Devil's Lake State Park (Wisconsin)

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

Devil’s Lake State Park is a state park located in the Baraboo Range in eastern Sauk County, just south of Baraboo, Wisconsin. This 9,117 acre (36.90 km²) state park is known for its 500 foot (150 m) high quartzite bluffs along the 360 acre (1.5 km²) 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 Balance 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.

Contents 1 Baraboo Range[1] 2 Rock Climbing 3 References 4 See also 5 External links

[edit] Baraboo Range^[1]

The Baraboo Range National Natural Landmark is 50,700 acres (205 km²) in southern Wisconsin. The Baraboo Range is an exhumed mountain range and consists of the largest contiguous forest in southern Wisconsin.

[edit] Rock Climbing

The geology of the Baraboo Hills surrounding Devil's Lake make 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 "crumbly" to climb safely.

[edit] References

1. ^ Final Environmental Impact Statement-Badger Army Ammunition Plant

[edit] See also

• Badger Army Ammunition Plant

[edit] External links

• Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Devil's Lake State Park
• Devil's Lake Travel Page
• Information and pictures
• Mountain Project - Climbing Information
• Web Soil Survey (select Sauk County, Wisconsin)

• Devil's Lake State Park (Wisconsin) is at coordinates 43°24′54″N 89°42′48″W / 43.414946, -89.713324 (Devil's Lake State Park (Wisconsin))Coordinates: 43°24′54″N 89°42′48″W / 43.414946, -89.713324 (Devil's Lake State Park (Wisconsin))