot for us to take our doggo exploring the water and there was maybe only one other dog there (this was off-season though). During the off season parking is plentiful, but it gets super packed when in season and you might have to get there early to secure a spot if you're planning on spending some time there. As with all Wisconsin State Parks a permit is required with price varying depending on if you're a WI resident. You can get a day pass, but if you're planning on spending more than 2 days during the year visiting any of the WI parks then an annual pass is probably worth it. read more

Devil's Lake State Park - Parks Near Me - Baraboo, Wisconsin

Great state park. Beautiful hikes and beaches. Nice campgrounds but not a level site to be found. Some more so than others so bring every leveling block you have. read more

Devil's Lake State Park - Not so level.... - Parks Near Me - Baraboo, Wisconsin

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I couldnt tell if I was at devils Lake or at a giant Mexican tailgate party. visitors have zero respect for other guests and blast the (big) portable radios in typical trash fashion with no regard or care. the park rangers could care less either read more

Too bloody expensive. Out of state people find a different place to stay. Camp fees is $43 then they charge you out of state fees then they charge extra for power then they charge you to extra to drive in the gate and extra for a tow car. A $43 campsite cost us $80. Never again will I camp at a state park Wisconsin. read more

The Balanced Rock trail consists of very narrow, stone stairs. It is a very popular trail that over looks the lake. It is impossible to keep 6 feet of distance especially on busier weekends. Some areas are so narrow you have to stop to let people coming from the opposite direction pass. Some people bring their dogs which makes it extra interesting. It is a strenuous hike (my husband and I took a couple breaks and we are in our 30s) but it was well worth the views. I would recommend a small backpack, a couple snacks or a small lunch to munch on when you get to the top, good hiking shoes, water, a knee wrap if you have any issues and an extra dash of persistence to get you to the top. read more

Devil's Lake State Park - Parks Near Me - Baraboo, Wisconsin

Everything went well and we had a nice time the last time we were there. It's a beautiful place to visit and se.

Drove in from Chicago for a few hours of hiking on our way to northern Wisconsin. We arrived at 8am and there were a handful of cars in the parking lot. By the time we returned from our hike (9:30a) the lot was practically full! We wanted to do a loop around Devils Lake, so we headed out on Tumbled Rocks Trail. All in all, it was about 3.5 miles around the lake. The trail was pretty easy (1.5 out of 5 difficulty). It was mostly flat. See pics for more detail. The trail itself was 5/5 stars, but the buildings were a little run down around the park, that is the reason I gave DL 4 stars. This would be a great place to bring your dog. Almost everyone we saw in the hour and a half we were here had a dog. The views are beautiful! We'll be back : ) read more

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This was a breathtaking hike! It was definitely challenging at times but with breaks and taking your time going down the beauty is so worth it. It was impressive seeing so many dogs doing the hike with thier owners. We started at the bottom on the rock side along the water. It was a great hike. Possibly the most beautiful hike I've ever done read more

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Have visited Devil's Lake State Park over 5 times now. It has been one of my favorite hiking spots in Wisconsin. The views are so beautiful and it's honestly a beautiful trek during all seasons. During the spring time, the weather is perfect for hiking through the trails. During the summer, take a dip into the lake and enjoy the sun. During the fall, watch the tree leaves during beautiful colors. During winter, take a walk on the frozen lake. Highly recommend for anyone who enjoys the outdoors!! read more

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Park is beautiful. Camping experience not so much. Incredibly expensive cost when you include the electric hookup, the out of state fee , and the additional per person day access fee you must pay before you get in the park. Showers are yuck. Handycap bath access a joke. Camping here should be advertised as "able bodied Wisconsin residents only (take a shower elsewhere). Sites also very close, no privacy read more

A pretty nice park to get your camping on. I've never been camping in my life so didn't really know what to expect. In terms of the campgrounds, they have lots where there is electricity, and then there are lots without. I believe the no-electricity route is cheaper. We roughed it for 2.5 days and it was an interesting experience. I've never been so scared to pee in pitch-black darkness in the middle of the night, and hearing all the weird sounds and animals was definitely a different experience for this city slicker. The State Park is beautiful though. They have a beach like area with paddle boats, canoes, and kayaks you can rent out, as well as two trails that lead to the bluffs, which has an amazing view. Parking can be tough, so go early and hope for the best. Or walk to it, if your campsite is relatively close. BATHROOM REVIEW: OK, I get it, we're camping, so I'm just glad I didn't have to dig a hole and pop a squat. The bathroom and showers were about 300-yards from our camp site and consisted of 3 showers, two urinals, and two stalls. Remember to randomly push on the shower faucet, or risk having the water turn off on you at a soapy inopportune time, like it happened to me. The showers were OK, but were usable. Pro-tip: If you need to poo, and don't mind the trek, haul over to the beach area, where the bathrooms are 90x nicer. Sit or squat? Squat. read more

