Location: Sauk County Map
Devil's Lake, a 360-acre (146 ha) spring-fed lake nestled in the heart of the Baraboo Range in Sauk County, Wisconsin, is the crown jewel of Devil's Lake State Park—the largest and most visited state park in the Badger State, drawing nearly 3 million visitors annually. Located about 35 miles (56 km) northwest of Madison and just south of Baraboo, the lake is encircled by towering 500-foot (152 m) quartzite bluffs that rise dramatically from its shores, creating a stunning, otherworldly landscape often compared to a Midwestern fjord. Known to the Ho-Chunk (Winnebago) people as Te Wakącąk or "Sacred Lake" (a name misinterpreted by early European settlers as "Devil's Lake" due to its deep, seemingly outlet-less chasm and eerie echoes), this site holds profound cultural, geological, and recreational significance. The park spans 9,217 acres (3,730 ha) of diverse terrain, including ancient effigy mounds, talus slopes littered with boulders, and one of the Midwest's largest contiguous hardwood forests. As part of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, Devil's Lake embodies Wisconsin's glacial legacy while offering year-round adventures—from summer paddling and rock climbing to winter ice fishing and snowshoeing. In 2025, the park celebrates the Wisconsin State Park System's 125th anniversary with enhanced naturalist programs and sustainability initiatives, though it grapples with challenges like overcrowding and unsolved mysteries, including a 2020 stabbing and a 2021 disappearance.
Devil's Lake occupies a narrow, east-west oriented gorge in the South
Range of the Baraboo Hills, a rugged, unglaciated outlier amid
Wisconsin's otherwise flattened glacial plains. The lake measures about
1.2 miles (1.9 km) long and 0.5 miles (0.8 km) wide, with depths ranging
from 40 to 50 feet (12–15 m), its bottom a saucer-shaped basin filled
with glacial sand and silt over an ancient quartzite foundation. It has
no visible surface outlets, making it potentially endorheic
(closed-basin), though underground seepage likely drains it into the
nearby Baraboo River, classifying it as cryptorheic. The primary inlet
is Koshawago Spring on the southwest shore, fed by Koshawago Creek, with
water levels fluctuating seasonally—peaking in spring from snowmelt and
rain, and dropping in late summer. Water temperatures range from 35°F
(2°C) in January to 75–80°F (24–27°C) in July–August, and the lake
freezes solid in winter, supporting ice activities.
Geologically, the
Baraboo Range is one of North America's oldest exposed rock formations,
dating to the Precambrian Era over 1.6 billion years ago when the area
was a vast shallow sea depositing layers of sand that lithified into
sandstone and, under intense heat and pressure, metamorphosed into
durable pink quartzite—harder than granite and resistant to erosion.
Tectonic forces uplifted these rocks into mountains, which rivers then
eroded into the Baraboo Valley, carving gaps like the Devil's Lake Gorge
(Lower Narrows to the south and an upper gap to the north). The
Wisconsin Glaciation (~25,000–15,000 years ago), the last Ice Age
advance, sealed these gaps with terminal moraines—piles of sand, gravel,
and boulders up to 130 feet (40 m) thick—impounding meltwater to form
the lake, while freeze-thaw cycles fractured the bluffs, creating talus
fields and iconic formations like Balanced Rock (a precariously perched
boulder), Devil's Doorway (a natural arch), Cleopatra's Needle, Elephant
Rock, and the honeycomb-weathered Tumbled Rocks. The unglaciated western
Baraboo Hills escaped direct ice cover, preserving their ruggedness,
while loess (wind-blown silt) caps the hills, forming fertile brown silt
loam soils. This unique geology makes the park a National Natural
Landmark (southern Baraboo Hills, 1974) and one of The Nature
Conservancy's "Last Great Places."
Human presence at Devil's Lake dates to the post-glacial period, with
archaeological evidence of Paleo-Indians ~12,000–16,000 years ago,
though Ho-Chunk oral traditions claim habitation spanning over 300,000
years, through multiple ice ages. The Ho-Chunk and other tribes (e.g.,
Winnebago, Dakota Sioux) revered the site as a sacred spirit place,
building effigy mounds ~1,000 years ago during the Woodland
Period—stylized animal shapes (bear, lynx, sparrow) and geometric forms
used for burials and ceremonies, with the largest intact group in Sauk
County preserved in the park. European exploration began in the 1830s
with French fur trader John de la Ronde, who noted Ho-Chunk offerings of
tobacco to the lake's "Manitou" (spirit). By the 1850s, settlers like
Noble C. Kirk developed resorts (e.g., Kirkland Hotel) for rail tourists
arriving via the Chicago & North Western line (completed 1873), turning
the area into a picnic and boating hotspot with steamers like the
Capitola. Quarrying boomed in the late 1800s, blasting quartzite for
refractories until the 1930s, while resorts hosted celebrities like
Ulysses S. Grant and Mary Todd Lincoln.
Conservation efforts
culminated in 1911 when the state acquired key lands, establishing
Wisconsin's third-oldest park amid a national parks movement inspired by
Theodore Roosevelt. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) from 1934–1941
built trails, stone structures (e.g., headquarters, shelters), and
benches still in use today, employing ~200 men under naturalist Alonzo
W. Pond. Post-WWII expansions reached 9,217 acres by 1967, ending
quarrying. The Nature Center (built 1968) and ongoing master planning
(updated 2020 for the Central Sands ecosystem) emphasize preservation.
Recent history includes a 2020 unsolved stabbing on Grottos Trail and
the 2021 disappearance of teen James Yoblonski from a nearby campsite,
adding modern intrigue.
