The views were spectacular, the park was well maintained, and there was tons to do. It was well populated (for good reason), but not overly crowded (especially on the south side). The day pass is $16 - where else can you take a whole family for that amount of money for a day's entertainment? The signage leaves something to be desired (we spent some time looking for the Steinke Basin, which can only be accessed from outside the park), but the staff are willing and able to help if you ask for directions. Definitely worth the trip. read more

Awesome winter spot, and I'll look forward to coming back in the summer. Free snowshoe use, although parking costs money. When we went they were having a little event with kids ice fishing, and a fire, music, hot cocoa, smores, and some activities for kids in the rock shelter. It's about $10 for the day for non-Wisconsin plates. It's a little under an hour from Madison. read more

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Graat park amazing water in the lake! Amazing views from too of the mountains ! Great people nice hotels and food great!! A plus plus!!

The reputation of this gem precedes itself. It's a locale that combines steep beautiful vistas, accessible hiking trails, and a beautiful beachfront unperturbed by obnoxious motor boats. The must-do activity is to hike up the west ridge and take in the view from the crest, it's breathtaking. I can't vouch for the camping experience, but to me it sure looked like the sites were very close together and all of them were occupied. The obvious issue here is that the park is a victim of its own popularity. During my most recent visit to Devil's Lake, I booked a stay a mile up Hwy 123 at the quaint and adorable Willowood Inn, which gets my highest recommendation for a motel in the area. No worry about the late-night RV set or being rained out there! read more

Devil's Lake State Park - near the top of the west ridge - Parks Near Me - Baraboo, Wisconsin

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Beautiful park with lots of hiking. Well worth a visit about one hour north of Madison. There are a couple of things to consider. Weekends and summers will definitely be more crowded. Many of the trails, even the easy trails, are better hiked with trekking poles. Many of the trails, while "paved," really aren't any easier to hike because they are paved. The paving is only rudimentary and there to keep the trails from washing away (e.g., they are steep or meander among large boulders). Do your research before visiting and pick trails appropriate for your skill and endurance levels. Many of the trails are STEEP and should be avoided if you're not physically fit. Enjoy your visit! Call the park ahead of time if you have questions about the trails. Make sure you bring food and water to the park. Dress in layers and wear a hat. Cell phone service is spotty, so download any maps to your phone beforehand. Make sure you pick up a map at the Visitor's Center. Also, make sure you have gas in your car. It's a beautiful park well worth visiting, with some very steep trails, and not extremely close to any towns. read more

This is a great park near Baraboo. It is actually much more than just the lake itself. The park itself stretches far beyond the lake into the surrounding countryside offering hiking opportunities in a surprisingly diverse set of environments. The lake is electric motor only, which keeps it peaceful. The best hikes are on the bluffs around the lake where along the way there are some stunning views. The trails (and roads) in the park provide challenging runs also. The only downsides to the park are: 1) As already mentioned numerous times its beauty, leads to popularity, which can lead to overcrowding. 2) Swimmers itch can be a problem in the lake during the summer. read more

Amazing place for hiking, rock climbing, camping, swimming, kayaking, paddle boarding, picnics, family hangouts. This place is huge and so nice and clean, when arriving the view of nature is amazing, it's like a piece of heaven here, you can camp out, cook out, everything. They also have a shop where you can eat, have a drink. They also have kayak rentals, SUP rentals. Restrooms available. This place is amazing and I will come back here. read more

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Spent the Fourth of July camping in the Ice Age area of the park - we absolutely loved it. The site was heavily wooded and fairly secluded for such a popular campground, with a nice camp store a stone's throw away. Even though it was a holiday, people were respectful and not obnoxious. The hiking is fantastic, with options for all skill levels and types of scenery. The facilities are all high quality. A couple notes of advice for management: - More garbage cans throughout the park. We could only find them in bathrooms. - More signage indicating where camp sites, specific trails, etc are located. It's easy to get turned around if you're a newbie. Great stuff, we'll be back! read more

EPIC. What more can I say about the most popular Wisconsin state park? Devil's Lake is gorgeous in all regards and the various trails and treks range from "easy" to "challenging." We spent a full afternoon here and had perfect weather for hikes up the East and West Bluff trails. Devil's Doorway is the iconic rock formation, but don't sleep on Balanced Rock or the longer trails which stretch to include part of the Ice Age Scenic National Trail. I have never camped at DLSP but that changes next summer -- get your reservations in early! read more