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Four stars in the summer; five stars for fall, winter and spring! Devil's Lake is an incredible treat to have so close to home for us, it's like a little adventure every time we go! Don't think it's just the locals though, as soon as the summer hits, there are hundreds of people visiting from out of state every day spending time on the beach, swimming, hiking and camping. It's a *little* slower during the week but it's a zoo of people every day so don't expect a lot of tranquility unless you're way off the beaten path of the trails. Parking on the weekends can feel close to impossible, so be sure to carpool if possible. You can rent out the picnic shelters if you have a group as well and want a nice spot to spend the day. Awesome ice cream stand in the warmer months to treat yourself to and good food indoors, cute and huge store too. There is an area on both shores for dogs as well -all off leash water area and on-leash, so you can bring your friendly pup if you like! It is not enclosed, though, and the park staff will be quick to alert you if your pet is off leash out of the limits. The massive campgrounds are nearly full every day and unless there are cancelations, you definitely want to head to the website to reserve your spot in advance. You can reserve up to 11 months prior, and the summer is more than half filled by January, so get in on it fast! It's about $25/night for the non-electric sites. Winter camping is available in one area too...if you dare to in the Midwest. I don't remember what park admission is without a state park pass, I believe 10 dollars for a car? Worth it to buy the year pass, it's less than 30 dollars and you don't have to pay for reentry each time you leave. The hiking is breathtaking and can be a real workout, depending on where you go. Hike up the bluffs for more of a challenge or stay on the flatter ground through the forest. There are some very cool landmarks such as Devil's Doorway, Balanced Rock, Cleopatras Needle and Elephant Rock if you do your searching. Dress to hike uneven ground and wear good shoes. While Devil's Lake is truly a blast is the summer, the beauty is incredible year round. The other seasons are when you're going to get a more peaceful experience. Going for a hike in the fall or winter is just gorgeous and your photos will be phenomenal. My husband proposed in the bluffs and we took our wedding photos at Devil's Lake -it's an awesome backdrop. Whether you want to put on some quality boots to take a lovely hike, camp with your family or just hang on the beach, Devil's Lake is an awesome place to make some memories! Just bring your camera. read more

What an unexpected surprise when we went for a hike and saw the beautiful moon in this park. Words cannot adequately describe the peace and serenity we experienced hiking up the rocks through the snow and ice. An extraordinarily beautiful experience. Then the site of the tree trunks with their bay leaves against the sky with the moon peering through. Unbelievable. read more

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The state of Wisconsin has done well here! Very well! They locked Devils Lake down by owning and managing the entire distance around the entire swath of land known as Devils Lake. Parks on both sides and amazing hiking all around. Devils Lake is the premier place to hike, kayak, canoe, paddleboard, rock climb, hang with the pooch and camp! Whew, that was a mouthful. For me with any campsite I prefer the remote sites. No electric no fancy bathrooms, just you in the back of nature staring at some of the most gorgeous scenery one could ask for. I won't tell you what sites we prefer but instead tell you go big or go home. Devils Lake can get pretty hectic with out of towners on the weekends but if you reserve far enough out and get the right spot one is truly given the opportunity to enjoy this special gem of an area. The hiking is no joke especially up top when you're traversing the cliffs but we wouldn't have it any other way. So much to see so much to enjoy. Devils Lake isn't a place to forget. Since we drove from MKE we made it a special treat and took the Merrimac free ferry across the bay to get here. That made the overall getaway feel a little more fun. Devils Lake is a must go to if you can! So worth it! read more

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I always enjoy coming here whether it's freezing or hot! Great sights and views! Always parking even when busy during the memorial holiday season. Some very scenic and physical trails ahead, so if you plan on climbing up make sure you are in decent health. Bring water if it's very hot and a towel for sweat! Plenty of places to sit and many great spots to take selfies! read more

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Devil's Lake State Park: I've been camping here since I've been a teenager and have always enjoyed the park. The east & west bluffs are beautiful and make for excellent hiking and rock climbing. There are numerous bathrooms and showers available throughout the campground. Near the lake is a general store, restaurant, event hall, ice cream shop, and kayak rentals. My only complaint from this most recent trip is that the automatic hand dryer in the men's restroom near our campsite was broken and there were no paper towels available as an alternative. read more

