About a 2 hour drive north of the Wisconsin-Illinois border, and nestled in the rural town of Baraboo, Wisconsin, lies Devil's Lake.
There are many ways to get to Devil's Lake, but the best by far is to take the Merrimac Ferry across the Wisconsin River. Wait times are normally no longer than 15-20 minutes, and the ferry ride is 7 minutes each way, but it is well worth the extra time. Be sure to grab some ice cream at The Merrimac Scoop while you're waiting to cross over to the north side of the river. Once you pull up your car on the deck of the ferry, step out and enjoy a couple minutes of sunshine. The Ferry operates seasonally from ice-out to ice-in (about end of March to end of November). It's always FREE and runs 24-hours a day.
Once you're at Devil's Lake, the adventures are endless. You have on-site camping available, rock-climbing, swimming, hiking, kayaking, etc. Unlike many State Parks in the southern state of Illinois, Devil's Lake State Park in Wisconsin allows you to climb and explore everywhere and anywhere! Want to repel down that cliff? Go for it! Want to climb across that boulder field? Do it! M doesn't like me climbing the rocks, but I love it and I'm always careful.
The hiking here is awesome, and gives you the best of everything. Tumbled Rocks Trail (1.0 mile) on the west side of the bluff has some great views as you weave on the flat trail around fallen boulders. The East Bluff Trail holds more adventure and strain. To see the 'Potholes' you must first walk down the Grotto Trail, which is nice and flat, then ascend .3 miles up non-stop rock steps. The end is rewarding, with red rock formations you're able to climb through. Balancing Rock takes similar dedication. The .4 mile trail is straight up the bluff on rock-like steps. Devil's Doorway is my favorite rock formation at the park. Literally shaped like a doorway, you are able to boost yourself up and sit on the edge of the cliff. Plus you get a perfect view of the lake and trees as far as you can see. The rest of East Bluff Trail is beautiful too, with many different viewpoints that overlook the lake.
Set up camp, and enjoy Devil's Lake for yourself.
