Once again Amaris and Fox were itching for adventure outside of Chicago so they looked northward. Amaris stumbled upon Devil's Lake and mentioned it to Fox who immediately remembered hearing about the "crag" from friends while growing up rock climbing with folks from the mid-west. Devil's lake is rare for the mid-west and is truly a one of a kind destination for this entire region of the country. From a rock climbing perspective with historical context, Louder Than Eleven has an entertaining twelve minute video that is highly recommended about The Good Land. The adventure was booked and the duo set off for a short weekend getaway to Baraboo, which is known for its Circus History.
Friday proved to be a long work day and after roughly two and a half hours we reached Madison, WI hungry and ready for a meal. The map directed us to the heart of the city near the State Capitol where we found parking and strolled over to the Settle Down Tavern to refuel. When in Rome, do as the Romans do so we treated this meal like the locals would by starting with Cheese Balls followed by the "Fish Fry" for our entre. The meal was satisfying with a friendly atmosphere in the two story dining area. Following the meal we strolled through the capitol's streets and extended the stop a bit longer at Johnny Delmonico's. The high quality steak house was inviting and our choice of meal was reconsidered while we chatted with the bartender.
An hour later the Ringling House came into view and the Bed and Breakfast host was greeting us at the door. After freshening up quickly we headed to downtown Baraboo and Brothers on Oak for dinner. Most folks we met this night were "mid-west nice" and more than happy to have us in their joint and enjoying the music while getting to know locals like One Eyed Charlie and his Haram.
Devil's Lake is the most visited park in the state and sees over three millions visitors per year. There are so many ways to spend a day, or week, in the park with miles of steep hiking, fishing, bird watching, camping, and rock climbing. The quartzite landscape is one of a kind for the entire region and may be reached in a few short hours from the following metropolitan centers:
Chicago: 187mi / 3hrs
Minneapolis: 400mi / 6hrs
Sioux Falls: 400mi / 6hrs
Des Moines: 300mi / 5hrs
Green Bay: 145mi / 2.5hrs
The first stop of the morning was at the North side of the park to get a pass, enjoy the crisp morning air, and grab a few supplies at the North Shore Chateau before heading to the south side and parking at the Devil's Lake Boat Launch for those interested in a peaceful day on the water.
From the parking lot we started north on the Tumbled Rocks Trail where tall water reeds and gorgeous red chested birds swiftly danced through the wetlands.
The trail quickly brought us to vast boulder fields and shoreline cabins in the woods that we enjoyed before heading back the way we came. Upon meeting the main road we headed up a small portion of the 1,200 mile Ice Age National Scenic Trail for some steep elevation gain as, unbeknownst to us, we headed towards Cleopatra's Needle.
As mentioned, the hike to an overlook near Cleopatra's Needle was quite steep and we were both a bit tired after the trek back to the parking lot. Next stop was the Red Oak Shelter area and parking lot to reach the trailhead for Balanced Rock and Devil's Doorway. As it turned out, the first hike was simply a warmup for the much steeper and more rugged terrain on the east bluff. After passing some people climbing the cliffs on top rope the next leg up to Balanced Rock was achieved.
After the brief stop at Balanced Rock we made the final walk to Devil's Doorway and spent a good amount of time enjoying the unique structure. The doorway is quite large and somewhat overwhelming when standing beneath the juggernaut. The two of us were quite tired, and hungry, when we got back to the Subaru so we made a well deserved pitstop before going back south. The Balanced Rock Winery caught our eye so we stopped for wide open views, loaded nachos, and a glass of wine. Unfortunately we were unable to stay for the live music that night and highly recommend the winery for anyone in the area.
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