Devil's Lake State Park Conditions

Conditions as of Friday, October 3, 2008:

• Camping
• Events
• Fall Colors

Devil's Lake State Park is open every day of the year. The Visitor Center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., possibly later on Friday nights and weekends.

Mountain bike trails are open to bicycles until first snowfall.

Concession operations, including boat rentals, are open through October 13.

Both the north and south shore boat landings are now open for use. Part of the north shore boat landing parking lot is still slightly covered by high water, but the ramp is useable.

Parfrey's Glen is closed and will remain closed until repairs can be done, likely at least throughout the fall, winter, and spring. Barricades are posted at the entrance. No admittance is allowed, including walking in on foot.

Fall Colors

Foliage is now only about 5 to10 percent turned to colors. 

The question: “When should I come to see nice fall colors?”

The answers:

• The first weekend in October is usually too early, with colors just starting.
• The last weekend in October is usually past peak, with trees partially bare and colors waning.
• The middle two weekends are usually your best bet for prime fall colors.

Standard disclaimer: We can tell you exactly when the peak of color…was – right after it has passed! There is no reliable way to predict for sure when the peak of color will be. It depends on weather, nightly temperatures, humidity, rain, wind, soil moisture and possibly the state of Grandpa’s bunions or the width of the band around a wooly worm’s middle!

Wisconsin Fall Color Report [exit DNR]

Camping

All campgrounds are open and showers and flush toilets are available in the campgrounds.

Retirees and senior citizens come out in force in September and October. Campsites generally are readily available during the week. Camping occupancy in September and October is very dependent on the weather forecasts. On nice weekends, the park might fill all 409 campsites. On poor weather weekends, there might be 375 vacant campsites. If you must have certainty, need a particular site, must have electricity, or need multiple adjacent sites – please make reservations. Otherwise, you can choose whether or not you’ll roll the dice about the weather, at least until we're past the peak of fall color season in late October.

Northern Lights and Ice Age campgrounds will close after October 14. Sometimes for the next two weekends the park may open those campgrounds for overflow camping if needed. In that case, all water facilities would be turned off in those areas, with only pit toilets available. Quartzite Campground remains open until snow plowing is required. From then on, 14 campsites are kept open throughout the winter. Water facilities (showers, recreational vehicle dump/fill stations, running water restrooms) may be turned off as early as the first weekend in October. Pit toilets and one winterized water tap are available to campers after that.

Fall Events

The annual Badger Trails [exit DNR] youth camping weekend (more than 3000 Scouts and youth campers) is October 3-5 this year. That weekend, only Quartzite Campground is open for public camping.

The Aldo Leopold Half-Marathon and 5K Run will be held at the park on Saturday, October 25. Up to 500 backcountry runners will experience the broad vistas and spectacular trails of Devil’s Lake while under the duress of running 13 miles. This event is sponsored by the Aldo Leopold Foundation [exit DNR] and Great Lakes Endurance [exit DNR].

On Saturday, November 1, the Friends of Devil’s Lake State Park will host the annual Autumn Candlelight Hike from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. beginning at the north shore of the lake. An easy 2-mile trail lit by candles in luminaries will stretch from the Rock Elm shelter, then through the woods and around the Northern Lights campground. A warming fire will be kept roaring to heat cold fingers, toes and noses. Refreshments will be available.

Related Links

Road Conditions [exit DNR]
Weather [exit DNR]