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

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I've been dying to go hiking ever since leaving Washington and vacationing in Alaska last year. Although this is no Washington or Alaska, Devil's Lake State Park is absolutely beautiful. I finally got around to hiking there today and took a 5.5 mile hike around the lake. The water is absolutely beautiful and was full of paddle boarders, swimmers, and kayakers (I'll admit that the prices to rent water transportation are a little high--but I digress). I was happy to see that you can let your dog go into the water off leash in some areas as well, which my dog thoroughly enjoyed. The trail gets pretty high up in some places and allows you to see a beautiful view of the lake. I ended up paying for the annual pass because I figured I would be back enough times to make it worth it. If you have WI state license plates, it is only $28 for the annual pass, which gets you into a ton of Wisconsin state parks (including Devil's Lake). Otherwise, it is pretty pricey to do a day pass (I think $13 if you are in state and $16 if you are out of state). It is part of the America the Beautiful Pass, but you have to get this ahead of time. I was sad to hear that my military friends were not given a discount and were instead told that they needed to apply for the America the Beautiful Pass online to take advantage of the military discount. Other than that, I have no complaints. If you come on a weekend, try to get here early because it gets packed with all of the swimmers and BBQers. read more

This was a fantastic site to spend (an abnormally warm) fall day. The hiking and climbing we did while here were great. The views of the fall colored trees were incredible. It is not too far to drive from Chicago, so I am looking forward to coming back and doing some camping. read more

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Because the midwest lacks mountains, a lot of people fail to realize that there are still very beautiful state parks and amazing hikes and trails around this area. This is one of them! I came here on a Monday morning. It costs $11 per car to enter (for non-WI residents). The lake itself is gorgeous, blue, and large. There's a rental shop to the side where you can rent paddle boards, canoes, etc. Being so large, I would imagine it's amazing to boat or explore the entire lake. I did see some signs about swimmer's itch, but I didn't read it fully so not sure if that's something to be concerned about. I saw many children swimming while I was there regardless. They also have bathrooms and showers (not very clean, but at least they have them). During the day, it got really busy. I mainly stopped by for the hikes, two in particular: Balanced Rock and Devil's Doorway. I rate this place a 4 star because I feel like the trails could have been more clearly marked or indicated as it was pretty difficult finding where the right place was to start or which turn to take each time I reached a fork in the road. If you're planning on hiking, I'd recommend coming early as it gets crowded once it hits 11-12 PM. Balanced Rock: From the parking lot, follow the rail road track until you see an opening into the forest. As you follow this route, it forks into two where one direction looks like you'll be climbing a mountain of rocks while the other looks like a dirt paved road. The mountain-side is the correct way. While it's rated difficult, I didn't find it hard at all because each step is paved relatively well and flattened. I will say though, some of the rocks were so smooth that they ended up being slippery on the way down so definitely be careful - I saw some people slip. Now, I say this trail isn't marked well because as you climb the hike, you will begin seeing signs that say "Balanced Rock" with an arrow upward. As you climb and climb and finally make it to the top of the mountain, the map points that you are exactly at Balanced Rock but there is no rock to be seen and everyone around you is also just as confused. In actuality, the arrows are simply pointing along the trail and Balanced Rock is actually about halfway up the peak of the mountain and much smaller than pictures make it seem (I found it on the way down - there's a small sign that mentions "You just passed Balanced Rock" and if you're not paying attention, you can easily bypass it). Devil's Doorway: When you reach the peak of the Balanced Rock trail, there's a map that points you towards Devil's Doorway and it's relatively easy and flat from there on out. It's a beautiful sight to see with intricate rock landings and amazing views of the blue lake behind it. You can also climb along the rock too which makes for beautiful pictures. Since I only tried 2 hikes, I can't speak much to the other ones, but it really is a gorgeous place to visit! read more

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My family and I stopped here for a night and we absolutely LOVED it. We can not wait to come back again and stay much longer. Camp sites were clean, bathrooms were clean, great hiking, beach area, hiking, gift shop and we kayak/paddle boat rentals. So peaceful and every person we spoke to was so friendly. read more

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WOW! Just amazing here! It only cost my boyfriend and I $10, and we hiked the west bluff trail for some just amazing views! I wanted to do the acclaimed "east bluff trail"as well but maybe on a future visit! The views are just captivating and we had a perfect 68 degree day! The hike is strenuous, but worth it if you can propel to the top! Wonderful lookout points throughout the entire climb that create a picture takers "heaven". Kayak Rentals and boat rentals are available on the lake too! Best state park by a long shot in all of Wisconsin! read more