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Want it Quiet? Come on a weekday. But if you like people-watching, being close to your neighbors, "participating" in triathlons, come on the weekend. On Friday 9/16 there were very few people, we literally met 12 people on the popular trails from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., there were 3 cars in the South parking lot, practically had the place to ourselves. Saturday and Sunday the place was packed, parking lots full, trails crawling with hikers, screaming kids from dawn to 11 p.m., dogs barking. If high volume action is your thing, this is the place for you on the weekend. Hiking-wise if you're wondering if old-ish people can do these difficult hikes, it took us oldsters a good 3 hours to do the loop of the most popular sights: Balanced Rock, Devil's Doorway, Potholes and Grottoes Trails. We climbed slowly (walking sticks REALLY HELP!). Save your energy for these strenuous climbs and drive from your campsite to the South parking lot, and then hit the trails EARLY in the morning. There will be hardly any people and plenty of parking spots. Younger people can do that same loop in about half the time or less. Camping-wise, the place was not buggy, the sites were clean, bathrooms were well-maintained, even had a shower and flush toilets. After Labor Day some of the stores and concession stands are closed for the season. There is no vegan Ice cream available, but the cafe does have a black bean veggie burger. It's cheaper by a buck or two to buy your firewood outside of the park. When the acorns are falling from the oak trees, they may bonk you on the head or ding your vehicle, so be aware. On Friday, it seemed like the maintenance crew was preparing the property for the weekend by mowing all the grass at 7 a.m. or by circling your picnic table at the beach while you're trying to eat lunch. Watch out for irresponsible pet owners who don't bring poop bags and let their dogs poop on the trail without cleaning it up or they just leave their poop bags on the trail. A week before our reservation we got an email from the park notifying us that there would be a triathlon happening on the Sunday of our stay. The race would take place from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Promptly at 6:00 a.m. the music started blasting and the announcer began announcing through the loudspeaker, so forget about sleeping in if you're in a tent in the Northern Lights campground. It felt like we were participating in the triathlon too. All in all, we had a good time, but don't feel the need to go back again. We did a ton of hiking and had fun with our friends. We saw the sh*t out of the park, so now we can go on to another adventure elsewhere. read more

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Devils lake is absolutely wonderful when it's not busy. Be aware that they will tow you if you park outside the parking signs. (And sometimes there aren't any no parking signs and you will still get towed.) This didn't happen to me, but I saw it happen. Imagine getting your car towed in the middle of no where with no Ubers and barely any cell service. Just know the DNR are sticklers for the rules at this park, so go when it's not busy and you'll have a great time. read more

Such a nice park. The east bluff hike was great. We love that we were able to bring our dogs on the hike. The views of the lake were stunning. The hike was very easy and the trail was well kept. read more

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TL:DR - If going more than one day, consider getting the annual pass. Beautiful hikes, but way over saturated with people. Beach was packed midweek/mid-coronavirus and plenty of hikers blaring music on their bluetooth speakers in the middle of the woods. As of 06/08, the park is open, but the visitor center, rental station, and bathrooms were all still closed. This place is really beautiful, but was really over saturated with people. This was the case mid-week during a pandemic. We got here at 9:30, and people were already staking out beach spots to hunker down for the day... Luckily we were just here to hike, but even on the hike, you couldn't go 5 minutes without running into another group and you couldn't go 10 min without passing a group trying to avoid conversation by blasting music from a bluetooth speaker while hiking. Based on several suggestions, we were told the "East bluff" trail was the best hike to take. It is quite gorgeous and a relatively easy hike if you're in good walking shape. There are some stairs and most of the trail is paved. There are tons of great look outs along the way, but most of those look outs don't have a paved trail leading to them. In addition to the "East bluff trail" we went passed balanced rock (much smaller than I expected), devils doorway (where people felt the need to climb all over the thing), potholes (we only saw one pot hole near the north end of the trail, so feel free to see them and turn back), a portion of the grottos trail (great pockets of cold air coming from underground caverns), and rozenose meadows (least busy, beautiful meadows, little to no cover). The price was quite high, if you are going more than a day ($16/day), it may be worth it to just get the annual pass ($38). read more

This place is special! I'm disappointed that it took me so long to visit. I needed a place to get away from the busy life and just let the stress melt away. Devil's Lake State Park delivered. For this year's rates, cars with Wisconsin plates can buy a one day pass for $8 or a annual pass for $28. Out of state plates cost more, obviously. I arrived on Thursday of Labor Day weekend, so it wasn't busy. The lake was calm and mostly surrounded by the bluffs and the beaches at North Shore and South Shore. The park was quiet, and just driving in on the entrance road, with the forest on either side of me, I started to feel relaxed. The North Shore of the lake seems to be the most popular. The store and concession stand is open more consistently than the smaller version on the South Shore. The beach seems a little nicer and has more amenities than the south shore, although the south shore has a significantly large park space for picnics, as well as a volleyball court and a hall for event rentals. There was a wedding there during my visit. There is a lot to explore with various camp sites, points of interest, and hiking trails labeled in the Visitor's Guide as easy to difficult, but I kept my exploring to a minimum with a mile and a half hike along the lake and a drive to the south shore from the north shore. I was there to do as little as possible and enjoy some clean air and tranquility. My mission was accomplished. read more

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