Devils Lake State Park

Devil’s Lake State Park is the largest and most visited state park in Wisconsin, a spectacular landscape where a deep, clear lake lies cradled between towering quartzite bluffs that rise some 500 feet above the water in the ancient Baraboo Hills of south-central Wisconsin. The dramatic purple-pink cliffs, the sparkling lake and the rugged talus slopes make it one of the most striking natural scenes in the Midwest.

The lake and bluffs owe their drama to a deep geological history: the quartzite is more than a billion years old, among the oldest exposed rock in North America, and the lake was formed when glaciers of the last Ice Age dammed both ends of an ancient river gorge. Today the park draws crowds for hiking the cliff-top and lakeshore trails, rock climbing on the famous quartzite, swimming, paddling, picnicking and taking in the views. With its ancient rock, glacial story and breathtaking scenery, Devil’s Lake is the crown jewel of Wisconsin’s state parks.

Devil’s Lake State Park offers superb recreation — hiking the cliff-top trails (the East and West Bluff trails) and lakeshore paths for spectacular views, swimming at its two sandy beaches, paddling and boating on the clear lake, rock climbing and bouldering on the famous quartzite bluffs, camping, picnicking, fishing and birding. The park’s combination of dramatic cliffs, a beautiful lake and extensive trails makes it a premier destination for hikers, climbers and families, drawing more visitors than any other state park in Wisconsin.

Summer is the busy peak for swimming, paddling and the beaches, while fall brings spectacular color across the Baraboo Hills and the bluffs — arguably the most beautiful and popular time for the cliff-top trails. Spring offers wildflowers and mild hiking, and winter quiet trails and ice. The park is busiest on warm-season and fall weekends, so arrive early. The cliff-top views and the dramatic bluffs reward visits year-round, with fall color and summer lake recreation the highlights at this scenic park.

The Baraboo Hills and Devil’s Lake hold a deep human history, sacred to Native American peoples — effigy mounds built by ancient cultures survive in the park, and the area carries Ho-Chunk heritage and legend. In the 19th century the lake became a resort destination served by railroads and hotels. Wisconsin established Devil’s Lake State Park in 1911, and the Civilian Conservation Corps later built trails and structures. Today the park preserves the ancient bluffs, the lake, the effigy mounds and the rich natural and cultural heritage of the Baraboo Hills.

Devil’s Lake is a showcase of ancient geology: its towering bluffs are made of Baraboo quartzite, formed from sand laid down more than 1.6 billion years ago and metamorphosed into one of the oldest and hardest exposed rocks in North America. The Baraboo Hills are the eroded remnants of ancient mountains. The lake itself was created during the last Ice Age, when glaciers dammed both ends of a former river gorge through the quartzite, leaving the deep, spring-fed lake ringed by cliffs and talus — a landmark of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail.

The bluffs, forests and lake of Devil’s Lake host white-tailed deer, foxes, and a rich community of birds, including turkey vultures that soar dramatically along the cliffs, hawks, and woodland songbirds, while the lake supports fish and the talus slopes shelter reptiles and small mammals. The varied habitats of cliff, forest, talus and water support diverse wildlife in the ancient Baraboo Hills. The park is a fine place for wildlife watching and birding, with the soaring vultures along the bluffs a memorable sight.

Devil’s Lake State Park lies within the Baraboo Hills, one of the most ecologically significant areas in the Midwest, where extensive forests, quartzite bluffs, talus slopes, the spring-fed lake and rare habitats support exceptional biodiversity. The hills shelter diverse plant communities, important bird populations and uncommon species, and are recognized for their conservation value. The varied terrain of cliff, forest, talus and water within this ancient landscape forms a rich ecosystem, and protecting the Baraboo Hills sustains a regionally vital natural area.

Devil’s Lake, with its ancient quartzite bluffs, deep glacial lake and breathtaking scenery, holds a cherished place as the crown jewel of Wisconsin’s state parks and a landscape of deep cultural significance — sacred to Native peoples, marked by ancient effigy mounds and Ho-Chunk heritage, and beloved by generations of hikers, climbers and families. The dramatic bluffs and lake have drawn visitors for well over a century, making Devil’s Lake an icon of Wisconsin’s natural heritage.

Devil’s Lake State Park is in south-central Wisconsin near Baraboo, off State Route 123 and US-12, about an hour northwest of Madison and near the Wisconsin Dells. A state park vehicle admission sticker is required. The park offers two beaches, campgrounds, trailheads to the bluffs, boat and paddle access and a nature center. It is very popular and can reach capacity on busy weekends, sometimes closing to new arrivals. Check the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for admission, conditions and capacity before visiting.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources protects Devil’s Lake, its ancient bluffs, forests, effigy mounds and the surrounding Baraboo Hills habitats, managing the heavily visited park to balance recreation with preservation. Visitors help by staying on trails to protect the fragile talus and bluff vegetation, respecting the effigy mounds and cultural sites, climbing responsibly, packing out everything, protecting the lake’s water quality, and respecting wildlife. Protecting the ancient rock, the lake and the biodiverse Baraboo Hills sustains this treasured and significant landscape.

Devil’s Lake’s bluff trails climb steep, rocky terrain with cliff-top drop-offs — stay on trails, keep well back from the cliff edges, watch footing on the rocky, sometimes slippery paths and talus, and supervise children closely, as falls from the bluffs have been fatal. Rock climbing requires proper skills and gear. Carry water, especially in summer heat, and wear sturdy footwear. Swim only at the designated beaches, mindful of the deep, cold lake, and watch the weather on the exposed bluffs.

A Wisconsin state park vehicle admission sticker is required. Stay on designated trails and back from cliff edges; protect the effigy mounds and cultural sites. Rock climbing is allowed on designated bluffs — climb responsibly. Swim only at designated beaches. Camp only in designated campgrounds. Pets must be leashed and are restricted on beaches. Drones generally require authorization. Collecting and disturbing features is prohibited. Pack out all trash. Check the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for current rules and conditions.

The city of Baraboo — home of the Circus World Museum and near the International Crane Foundation — lies near the park, with the Wisconsin Dells, the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, Parfrey’s Glen State Natural Area, and the Wisconsin River nearby. Madison is about an hour southeast. Devil’s Lake anchors a scenic region of the Baraboo Hills rich in hiking, climbing and family attractions, a centerpiece of an outdoor getaway in south-central Wisconsin.

Hike the East or West Bluff trail for spectacular views down to the lake and across the Baraboo Hills — visit in fall for stunning color or summer for the beaches and paddling — and arrive early on weekends, as Wisconsin’s most popular park can fill to capacity. Wear sturdy footwear for the steep, rocky bluff trails, keep back from cliff edges, and bring a park sticker. Watch for soaring turkey vultures along the cliffs, and combine the park with the nearby Wisconsin Dells and Baraboo.