Our first time camping at Devil's Lake and we were pretty happy. It's the middle of October, so only one campground was open- Quartzite. The camp was clean, had a picnic table and fire pit, but the sites were so close together that our neighbors woke me up by unzipping their tent to go to the bathroom. We brought our dogs, and had plenty of things to do. The park has many trails ranging from easy- difficult climbs. The views are beautiful and did not disappoint. The only issue with dogs is they can only go in certain pet friendly areas in the park. We couldn't take them to the beach or walk down the picnic area to enjoy the view. We basically took them to the trails and back to the camp site. The park has a concession area and a gift shop on the north shore. Since it was October, only the gift shop was open but they also had ice cream and food. Anything you forget can be picked up here at a decent price. All in all, I recommend coming here at least once. Camping, or a day trip, but make sure to check out some of the trails! read more

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Beautiful campground. Right now because of Covid, they are only letting in cars with annual state park stickers (no day passes). Which to us was worth it, because we plan on camping in other state parks in Wisconsin. I believe it was $38 total. We stayed in the Ice Age campground. I really did enjoy that our site was relatively private and cut off from other people. The bathroom facilities were clean and well-kept. We did not see any park rangers around. The only people we saw working was the lady at the firewood/ice store. As far as the trails go, they have a wide variety varying in difficulty. We went on some intermediate hikes along the lake, which were very gorgeous. There are a ton of huge beautiful lime stone rocks. People were swimming and kayaking. The water seemed pretty clean as well. We did not do the devil's staircase hike, But I would like to go back and check that out next time. read more

Amazing State Park. This really is the essence and beauty of the Midwest. We've been here twice, only for a few hours each visit (just passing through both times), but made time to spend a few hours at the beach here. This park is majestic. It's just so pretty, and it has many amenities to accompany. As passers-thru, we came into the park and paid a very reasonable fee to just hang out. We went to the beach and relaxed. Sat, waded in the water, watched the minnows, swam, took pictures, and laughed. We got hungry smelling everyone's campfire BBQ's, so we wandered over to the massive concession stand and bough some junk food, which was better than the hotel we just stayed in at the Dells! It was very reasonably priced and served by some cute carefree teenagers who seemed to enjoy being there. The lake is just gorgeous. It's clear and pretty. Sandy shore. Shallow for a nice distance out, so you can wade out a nice distance. The bluffs are all around you. Beautiful blue sky above. It really awakens all your senses. We took a little drive through the park to check out the campsites. They seem to have several different little camp areas, some seemed much nicer than others. But all were quite fine. This weekend was Labor Day weekend, and the campsites seemed pretty much filled. There were people, cars, tents, RV's, bikers alllll over. Once driving through, I'm kind of anxious to come back and actually have an opportunity to camp here! Seems like the absolute perfect place to go. You've got the lake for swimming, fishing, kayaking/canoing, etc.. but then you've also got nature trails for hiking, and huge bluffs/rocks for climbing. Seems like you'd be here for several days before getting bored. This is like 30 minutes outside the Dells, and maybe 3 & 1/2 hours from Chicago - so check it out!! It's a nice easy drive and well worth it. read more

Scored a last minute camp site on Fourth of July weekend. This will not be out last time here. The hiking is some of the best. Next time we will be sure to pack a lunch and just enjoy some of the amazing views at the top. Also dropping our kayaks in and enjoying the calm of the lake was amazing. I can't wait to put my yearly car sticker to good use! read more

Devil's Lake State Park - Fun hike to balanced rock ;) - Parks Near Me - Baraboo, Wisconsin

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One of the best place for relaxing, hiking, kayaking and grilling. Trails rank from easy to difficult and you will have to opportunity to challenge yourself with rock climbing and steeper trails. Most trails take about 1-2 hrs going up the bluff and around the lake. The north and south side of the lake has concession stand, grill and ice cream. The price for WI plate is $8 and others are $11. It is definitely a good workout destination for everybody. I have seen a lot of families with small kids, dogs, etc. read more

Devil's Lake State Park - Devil's lake view from the top - Parks Near Me - Baraboo, Wisconsin

