I am sure you are familiar with the expression, “My idea of camping is staying at the Hilton.” Growing up, I didn’t realize that phrase was meant to be a joke. I can count on one hand (ok, two fingers) the number of times I have been camping. Both times took place while I was in college. I had just started dating a guy who considered himself the “ultimate outdoorsman.” I had only known him for a couple of months, so who was I to argue? One of our first trips together was a weekend camping “adventure” at Devil’s Lake State Park.
Devil’s Lake State Park is located in Barboo, Wisconsin, about 30 miles north of Madison. It is the most visited state park in Wisconsin attracting approximately 1.5 million people each year. The 9,117-acre park is home to 500-foot bluffs that frame a 360-acre spring-fed lake.
We visited in late spring when the nights were still cold, but the days were sunny and warm (warm for Wisconsin, anyway). Upon arriving at the park I was struck by it’s natural beauty. The lake water was crystal clear and the trails and campsites were well maintained. Devil’s Lake has both tent and vehicle camping sites. The camping sites have bathhouses and outhouses. (The latter was a new experience for me. You can imagine my surprise when I entered and found nothing but a hole in the ground.)
We spent our first full day hiking up the bluffs. The hiking trails were well marked and well groomed. The park categorizes its trails and lists each hike according to the level of difficulty. My date (remember, Mr. Ultimate Outdoorsman) decided we would take the longest and most difficult trail. In the end, I am glad we did because the views from the top of the bluffs were spectacular. We sat on a gigantic rock, refueled with water and snacks and watched the fishermen as they waited to reel in dinner.
We spent our second day canoeing on the lake. Boats and canoes can be rented at the park’s concession and there is a boat launch at each end of the lake. We saw many people fishing both from the shore and the lake, (the lake is home to brown trout, walleye and northern pike, bass, and panfish) but very few swimmers were brave enough to dip into the lake’s chilly springtime waters. The lake warms up in the summer months, that’s when you’ll find campers crowding the park’s two beaches, some people even bring their SCUBA gear.
Camping at Devil’s Lake State Park was a great experience for me and while I confess that I don’t camp often, I see why it is a great way for families to spend quality time together, void of computers, televisions, and video games.
For more information on Devils’ Lake State Park visit: www.dnr.wi.gov.