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Devil's Lake, WI
I
have to consider Devil’s Lake as one of the best places in the world! This may
be influenced by the fact that it was the first date I ever had with my now
wife. When camping, you learn a lot about your prospective mate, seeing my wife
pop out of a tent in the morning without fussing about makeup and what-not I
knew I had found my soulmate!
Ok, now back to the park. Devil’s Lake State Park is located about 30 miles
North of Madison. Devil’s Lake is a large lake surrounded by talus fields and
bluffs. The scenery here is great, this area has a true alpine look. I have
never fished the lake but lots of people do and there are rental boats available
as well. This lake is stocked with fish on a regular basis, a multitude of
species can be caught here if you have the fishing skills. There are several
nice beaches here to play in the water or lay in the sun.
The Camping
There are three campgrounds and one group camp in the park. I have stayed in the
Northern Lights and Quartzite campgrounds. All campsites have picnic tables,
fire pits, and restrooms close by. This closeness brings up the one problem with
camping here. Most campsites are very close together, you get to know your
neighbors much more than you would like to. Now that I have a son, I realize
just how important privacy can be (especially with a crying baby in the tent).
The Hiking
Devil’s Lake has a great hiking trail system. The trails in this park were
built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, and have been enjoyed by many for
years. There are a number of trails here offering great views, many of which are
paved, offering easy access for all. The Tumbled Rocks trail is an easy flat
trail suitable kids and strollers. Both East and West bluffs have trails leading
up, along and back down. The Devil's Doorway and Potholes trails offer great
examples of geologic history. Take the Steinke Basin and Ice Age Loop to get
away from the crowds and see great scenery.
The Climbing
A great majority of the people visiting Devil’s Lake are coming to enjoy some
of the best climbing in the Mid-West. Devil’s Lake has long been a climbing
destination. John Gill set boulder problems in the park, this area is rich in
climbing tradition. Modern rock climbing was started here in 1927 with the
arrival of the Stettner brothers. These brothers established many climbs here
and went on to make (for the time) ground-breaking ascents in Colorado. The rock
here is quartzite, this is a very hard and slick type of rock offering no
friction at all. This is mostly a top-rope area but there are lots of
traditional routes. My favorite places to climb here are the Railroad area and
the walls around Cleopatra’s Needle. The climbs here are typically single
pitch but there are some two-pitch routes. Expect to find lots of people
climbing here, the West bluff is the place to find a bit more solitude. The East
bluff usually has a much larger crowd, you will find many groups toproping all
the favorite climbs. See the Sven Olof Swarling guide to Devil’s Lake, this is
a comprehensive guide to the climbing here.
Baraboo is the nearest town. This is not a large town but you will find all the
staples here. One place of interest here is the
Circus Museum.
You can reserve a campsite and see more details at www.devilslakewisconsin.com
One final note about camping here, Watch out for the raccoon’s!! This
park is full of these crafty little devils, they can open any type of storage
container. Don’t be surprised if your cooler with the latchable lid, which
contained breakfast, is looted. Just like any park the animals have adapted to
new ways of feeding themselves. Please put everything away!!
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