It would be a lot prettier if someone cleared out all the rocks and trees. You have to climb all over them to see the lake at all. Unless you enjoy the sounds of children's laughter, avoid the beach! The wildlife was very intimidating- they need to trap all the bald eagles and relocate them. read more

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

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This is a really cool state park that is beautiful compared to the tourist developed land surrounding it. The trails were nice although some of the maps were in need of repair and could not be fully read. Definitely worth a visit if you want to hike or run somewhere nice. read more

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

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Absolutely beautiful. Only went there yesterday for swimming , but I am excited to get back so I can check out their trails. We were on the North Shore which gets a lot of sun which was great. The South Shore tends to get more shade and a lot more pet owners. Beaches were great and the water is so clear. Great place to bring your kids. Bathrooms were recently updated and they are great. Staff was super friendly too. I will add I went on a Tuesday which wasn't too crowded, but I would avoid weekends! read more

This is a great place for family and friends. I have been going here for years. When I was a kid we would go here to swim and rock climb, something I continue to do today. You drive through curvy roads with forests on both sides of you, which is something amazing. There is enough parking, benches or grass for everyone to have a good time. The water is clear and beautiful, you can see the bluffs across the water while you swim. Rock climbing is also something many do here. I love everything about this park and I always know I will have a good time here. read more

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

As a Wisconsinite my family, friends, and I all love this park! My fam goes to lots of National and state parks for vacations and has used Devils Lake to "train" for hikes. I always hit this place up to hike and lounge and enjoy Wisconsin beauty during high school and college. A great places for groups or solo! You can hike, rock climb, swim, lay on the beach, have a cookout, camp - whatever floats your boat. read more

The best state park in WI! The trails are awesome and the views are spectacular. Dog friendly, great for picnics, tons of rock faces to top rope and boulder, and a nice place to just lounge by the water. It has all the things. Go ahead and just buy the year pass, because you will be back. read more

Normally 5 stars, but as of May 1st 2021 (80 degrees), they have ALL the outside drinking water faucets turned off, so to get drinking water you have to pay a vending machine or go into the store and by bottled water. Evidently this is "safer" than a faucet it in the wind and UV, by edict of someone​ lording over the park system. Otherwise a beautiful place, and people who work in the park are pleasant. read more

Native Americans called it, "Spirit Lake," because of its natural beauty and otherworldly properties. How the name changed to something derogatory and dark says something about western culture's fear of the spiritual unknowable. Regardless, this is an exceptional public space with plenty of water and climbing potential, and plenty of room for solitude. When I was there back in the day visiting family in Madison, I found myself sitting high on a rocky outcropping overlooking the still deep forest and crystal waters below. I was more organically centered back then, and found myself breathing in the energy of the place, and exhaling my world weariness. It was so easy to do. I felt a rumbling at the base of my spine growing in intensity, and came out of my quiet to open eyes, hoping to see if there was anything physical causing this sensation, or something more kundalini. Across the lake, on the rocky cliff that opposed me, I watched as a large piece of stone fascia separated from the mass, and fell from the mount to the ground below. I realized I was feeling geologic forces split the granite along a previously dormant fissure, and plummet to where ever gravity would take it. No one was hurt, and I am not sure if anyone else even saw it. Earthquake or simple stone fatigue, I will never know. I said a short thankful prayer that I had not decided to climb the rock on the other side of the lake. If I had, I would have been riding that falling cliff face. This was no Devil's Lake. It was and will always remain, Spirit Lake. read more

Wow! What a FANTASTIC place! My friends and I went on a camping trip to this place and we had a great time! The park is large and offers many things to do. We arrived late on Friday night and even though it was after midnight, a park ranger was able to help us find our campsite. The campsite we had was a little smaller than we had thought for our 2 tents, and we were a little closer to all the other campsites than I thought but it was still just fine. (For future reference though, be sure to choose campsites that give you enough space or are enclosed by trees, etc. if you'd like privacy). It was still such a great space, the location just made it seem as if my friends and I were camping at a place where you would picnic-just a different vibe but still fun. :) The next morning, my friends and I went on one of the hikes and WHEW! It was crazy! It was a steep climb to the top and I was exhausted (and I LOVE to hike) but getting to the top was WORTH it! The air was crisp and the view was gorgeous! You could see all the beautiful trees (which since the season is becoming fall, the view was ASTOUNDING) and you could see where you could rent boats as well. My friends and I wanted to do that adventure, but it started to rain later so we decided against it. However, I will definitely do that in the future. My friends and I who had AT&T had no cell service, which I actually saw that as a plus! :) It forced us to really focus on the moments we had together and on simply using our phones to capture memories. Not to facebook, snap, or think of clever captions for our photos. It was fantastic. This was my first time at this park (and my first visit to Wisconsin!) and I hope to return again. The people were friendly, it was family orientated and we simply had a great time! :) read more