Straddling the Western Coulee and Ridges and Central Sand Hills
ecoregions, Devil's Lake supports exceptional biodiversity: 880 plant
species (nearly 25% of Wisconsin's total) and ~100 nesting bird species
(half the state's). The bluffs and talus slopes host rare cliff species
like walking fern and Canadian yew, while the surrounding mixed
conifer-deciduous forest—dominated by oaks, hickories, maples, and
hemlocks—forms one of the Midwest's largest unbroken hardwood stands.
Wetlands and springs foster amphibians (e.g., dusky salamanders) and
aquatic life, though swimmer's itch from snail-hosted parasites plagues
summer visitors, and occasional blue-green algae blooms occur.
Wildlife thrives in this "island" of habitat: white-tailed deer,
raccoons, bobcats, foxes, and occasional black bears roam; birds include
bald eagles, loons, herons, geese, ducks, warblers, and raptors;
reptiles like northern water snakes (non-venomous but aggressive) patrol
shores. The lake's clear, moderately eutrophic waters (mesotrophic) host
panfish, largemouth/smallmouth bass, stocked walleye, northern pike, and
trout; scuba divers explore depths up to 50 feet amid submerged
quartzite. Four state natural areas (e.g., Parfrey's Glen, Wisconsin's
oldest, designated 1952) protect fragile ecosystems, prohibiting pets
and fires to preserve unique geology and flora. Conservation addresses
invasives, erosion from foot traffic, and climate impacts on water
quality.
Devil's Lake is a four-season playground, with a $11 daily vehicle
sticker (or annual pass) required for entry (6 a.m.–11 p.m. daily).
Hiking dominates, with 29 miles (47 km) of trails (17 named) ranging
from easy (1-mile paved Tumbled Rocks, ADA-accessible) to strenuous
(East Bluff Trail with overlooks, Elephant Rock/Cave). Signature routes
include Balanced Rock Trail (moderate, 0.9 miles), Devil's Doorway
(challenging ascent), and the 14-mile Ice Age Trail segment through
Parfrey's Glen. Rock climbing (permit required) on 4,000+ routes suits
all levels, from beginners at Devil's Doorway to experts on East Bluff.
Water activities shine: two sandy beaches (North/South Shores) for
swimming (watch for swimmer's itch), two boat launches (electric motors
only), rentals for kayaks, paddleboards, pedal boats, and SCUBA diving
in 45–50-foot depths. Fishing targets bass, pike, walleye, and trout;
hunting (deer, turkey) opens in fall. Biking covers 4 miles of off-road
(Upland Loop) and paved campground roads; winter offers 14 miles of
groomed cross-country skiing/snowshoeing, sledding hills, ice fishing
(gear checkout free), and dogsledding. Picnicking (five shelters for
rent) and geocaching (GPS units available) add family fun.
Camping
includes 423 sites across three family campgrounds (Quartzite:
open/grassy, electric/non-electric; Northern Lights: wooded, electric;
Ice Age: tent-focused, non-electric) and nine group sites (up to 460
campers), all reservable up to 11 months ahead via ReserveAmerica—book
early, as they fill fast. Winter camping at Quartzite is primitive. The
Nature Center offers exhibits, historical photos, and year-round
programs (e.g., astronomy, geology walks, owl talks); 2025 events tie
into the state parks' anniversary with enhanced kids' activities and
badges. Nearby attractions: Circus World Museum, Wisconsin Dells
(waterparks), and International Crane Foundation. Reviews praise views
and hikes but note crowds, parking issues, and litter—Leave No Trace is
urged.
The "Devil's" moniker stems from 19th-century French voyageurs awed
by the lake's dark depths, echoing bluffs, and lack of visible
inlets/outlets, evoking demonic lore—though indigenous names like Te
Wakącąk (Sacred Lake) or Minnewaukan (Spirit Lake) reflect reverence,
not evil. Ho-Chunk cosmology features epic battles: Thunderbirds hurling
thunderbolts at underwater panthers (water spirits) in the lake,
cracking the bluffs; a seven-headed serpent demanding virgin sacrifices,
slain by hero River Child; and a horned, cat-like Manitou granting long
life to a fasting warrior. Sioux legends describe a Thunderbird pushing
the reptilian Unktehila (horned serpent, akin to Loch Ness) into the
depths, with modern "sightings" of a fish-like monster during droughts.
Ghostly tales cluster in nearby Baraboo: a vanishing hitchhiker on
Highway 12 (pre-bypass), spirits at the haunted Baraboo Inn (former
brothel/saloon with orbs, EVPs) and Al Ringling Theatre, and a 1930
"ghost frenzy" report. The lake itself lacks prominent hauntings, but
its "enchanted" aura—fueled by mounds and spirits—sparks Bigfoot and
giant bird sightings. Effigy mounds, aligned with ancient cosmology,
evoke "awe-inspiring" power, per archaeologist William Romain.
Established in 1911, Devil's Lake is managed by the Wisconsin DNR as part of the 64-park system, with a 1982 master plan (under revision since 2020) prioritizing ecological resilience in the Central Sands landscape. The Friends of Devil's Lake State Park nonprofit funds projects like trail maintenance, invasive removal, and a proposed Interpretive Center via grants and donations, as park revenues are shared statewide. Protections include four state natural areas (e.g., South Bluff/Devil's Nose), prohibiting off-trail access to safeguard rare species and geology. Challenges: overcrowding erodes trails (mitigated by one-way paths, boardwalks); water quality threats from algae and parasites; climate change altering forests. Volunteers and #OutWiGo wellness programs promote stewardship, ensuring this "timeless wonder" endures.