Wisconsin
Devil's Lake State Park offers bluff-top views, and the Ice Age National Scenic Trail follows landscapes shaped by glaciers. Fall color around the lake is…
Devil's Lake State Park offers bluff-top views, and the Ice Age National Scenic Trail follows landscapes shaped by glaciers. Fall color around the lake is top-tier.
Why Wisconsin's glacial landscape stands out
Wisconsin's best hiking was shaped by ice. At Devil's Lake State Park, trails climb quartzite bluffs for wide views over the lake, while the Ice Age National Scenic Trail follows ridges, valleys, and kettle lakes left behind by glaciers. It is approachable hiking — no mountains, no altitude — but the bluff trails are genuinely steep and rocky, and the park gets busy on fine weekends.
What to do, step by step
- Decide your route: a bluff-top loop at Devil's Lake for views, or a quieter point-to-point stretch of the Ice Age Trail.
- Check park conditions, trail closures, and whether you need a state park vehicle pass before setting out.
- For fall color, time your visit for peak season and consider a weekday — the lake's bluffs are popular when the maples turn.
- Wear sturdy shoes; bluff paths are rocky and uneven, and wet stone is slippery on the descents.
- Carry water and a layer — lakeside weather shifts quickly, and the bluff tops are windier than the sheltered shoreline.
- Start early on weekends, stay on marked trails near cliff edges, and pack out everything you bring.
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