This is the best hiking I've found in the Midwest, and I've really looked! Fun fact, the famous mountaineer Eddie Viestur learned to climb here before summiting the world's 8 tallest mountains. So, yes, you too can learn to climb, flatlander! A couple tips: The gift shop slash restaurant is great for snacks and beer. The cheese curds really hit the spot after hiking. For all around standout trails, make your way to the Devil's Doorway for a great view of the area. To get there, triple C trail is fast and tough.. the back way is slower, but not at all strenuous. Other than that, have fun! Do be aware, it gets crowded in good weather and holidays. read more

This park is a Wisconsin gem. The hiking trails range from flat to vertical and the sights are beautiful. On a nice summer day, this place offers something for everyone -- families, individuals, couples, young, old. Have fun! read more

Devil's Lake State Park - Devil's Doorway rock formation -- advanced hike - Parks Near Me - Baraboo, Wisconsin

MOST EPIC WALK OF OUR YEAR!!! Mid-thirties and overweight with an active 5 yr old is no way to go through life, so we picked this summer to get back in shape after years of beers and protein...but we're not even close yet. So, I did no homework on this place and arrived on a 95 degree day with my shorts full of talc, but no cash in hand. We soon scored some top secret free parking amidst a bunch of rocks and corn kernels about a quarter mile from Gratto path. Then, with our rental car left as a sacrifice to the devil himself, we hydrated and headed towards the woods. On our way in, 3 guys wielding axes and rope came storming out. I quickly hid my girls in some brush and grabbed the nearest stick, but to my surprise they went right past me while talking about repelling some rocks. My daughter overheard this, but I assured her we wouldn't get close enough for any rocks to attack us! It only took 2 forks to to find ourselves clearly off-path in a thicket of minor forest. I could see the water thru it and hurried forward...with my wife practicing whatever the opposite of encouragement is. After hurdling some fallen trees, we were faced with a beach full of jagged boulders. This is where we could either turn back and attempt to retrace our steps, or suck it up and play a dangerous version of hopscotch. Our little one was the tie-breaker as we threw jeers at mom while pressing on. Once we got to the other end, we had to go back into the trees and uphill to a railroad track. According to our trusty map, this could eventually lead us to a parking lot where we might find a trail-head. We stood there for a moment wondering if we would each get a window seat on the next trolley. As our hope faded, we noticed on our right was a mountain of falling rocks the size of refrigerators and a thin wire fence for assurance. On our left, a sun-beaten 30ft dropoff to the lake with an amazing view of why we came here in the first place. About a mile later, we found a kiosk that plainly stated "you are here". It was not good news. A really happy guy once told me "things are looking up". Obviously he wasn't staring at the ass end of the East Bluff trail with a daughter who no longer appreciated his leadership after an hour of errant hiking. Anyway, the next fork seemed like an easy choice...go right for stairs or left for straight and smooth pathway. Boy did we get suckered! It soon became apparent that stairs would have made this part easier. Instead, the devil slapped our faces and kicked us in the groin on our way into the clouds via indefinite incline. Halfway up, little gnomes even darted out of the woods to club our shins every couple yards. My daughter started crying, the wife was finally silent and I almost threw up that chipped beef I ate back in 2007. Hell, if some vultures didn't mistake us for carrion, we wouldn't have made it to the top at all! At the peak, we discovered a memorial plaque for a 17 yr old kid and another kiosk. This one told us we could either walk east to Pennsylvania and then double back to our car OR head a quarter mile straight down a cliff on a rock path that was probably laid on a Friday. Our fate sealed, we took some final pictures of ourselves in case they couldn't identify our bodies, and then started off again. I think we were in the "acceptance" stage by this point since all tears and complaining stopped. As our shoes slid across slippery quartzite steps placed in varying degrees of tilt, people kept crossing our path on their way up the rock face. Most of them looked fresh as daisies, but it wasn't until some seniors in wheelchairs raced past us that we started thinking we might have gone the hard way. Our suspicions were confirmed when we reached the bottom. Everything looked oddly familiar there, except the trail marker lying on the ground near the path that took us astray. A 4.5 mile walk in Indiana only takes my family about an hour. Here, we finally got back to our car 3 hours, after we first abandoned it alongside the tracks, thanks to someone who must have watched the same cartoons I did growing up. So, to the practical joker who knocked down and hid that critical piece of lumber...YOU GOT ME!!!! read more

