For roughly 15 years of my career, I was lucky enough to have an office that was a ten-minute drive from Devil’s Lake State Park in Baraboo, Wisconsin. Because I was an independent contractor, I was able to make my own schedule so whenever I could get away from the office, I would head to the Lake for a quick hike, or a long hike, depending on how many appointments I had that day.
What I considered to be the Best Hike in the World was to hike up and then down the bluff on one side of the lake, and then hike up and then down the bluff on the other side of the lake, completing a loop back to my car (or campsite).
To circumnavigate the entire lake, park your vehicle in the North Shore parking lot that is farthest from the entrance and start with the East Bluff Trailhead. Take a right at the fork to stay on the trail and start climbing up the trail and steps. It’s steep, but oh so worth it for the views at the top.
Stay along the top of the bluff overlooking the lake until you get to the Potholes Trail. Turn right onto the Potholes Trail and start your descent down to the South Shore. Turn right onto the Grottos Trail and follow it until you get to the South Shore Beach / Day use area.
Walk all the way through the South Shore Day use Area, along the lake, until you get to the Boardwalk at the end of the beach. Take the Boardwalk to the Sidewalk and follow the sidewalk along the southwest side of the lake, past the boat landing, to the West Bluff Trailhead.
Climb the stairs and hike the West Bluff Trail until you pop out of the woods back at the North Shore Day Use Area. Then it’s a quick walk back to your vehicle on the other side of the beach and picnic area.
This hike around Devils Lake takes me about two hours. My guess is that it is about three to four miles? The rock formations and views of the lake are spectacular. There are many shorter loops from the North Shore and the South shore that will take you right back to your car if you don’t have time to do the trail completely around the lake going up both bluffs.
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