Connect with Facebook
| Elevation: | 961 ft |
| GPS: | 43.417, -89.732 Google Map · Climbing Area Map |
| Page Views: | 1,052,266 total · 4,819/month |
| Admins: | Burton Lindquist, Doug Hemken, James Schroeder, chris tregge |
Description
Devil's Lake is a state park in Wisconsin that contains some of the best rock climbing in the Midwest. Located in a picturesque setting, these quartzite rock cliffs of upwards of a hundred feet in height attract climbers from all over the country. Over 1600 routes are listed in the Swartling & Mayer guidebook. There is no shortage of climbable rock in the park.
Famous climbers such as Joe and Paul Stettner, John Gill, Jim Erickson, and Eric Zschieschie have left their mark here. The legendary Pete Cleveland may have introduced 5.12 back in the 1960s. Son of Great Chimney, led onsight, may have been the hardest route in the country at the time of Cleveland's first ascent in 1968.
Devil's Lake offers mellow toproping, well protected leads, and some harder "headpoint" style leads. Bouldering is extensive, if a bit spread out. Those who intend to toprope here should remember to bring plenty of sling materials as some of the anchors wind up being a good ways back from the cliff edges. Some climbs are "occupied" for extended stretches during the day, but climbers are often willing to share the rock here with a friendly request.
The quartzite rock is beautiful, but it can be slick. Smearing is much less utilized than edging. Climbing here is traditional. There are no bolted routes at the Lake, so sport climbers may be dissatisfied here. Devil's Lake may have more quality moderate climbs (5.5-5.8) than anywhere in the country. There are also many well protected 5.9-5.11a leads. More difficult climbs are usually attempted on toprope and are led if and when they are wired. The harder climbs tend to be technical and the sequences tend to be cryptic. Maybe it's the smooth nature of the rock, but more than one climber has referred to Devil's Lake ratings as stiff.
There is a beautiful lake here with fishing, non-motorized boating, and even diving for the multi-day visitor for non-climbing days.
Dave Groth on "The Good The Bad and the Jacked"
![]()
Dave Groth on The Good, the Bad, and the Jacked. 1985. Photo: Dave Langhoff.
Andy Hansen on Lost Face Overhangs:
![]()
Great route. Photo: Peter Beck.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
A great film about the history of the DLFA by Darin Limvere, available for download on Vimeo:
https://vimeo.com/ondemand/24156/65395216
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Famous climbers such as Joe and Paul Stettner, John Gill, Jim Erickson, and Eric Zschieschie have left their mark here. The legendary Pete Cleveland may have introduced 5.12 back in the 1960s. Son of Great Chimney, led onsight, may have been the hardest route in the country at the time of Cleveland's first ascent in 1968.
Devil's Lake offers mellow toproping, well protected leads, and some harder "headpoint" style leads. Bouldering is extensive, if a bit spread out. Those who intend to toprope here should remember to bring plenty of sling materials as some of the anchors wind up being a good ways back from the cliff edges. Some climbs are "occupied" for extended stretches during the day, but climbers are often willing to share the rock here with a friendly request.
The quartzite rock is beautiful, but it can be slick. Smearing is much less utilized than edging. Climbing here is traditional. There are no bolted routes at the Lake, so sport climbers may be dissatisfied here. Devil's Lake may have more quality moderate climbs (5.5-5.8) than anywhere in the country. There are also many well protected 5.9-5.11a leads. More difficult climbs are usually attempted on toprope and are led if and when they are wired. The harder climbs tend to be technical and the sequences tend to be cryptic. Maybe it's the smooth nature of the rock, but more than one climber has referred to Devil's Lake ratings as stiff.
There is a beautiful lake here with fishing, non-motorized boating, and even diving for the multi-day visitor for non-climbing days.
Dave Groth on "The Good The Bad and the Jacked"
Andy Hansen on Lost Face Overhangs:
--------------------------------------------------------------------
A great film about the history of the DLFA by Darin Limvere, available for download on Vimeo:
https://vimeo.com/ondemand/24156/65395216
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Bouldering
Devil's Lake has great bouldering. From the long established problems at Tombstone Rocks, to the neo-classics at the Reserve, there are many worthwhile areas. See Devil's Lake bouldering for more info on the wealth of problems that the Lake offers.
Organization
There are multiple cliffs in the area. These include the East Bluff, the West Bluff, the South Bluff, and the Sandstone Bluff. The greatest number of routes will be found on the East Bluff and West Bluff areas.
The East Rampart, a quarter-mile long cliff band, is the most popular climbing area and contains the highest concentration of climbs at the park. The area contains some of the finest climbs and longer climbs in this area. It tends to also be the most crowded.
The East Rampart, a quarter-mile long cliff band, is the most popular climbing area and contains the highest concentration of climbs at the park. The area contains some of the finest climbs and longer climbs in this area. It tends to also be the most crowded.
Location/Directions
Devil's Lake State Park is located NNW of Madison and just S of Baraboo. From the North, you can access it off I-90/I-94 to US 12 and head east following the signs. From the South, you can access it from I-90 to US 12/US 18 which skirts Madison on its southern edge, following this to US 12. From the East, you can access it from I-94 to I-90 S to US 12. From US 12, follow the signs into the park.
A vehicle admission fee is required in the park. You can get a day pass at the self-serve kiosks in most parking lots.
A vehicle admission fee is required in the park. You can get a day pass at the self-serve kiosks in most parking lots.