Devil's Lake rocks. Literally, it has lots of rocks, all around the lake, and some in the lake that you can stub your toe on! There are all kinds of things to do there, just like other reviewers have mentioned repeatedly. I spend a lot of time up there hiking, swimming, chillaxing during the spring, summer, and fall. I don't camp up there anymore because you have to reserve your campsites a year in advance. They have concession stands with the typical, overpriced, bad-for-you foods and restrooms for the more mature part of the population that don't whizz in the lake. That's right, I'm talking about you, ya little stinky kids! Parking. Yeah, parking is a huge pain in the arse if you decide to go up there on a holiday weekend, or any time when it's a very warm, sunny day during the summer. There just isn't much that can be done about it either, and don't you tell me to bike from Madison! During a certain part of the summer, when the lake water is at its warmest there is a chance of swimmer's itch! However, they do post signs about it in and around the park if there is an outbreak. I've been going there for years, and never had it. The bathrooms and shower stalls are pretty jank. This place is not for the girly girls. The rangers can be uptight, but in all the wrong places. Like another reviewer mentioned, they will ticket you if you don't have a life vest on while boating, however, I think, with the exception of insisting on kids being jacketed, the rangers should just let Darwin's theory get to work. But then again, not ticketing every single offender means less revenue! OMG no way! While the rangers are on the hunt for non-life jacket wearing criminal masterminds in the water, they don't seem to notice the partially dressed, drunk guy rolling around in the grass with his knees to his chest as he threatens to shoot and/or beat every person who walks by. Maybe they should send him out on a boat with no life jacket. At least twice a year there is an outbreak of annoying bugs. Once in the early spring, near the water, there are these flies that hatch, and they are so damn annoying you just want to run through there with a flame thrower. Sometime in the Fall there is a ladybug explosion. You might be saying to yourself "omg! How cute!" But there is nothing cute about it dudes. There are so many ladybugs, the biting variety, that they crawl all over you, in any available orifice, (I suggest plugs). I've had them crawling in my ears, nose, mouth and even on my eyes. Little bastards aren't so bad until you have a million of them on you and they all start biting. WTF. So yeah, avoid that. So despite killer bugs from outer space, drunk guys looking for a fight, criminal masterminds not wearing life jackets, Devil's Lake is hard to beat. Especially don't miss it during the Fall (not during ladybug explosion) when the leaves start changing, it's like going on a trip only you don't have any freak outs and you don't fry brain cells! read more

I can't believe I've lived in Madison a year before visiting Devil's Lake. Absolutely beautiful place. I can't add much that hasn't already been covered, but I'll break out some tips in bullet points for our trip to the South Shore: - There's an admission fee. Ours was $7, paid in cash. - Small gift shop sells snacks, beer, pizza, hot dogs, etc. Fairly cheap. Accepts Visa and Mastercard. - Kayak, canoe and other rentals are between $10- $15 an hour. By 1:00 on a Sunday, everything was checked out so next time we'll rent them earlier. - Bathrooms are gross and I saw someone in there barefoot. Shoes, people. SHOES. - Hike to balanced rock should not be attempted in flip flops. It's quite a climb and the rocks are a bit slippery. I think I would have crawled to the top just for the view, though. - Kids will be screaming. This will be beautiful and fun on a Sunday - but not a serene retreat, if that's what you're looking for. - Bring floating toys - rafts, tubes, etc. It's very family-friendly. Water. Picnic tables (get there early to score one near the water). Hiking. Small beach. Sand volleyball. Shady trees. Beautiful. read more

