Throughout the course of this summer, we have pushed ourselves to step outside of our comfort zone. With our new adventurous spirit, we wanted to take a visit to Devils Lake State Park for a hike (less than an hour north of Madison)! The park operates from 6 am to 11pm, seven days a week.
Devils Lake State Park Location:
S5975 Park Road
Baraboo, WI 53913
*Vehicle Admission Sticker or Trail Pass Required
We drove to Devil’s lake on a warm Sunday afternoon. The weather was nice with clear blue skies and everyone wanted to be outside. As we pulled into the parking lot we realized that it was going to be a very busy day. We hopped out of the truck and took a quick look around. We saw there were kayak and paddle board rentals available and concession stands were open with ice cream, popcorn, and other various treats.
Workers were busy sanitizing life jackets and all watercraft items after each rental. We were happy to know they were taking great measures to keep everyone safe. Many people were cooking on the grills provided by the park and it smelled heavenly. There were plenty of tables for eating and lots of trees for shade.
Before starting on our hike, we took a quick dip in the water and it was glorious! You could tell everyone was overjoyed to be there which made for good vibes the entire day.
Devil’s Doorway Loop Trail
Devil’s Doorway Loop Trail had been on our list since we moved to Wisconsin. The trail is about 1.9 miles and is moderate level as it is uphill and rocky. These rocks can get pretty slippery from time to time so be careful! As we were on our way up, the people walking back down were so energized and they encouraged us to keep going and that we were almost there. As we climbed higher, there were so many scenic views for great pictures. We absolutely loved this trail!
When we reached the top, we saw the friendliest rock climbers waving hello to us. We were pumped that we completed the loop because it was quite challenging. We recommend bringing Gatorade and lots of water. After our hike, we went back and splashed around in the water and ended our day at Devils Lake State Park.
Devil’s Lake has about 29 miles of hiking trails, so there is a lot to explore!
Swimming at Devil’s Lake State Park
Devil’s Lake State Park has two large sandy beaches, each with a bath house. These beaches are located on both the north & south shores of the lake. Devil’s Lake normally maintains a very comfortable swimming temperature from Mid-June to Late September.
Picnic areas, grills and children’s play areas including climbing gyms and slides are located throughout the park. Pets are not allowed in public swimming areas. But there are some areas where pets can swim – check them out here.
Canoeing, Kayaking & SUPs
Devil’s Lake State Park is a popular place for rowing, canoeing, kayaking, and stand-up boards. The lake is clear and the water is of good quality. There is a boat launch on both the north and south ends of the lake. Rentals are available at the concession stands.
Camping at Devil’s Lake State Park
Plan ahead, explore your options and make your camping or other lodging reservations well before you arrive.
Devil’s Lake State Park has three campgrounds with a total of 423 sites that each accommodate a family (up to 6). There are only 10 first-come-first-serve RV campsites. They are located in the Quartzite campground. There are also nine group campsites that can accommodate a total of 240 campers. Group campsites are on the south side. Each campground has different qualities that have made each of them popular with annual campers. There are no campgrounds near or on the shoreline of Devil’s Lake itself.
For camp fees, maps, rules and reservations – click here.
