what can i say about this place i was invited there as a friend and now i have been taking my kids and grand-kids there for years lost count of how many times i been there always get a good camp spot never complain about it.
Campsites in the Ice Age Campground were decent sized with individual fire pits and picnic tables. The sites had plenty of trees for shade, but were close together. Our site was right across the road from the restrooms on one side, and the water pump on the other side, which meant lots of foot traffic in our area. There are other sites that are a bit more secluded, and offer less noisy conditions.
Note: if you plan to camp here in the summer, reservations are a must. This is a busy park as it has lots to offer in the way of outdoor activities. We tent camped for two nights and three days. We fished on the lake and hiked a portion of the Ice Age Trail, specifically to the Devil's Doorway and Balanced Rock. Highly recommend the hike; it's worth the view at the top. We also utilized the boardwalk along the lake as a spot to stop and bank fish.
The park offers two visitors centers; one on the north shore and one on the south shore. The south shore center was well-maintained and had lots of merchandise and touristy items for sale, along with a small dining area. All in all, it was a scenic park to camp and hike in.
We stayed here for one night and it was perfect! Restrooms and facilities were well kept and everyone was friendly :)
There is so much to do at this park. Being as big as it is though, it can get crowded and loud at times. The sites are pretty spacious in most places. Even in the crowded areas. The lake is really nice. They don't allow motor boats and have rentals for canoes, kayaks, and paddle boards. They have numerous trails to hike in to the bluffs. There are stores at both lake shores and they both sell food. It did storm hard while we were there and the shore store had everyone in the store for the storm. The storm came in really fast too. It's a great place to stay for a short while.
This is a great location to relax in the woods or do some hiking, bouldering or rock climbing. The views are also a plus.
Beautiful, but crowded area. Campsites were pretty close to one another, and not many trees to separate the sites. There is a lot of things to do from hiking, biking, swimming, kayaking and the list could go on and on..
I did a 65 mile round trip by bike from Madison up to camp overnight at Devil's Lake. I stayed at the top of a large hill near the camp store. The campground host was very approachable and I enjoyed my time here. Neighbors were a bit loud and the grounds were packed, but I'd return in a heartbeat.
I absolutely love Devil's Lake. For being a popular destination for a lot of people in Wisconsin and neighboring states, the trails don't seem to be overcrowded and everything is very well maintained and clean. The beaches can get to be pretty busy at times, but otherwise it's great. There are great views on all the hiking trails and some amazing fishing as well. You can rent canoes and paddleboards at the beaches, which is an added bonus.
I love this park - the hikes are gorgeous and the swimming, boating, and fishing is incredible. The campgrounds aren't very rustic or private, but the amenities are good and the location more than makes up for it. Highly recommend!
I have stayed at Devil's Lake many times. I always try to get into the Ice Age Campground whenever possible. It is up and away from the rest of the park a bit and typically almost every site has full shade. This is important in the summer months. When it's 85° in Wisconsin it can be brutal with the humidity, but it is always cooler under the canopy. The sites are well groomed and it usually doesn't get too loud up there. Some of the sites have impressive views as you are up in a bluff. The Ice Age National Scenic Trail runs through the campground and there are too many hiking trails till list. The views from the bluffs will take your breath away. There is a reason that Devil's Lake is the most popular Wisconsin state park. The trails around the lake will give you vistas like nowhere else in the midwest. A note of caution: It can get crowded around the lake in the summer months. The trails further out aren't bad though. Devil's Lake is the biggest of the state parks, including beautiful Parfrey's Glen, but the congestion is the lake. If you plan on the lake, try for during the week if you wish to see more wildlife. Also this park fills very fast with reservations so reserve early. However, if you don't mind a game of chance, there are about 50 non-reservable sites that are first-come first-served and I have scored this way. If you choose this, get there when the office opens at 8am, because these don't typically last an hour. If you fish, be prepared for some of the best fishing you've ever experienced. If you're not sure of the how or where, plenty of people in the lodge will give you pointers. I have caught more fish I. a day there than anywhere else ever. Bee ready for enormous Brown Trout, nice Large and Small Mouth Bass, Northern Pike, some of the biggest Yellow Perch I've ever seen, as well as the occasional Walleye and Rainbow Trout. Devil's Lake Ice Age Campground, in my opinion, it's about as good as it gets.
The variety of shaded vs open sites is pretty large. There is only one shower/bathroom building for each half of the campground, so it can be a decent walk from certain areas. Younger forest, so there isn't as much shade or space between the trees.
One of the most beautiful places. But it ends there. The place is loved to death by people. Way, way to many people visit here. Place has a real bad litter problem. Also, some times you are not hiking the trails, but waiting in line on the trails. State Park system needs to fix the severe crowd problems here. Would give zero stars if it would have allowed it.
Recently, Devils Lake state park was rated one of the best in the USA. It is a wonderful park! There are many campsites ranging from pretty open to more secluded. The park offers a beach, hiking, and rock climbing. One of the hiking trails goes completely around the lake, which is always a nice afternoon jaunt.