This park is a great break from the touristy Dells area if you need one. There are great views from the top peaks, and it offers some interesting formations to check out. It spans 10,000 acres and is Wisconsin's most frequented state park. What to do? Hike, swim, boat, float, picnic, barbeque, play frisbee, fly kites, bird watch, your imagination is the limit. Bring your own accessories. It has great hiking trails, with many to choose in varying degrees of difficulty. Bring snug fitting shoes that will not get rocks in them. If you are going to see the top of the peak and/or the devil's door formation, bring a refreshment. It can be challenging for novice hikers but its well worth it. At the top of the peak overlooking the lake there are many shaded large rocks that can double as a resting place/picnic spot. Also you may get a glimpse of certain large birds of prey flying around. The Wisconsin DNR does not charge admission to enter the park, but you have to pay for parking. The parking fees are inexpensive, under $10.00. This place gets slammed on holidays, so if you are going on a holiday, arrive early to find parking and to be able to select your picnic area, etc. There is a "canteen" on site near the beach - its really a souvenir/junk food stop. The park offers on-site barbeque areas and flush toilets. In my personal opinion this is the #1 destination in the Dells area. (#2 is Lost Canyon) read more

Holy Rocks! This place has rocks just about everywhere you go, needless to say, be prepared to hike and have those sneakers on. For my first experience, I did not do too much of the forested trails but took a hike around the lake which involved a lot of stepping around rocks. The lake itself is rather pretty but I was not in "awe" lol Many people were grilling out and on the beach. Due to the high foot traffic, it was difficult for me to enjoy the trails and not feel like someone was always one step behind me. I would LOVE to go back this fall and check out the beautiful scenery!! Also, parking was hard to find even though I paid $10 "lots full". They also have an icecream stand! read more

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

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Majestic. Trails for all abilities. The most challenging were also the most rewarding. Our favorite view was Devils Doorway. The funnest hike was the Balanced Rock Trail. Those 2 trails are not for novice hikers or those who lose footing easily. We took our kids (youngest strapped in a hiking backpack) & dog. We adored this park. We both hiked and camped here. Hiking, unmatched in the northern Midwest. Camping was ok. Although we were advised restrooms could be closed for winterization (or open weather permitting), we were disappointed the facilities were in fact closed on 70 degree days, and 50+ degree nights. It was inconvenient, but we had an overall great time none-the-less. read more

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Oh my gosh. If you are anywhere near this GO! I know it costs to get in but it's completely worth it. We went early in the morning and the trails were really quiet by the time we're leaving it was packed, so that's something to keep in mind. Beautiful beautiful views. I hope to go again this fall. read more

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

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It's well worth the 4 hour trip from Chicago. The park offers a variety of scenic cliffs and rugged lavender quartzite shores to help you get away from the hustle. 3 days of hiking will give you plenty of time to cover all of the trails the park has to offer. Mid-week camping even in August is the best when the campsites are half vacant and there are only a few hikers on the trails. Fellow campers are respectful of noise policies. Group camping site can feel very remote, like there are very few people in the park whereas in fact the whole park is filled to capacity. Warning: Memorial Day weekend packed to the hilt, even entire bouldered hill. But the tourists were a riot. They were carrying their babies... in flip flops?! We even saw a couple in wedding clothes. You never know what else you will be up for with a rigorous hike. $17 a nite camping fees for the individual sites. $5 buys you 2 bundles of campfire logs for your smores. read more

If hiking a small cliff and then relaxing on the beach is your thing, then Devil's Lake is your place! For only $8/carload, you have access to a warm, swimmable lake and several hiking trails. The trails are steep and challenging but not too much so, and the views are gorgeous. Just be careful going down because the rocks can be slippery. Only complaints are that the beach/shore is VERY rocky, so bring flipflops. Also, the bathroom is foul. It's a straight-up urine fest. Super grody if you want to change from your hiking clothes into your swimsuit. Also, while I was sitting on the toilet, the toilet paper dispenser fell on my head. read more

One of my FAV places to go and chillax! When I was younger me and my family would go up for an extending weekend every summer for as long as I could remember. I have continued that legacy with my kids. Where do I begin?... I wont, I'll keep it short, and update later. Awesome area, beautiful setting, great camps sites (hit the ice age for private), great hiking, biking, swimming, snorkeling, scuba, rock diving, rock climbing, canoeing, you name it! South shore is where you want to start your hiking up and around to Devils Doorway and down. North Shore take the ridge climb and also walk path along the fallin boulders. Also check out just around the park, for awesome waterfalls and everything! Snorkling is great of the side beach on South Shore and on the side road where fishing and scuba divers are at. North Shore along the fallin boulders path. Great places to rock jump too. Watch for raccoons while camping.. they are friendly here, and love the food. Swimming on North Shore has the bigger beach while South is more private. Weekends and Holidays, prepare to reserve early!!! Always busy. I'll update when I get time. But had to add my quick 2cents. read more