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Devil's Lake State Park
Overview
Devil's Lake State Park is Wisconsin's most visited state park, offering a rugged, natural escape centered around its iconic 360-acre spring-fed lake. Unlike commercial RV resorts, this is a rustic, nature-focused destination that allows travelers to disconnect from the noise of modern life. The park is defined by its massive 500-foot quartzite bluffs, which create a dramatic backdrop for camping, hiking, and water activities in a truly immersive wilderness setting.
Location & Surroundings
Situated in the heart of the Baraboo Range near Baraboo, Wisconsin, the park serves as a gateway to the unique geology of the Midwest. The surrounding landscape features a mix of dense forests and dramatic rock formations that feel worlds away from the city. Visitors will appreciate the scenic Baraboo area, which offers a quiet, rural atmosphere while remaining accessible to regional roads, making it an excellent stop for those exploring the glacial landscapes of south-central Wisconsin.
Amenities & Park Features
The park offers hundreds of campsites across several different campgrounds, including specific sites equipped with electrical hookups for RVs. While full sewer and water hookups are not available at individual sites, a convenient dump station is located on-site for guest use. Visitors have access to modern shower buildings, flush toilets, and a large lakefront area with sandy beaches, providing essential comforts while maintaining a traditional, back-to-basics camping experience for families and outdoor enthusiasts.
Nearby Attractions & Things to Do
Adventure awaits just outside the park gates, with miles of challenging hiking trails including the famous Balanced Rock and Devil's Doorway. For those who enjoy water activities, kayaking and swimming are premier pastimes on the clear, deep lake waters. Beyond the park, visitors often explore the charming shops of nearby Baraboo, visit the Mid-Continent Railway Museum, or take a short drive to the Wisconsin Dells for additional regional entertainment options and sightseeing adventures.
Who This Park Is Best For
This destination is ideal for RVers who prioritize nature over resort-style amenities. It is a perfect fit for active families and hikers who want to wake up steps away from world-class trails and lake views. If you are comfortable with a more rustic camping experience and prefer quiet evenings under the stars to paved luxury sites, Devil's Lake State Park provides an unparalleled opportunity to experience Wisconsin’s most beautiful natural scenery firsthand.
User Reviews
Char TerBeest Kudla
What a beautiful place. It's very busy on weekends.. Weekdays there is lots of room to park with the trails open with few visitors. Remember whatever you bring in please pack out. Help the park employees. Take your garbage home with you. Thank you.
Chauncey Street
I was not able to spend much time there. I drove around the lake and I found out later that there are different areas off of different roads that you can get into different parts of the lake. So that park system is quite extensive. There is definitely some amazing hiking there. And at this time of the year, there were still a lot of hikers out there. The lake is beautiful.
Cindy Puzio
11/03/25: The spectacular views at this park are incomparable. I hiked the East Bluff side of the park. I did part of the Ice Age Trail by hiking part of East Bluff Woods, East Bluff Trail, The Balanced Rock Trail down to the Lake, Part of the Grottos Trail and the Potholes Trail back up. I was going to hike more around the actual lake but the winds were gale force today. This park has easy trails, moderate trails and super difficult slippery trails. The hardest trail is the Balanced Rock Trail. I am an experienced hiker who had on trail runners and was using hiking poles and I slipped a few times and fell once. The potholes trail is a bit easier but not by much. I would not recommend attempting these trails in any type of weather. The rock steps are slippery when dry, down right dangerous when wet. The trails and out buildings are well maintained. I would recommend this park to both seasoned and new hikers. I would just recommend researching your trails before planning your trip.
J Haag
We were only going to come for the morning but wound up spending the whole day. It was windy but when you were on the forest trail it was fine. The more adventurous in our group went up the east bluff trail, going up was easier then the trail down. We ate lunch at the onsite restaurant but wished we would have packed a picnic lunch like others had. We spent the afternoon by the lake and exploring the beach.
Drew R
Dangerous... but fun? 😂 This hike is not for the feint of heart. We decided to do the climb the hard way which consists of essentially climbing the side of a mountain that does not contain any sort of railings or protective measures. We saw multiple slip and almost lose footing...ourselves included. Many people with children of all ages including infants. The hike is quite strenuous depending on how you go about it. Bring drinks, snacks, and hope. 😂 There aren't any staff on the mountain whatsoever so you do need to have an honest conversation with yourself beforehand about whether or not you want to risk it for the biscuit or not. One hiker almost fell off the side of the cliff while we were hiking and was thankfully caught by nearby trees and then brought to safety. I know this review is all over the place but this is honestly what happened lol. The park overall is beautiful and a stunning presentation of nature... you just need to be prepared and wear GOOD hiking shoes. Cost for a pass is not expensive either. We would probably do it again, we just wouldn't choose the side mountain climb and would most likely go the long way up which is much safer.