Guidebooks
The most comprehensive guidebook for Devil's Lake is by Sven Olof Swartling and can be purchased at several Baraboo area shops and campgrounds. It's also sold at the REI in Brookfield, WI and on Madison's west side. Boulders Climbing Gym in Madison now carries the guidebook as well.
Mike Farris also wrote a guide to Wisconsin and Minnesota which briefly covers DL and gives a few other quality climbing areas (mostly in North/Northwestern WI). That's a Falcon guidebook.
A new DL route guidebook by MP's own Jay Knower is now available for sale locally (Wildside in Baraboo, Boulders in Madison). Order here: wolverinepublishing.com/sto…
A bouldering guidebook by Peter Bonamici and others for Minnesota and Wisconsin available here: escapeclimbing.com/extra/mn… (and also at AdRock, Boulders, and Wildside in Barbaoo)
A bouldering guidebook by Ian Cotter-Brown to Devil's Lake is available here: (also at Boulders, Wild Side, and the park admin building) kdanielspublishing.com/cart…
Mike Farris also wrote a guide to Wisconsin and Minnesota which briefly covers DL and gives a few other quality climbing areas (mostly in North/Northwestern WI). That's a Falcon guidebook.
A new DL route guidebook by MP's own Jay Knower is now available for sale locally (Wildside in Baraboo, Boulders in Madison). Order here: wolverinepublishing.com/sto…
A bouldering guidebook by Peter Bonamici and others for Minnesota and Wisconsin available here: escapeclimbing.com/extra/mn… (and also at AdRock, Boulders, and Wildside in Barbaoo)
A bouldering guidebook by Ian Cotter-Brown to Devil's Lake is available here: (also at Boulders, Wild Side, and the park admin building) kdanielspublishing.com/cart…
Classic Climbing Routes at Devil's Lake
Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
Weather Averages
|
High
|
Low
|
|
Precip
|
Days w Precip
|
Prime Climbing Season
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
Photos
22 Comments
More About Devil's Lake
Printer-FriendlyWhat's New
Guidebooks (7)
Beersconsin
Also some cool aerial pics of the geology towards the bottom of this page. Sep 17, 2008
"Remember that all the climbs except a very few have been lead...and that top-roping is not considered the legitimate form of climbing at the Lake. The easy access by trail to the top of the bluffs and short climbs is an excuse for practice, but not for competence"
"Climbers and Hikers Guide to Devils Lake" by David Smith and Roger Zimmerman, Wisconsin Hoofer Mountaineers, 1970. May 21, 2009
Madison, WI
Madison, WI
Madison, WI
A few rescues made in the park this busy weekend past. The number of casual users (swimmers/hikers/fishers/picnickers) far out weighed the number of climbers in the park this past weekend from what I saw. Not unusual by any means but helps explain the mis-haps in the boulderfields.... Jul 6, 2010
Beersconsin
vimeo.com/ondemand/24156/65… Jun 28, 2012
Madison, WI
www.grassroutesclimbing.com/
Posted by Joel Unema originally. Aug 12, 2013
On a related note, I'd pay someone who lives in the area $10 (or some hometown Jack Daniels) just to camp in their yard. Jun 28, 2016
Beersconsin
wolverinepublishing.com/sto… May 18, 2017
Lake Oswego, OR
Beersconsin
Or, camp outside the park at one of several campgrounds in the area. Mar 27, 2018
Easy/moderate routes: 5.6 - 5.9.
Any interest please e-mail me: tboaks@xmission.com. Jun 1, 2018
Fernie, BC
I was going to climb at Devils Lake until I heard about the parking fee. To bad :( :( Aug 18, 2018
Madison, WI
Comparable to the daily entrance fee for Banff NP, I guess. It is too bad.
Or you could buy an annual pass for $38 (with out-of-state plates). Aug 19, 2018
Beersconsin
Madison, WI
In economics (the DNR actually has economists on staff), you think of market equilibrium as the point where a supply curve and a demand curve meet. The margin (marginal cost, marginal benefit) is a change from some point of interest like the equilibrium point.
The DNR hopes that some increase in the price will reduce the number of people at overcrowded parks like DL and Peninsula (because some people will decide that the benefit of visiting the park is less than the cost), but also that it may increase total revenue (it would take some math and good projections - which no one has - to figure this out). They also hope that those people who decide not to visit a "premium" park will take their park entrance dollars to another park (this is part of the calculation for increasing total revenue). Aug 21, 2018
Madison, WI
Chicago, IL
- ***DO NOT USE VERTICAL ADVENTURE**** if you are going to climb in Devil's Lake. I booked a trip with Joel Taylor and it was a nightmare experience. They are the only climbing company in the area that has a temperature minimum. He won't take you if the weather is under 52 degrees at meet up time (it was going to be above that an hour later!!), which is conveniently very hard to find on his site. I still hiked in the area that day (on a beautiful Sunday morning!) and talked to several guides from other companies who were out with their own groups and said they have never heard of such policies for both the temperature and refund. They all literally laughed at Joel and claimed I should've booked with them (in hindsight I wish I would've). So, I sat there and watched about 50 other people climbing in that area that morning, having a blast! When he cancelled our trip, he mentioned he couldn't take us in the afternoon group, when it would be over 52 degrees because he had something to do in Chicago. It was clear he had other plans that plans that day. When the other two dates he had available for us didn't work, he said he would only refund half our money, but when I contacted him later for the refund, he said his refund policy changed and he would not refund any of my or my partners money. What a nightmare. Go with any other group than them! ***STAY AWAY FROM VERTICAL ADVENTURE*****
Nov 22, 2018