Devil's Lake State Park (Wisconsin)

This is about the state park in Wisconsin. For parks with similar names, see Devil's Lake State Park (disambiguation)

Coordinates: 43°24′53″N 89°42′47″W / 43.41472°N 89.71306°W / 43.41472; -89.71306

Devil's Lake State Park
Wisconsin State Park
Devil's Lake from the West Bluff
Country	United States
State	Wisconsin
County	Sauk
Location	Baraboo
- elevation	1,329 ft (405 m) [1]
- coordinates	43°24′53″N 89°42′47″W / 43.41472°N 89.71306°W / 43.41472; -89.71306
Area	9,217 acres (3,730 ha)
Founded	1911
Management	Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Unit of	Ice Age National Scientific Reserve
Location of Devil's Lake State Park in Wisconsin

Devil's Lake State Park is a state park located in the Baraboo Range in eastern Sauk County, just south of Baraboo, Wisconsin, USA. This 9,217-acre (3,730 ha)^[2] state park is known for its 500-foot-high (150 m) quartzite bluffs along the 360-acre (150 ha) Devil's Lake, which was created by a glacier during the last ice age approximately 12,000 years ago. The sand at the bottom of Devil's Lake is thought to be deposited by glaciers. However, the Baraboo Hills are much older; they are approximately 1.6 billion years old and were once part of the Baraboo Range which is thought to have been taller than the Rocky Mountains. Loess covers most of the hills and forms the parent material of a brown silt loam soil. During the autumn, the park's brilliant foliage makes it a popular attraction. The lake is surrounded by a mixed conifer-deciduous forest. Its scenic beauty along with its proximity to the Wisconsin Dells has made it one of the most popular of Wisconsin's state parks for both day use and overnight camping; the park receives over 1.2 million visitors annually.

Both the north and south shores have food courts and modern restroom facilities. The park has trails ranging from handicapped accessible paved trails to difficult hiking or bouldering trails. There are also designated climbing areas for all levels of experienced rock climbers. There are three popular campgrounds at the park. There are many quartzite rock formations, such as Balanced Rock and Devil's Doorway, throughout the park. Effigy mounds are also located throughout the park. The park contains approximately twelve miles of the 1,200-mile (1,900 km) Ice Age Trail.

Parfrey's Glen, Wisconsin's first state natural area, is managed by the Devil's Lake State Park and located just east of the park.

Nearby attractions include Devil's Head Resort, Cascade Mountain Resort, and the Circus World Museum.

Nature Center

Nature Center just off the main entrance road

The exhibits at the park's nature center focus on the geology and natural history of the area. Public nature programs are offered in the summer, as well as evening programs on Saturday nights in the Northern Lights Amphitheater.

Glacial Features

North Glacial Moraine is well covered by the north shore developments. The parking lots, concession building and the picnic shelter all sit atop the moraine. This moraine forms the northern border of Devil's Lake.^[3] The moraine is approximately 80 feet (24 m) thick.^[4]

Southeast Glacial Moraine - is located between the East Bluff-South Face and the South Bluff. The Group Camp is located atop the moraine. It is best scen from the Roznos Meadow parking area along State Route 113.^[3] The moraine is approximately 130 feet (40 m) thick.^[4]

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  Southeast moraine between the South Bluff and the East Bluff-South Face

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  The Concession building atop the North Glacial Moraine

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  Devil's Doorway rock formation.

Mounds

The park has several American Indian mounds. Most are extremely small. Across the parking lot from the nature center are effigy mounds built in stylized animal shapes, such as a lynx and a sparrow. In front of the concession building is a linear mound, one of several geometric mounds in the park. These mounds were used as an ancient burial site by early North Americans. The nature center offers specific courses designed to teach individuals about the history of the effigy mounds.^[5][6]

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  Linear mound near the concession building

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  Lynx mound near the nature center

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  Even when discovered, the mounds were small

Baraboo Range

The Baraboo Range National Natural Landmark is 50,700 acres (20,500 ha) in southern Wisconsin. It is an exhumed mountain range consisting of the largest contiguous forest in southern Wisconsin.^[7]

Hiking Trails

1. Balanced Rock Trail (0.4 miles (0.64 km), 45 min.) - Difficult
2. CCC Trail (0.3 miles (0.48 km), 45 min.) - Difficult
3. Devil's Doorway Trail (0.1 miles (0.16 km), 15 min.) - Easy
4. East Bluff Trail (1.7 miles (2.7 km), 1½ hrs.) - Medium
5. East Bluff Woods Trail & Loop (3.4 miles (5.5 km), 2½ hrs.) - Easy/Medium
6. Grottos Trail (0.7 miles (1.1 km), 31 min.) - Easy
7. Potholes Trail (0.3 miles (0.48 km), 30 min.) - Difficult
8. Tumbled Rocks Trail (1.0 mile (1.6 km), 45 min.) - Easy
9. West Bluff Trail (1.4 miles (2.3 km), 1½ hrs.) - Medium
10. Johnson Moraine Loop Trail (2.8 miles (4.5 km), 1½ hrs.) - Easy
11. Steinke Basin Loop Trail (2.4 miles (3.9 km), 1½ hrs.) - Easy
12. Upland Loop Trail (3.8 miles (6.1 km), 2¾ hrs.) - Medium
13. Panfrey's Glen Trail (0.7 miles (1.1 km), 1 hr.) - Easy/Medium
14. Ice Age Trail Entire Loop (13.7 miles (22.0 km), 8-10 hrs.) - Medium/Difficult
15. Sauk Point Trail (4.5 miles (7.2 km), 3½ hrs.) - Medium/Difficult
16. Ronznos Meadow Trail (1.8 miles (2.9 km), 1 2/4 hrs.) - Easy/Medium

There is a total of 41 miles (66 km) of hiking trails in the park. At the highest point, you are 500 feet (150 m) above Devil's Lake. Be watchful for loose footing and step drop offs.^[8]

Rock climbing

The geology of the Baraboo Hills surrounding Devil's Lake makes it one of the premier rock climbing areas in the Midwest, with climbs of varying difficulty. The Baraboo Hills are primarily granite and quartzite, which is solid enough to climb. Most outcroppings in the region, especially in the Driftless Area, are composed of sandstone or limestone, which are too brittle to climb safely.

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  Beach on south end of Devil's Lake

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  Chimney Rock

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  Boulder field on Eastern bluff at Devil's Lake

See also

• Badger Army Ammunition Plant
• Devil's Lake (Wisconsin)
• Ice Age Trail

References

Citations:

1. ^ "Devils Lake State Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. 1980-08-29. http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnispublic/f?p=gnispq:3:::NO::P3_FID:1563943. Retrieved 2011-03-18. 
2. ^ "Pick a Park - WDNR". Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/parks/specific/pickapark.html. Retrieved 2009-01-25. 
3. ^ ^{a b} Devil's Lake State Park, Landmark Nature Trail; Baraboo, Wisconsin, 2008
4. ^ ^{a b} Devil's Lake State Park, West Bluff Self-Guide Tour; Baraboo, Wisconsin, 2008
5. ^ Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (2011-01-05). "Effigy Mounds of Devil's Lake". http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/parks/interp/school/devilslake/effigy.html. 
6. ^ Wayside exhibits located by each mound
7. ^ Final Environmental Impact Statement-Badger Army Ammunition Plant
8. ^ Map and Trail Guide to Devil's Lake State Park, baraboo, Wisconsin; 2004

See also:

• Lange, Kenneth I. (1989), Ancient Rocks and Vanished Glaciers: A Natural History of Devil's Lake State Park, Wisconsin; Stevens Point, Wisconsin: Worzalla Publishing Company.

Bagg, Alan R. (1978), 50 Short Climbs in the Midwest http://openlibrary.org/works/OL6693475W/50_short_climbs_in_the_Midwest, p. 63, 139

External links

• Devil's Lake State Park
• Devil's Lake State Park Visitor's Guide
• Parfrey's Glen State Natural Area