Client Preparation Guide
South Shore Parking Lot
Four Essential Tips
arrive early
Many clients get lost or confused on their first visit to Devil’s Lake State Park.
Plan for no phone service
Cell service inside and near Devil’s Lake State Park is weak to non-existent. Don’t count on it.
Don’t trust your GPS
If you enter “Devil’s Lake State Park” into a GPS device, it usually takes you to the wrong (north) end of the lake. Use the attached map instead OR enter in the specific coordinates below.
Read this document in its entirety
The below information is really helpful and will help set you up for a successful experience with us.
The Client Resources section is optional, but look over the headlines to see if anything catches your interest. We offer various types of trips and courses, so some resources may not be relevant to your trip.
Logistics
RENDEZVOUS LOCATION
Meet us at the South Shore Parking Lot, on South Shore Road. This is the large, main parking parking lot for the South Shore beach and picnic areas. As you enter the parking lot, choose the area furthest to your right to park. Please refer to below map.
GPS is NOT a reliable method of finding the parking lot, as there are no formal addresses along the South Shore Road. If you don’t have a road map and must use GPS, use these specific coordinates:
43.411262, -89.724257
MEETING TIME
We will meet at 7:30 AM, unless other arrangements have been made (check your confirmation email). Please be prompt. If you are unfamiliar with the area, please arrive early, as many first-time visitors become disoriented trying to find the meeting place.
If you are running late or lost, please call or text us ASAP because the closer you get to Devil’s Lake, the less likely you will have phone reception. If you are already in the South Shore area, the most reliable area for phone reception is the CCC Parking Lot.
PARKING
All vehicles at Devils Lake must have a valid admission sticker; please register your vehicle as soon as you arrive to avoid a ticket. See our Park Admission page for current fee information. If you already have a WI State Parks pass OR a National Parks annual pass, simply display it on your vehicle dashboard.
Pay for parking at credit card kiosk at the entrance to the South Shore Parking Lot.
BATHROOMS
Public restrooms with running water are available near the beach in a brick building. There are also primitive restrooms on the East side of the parking lot. Blue spigots/fountains are available in the picnic areas if you need to fill up water bottles.
Prepare for Success
Mind & Body
Sleep and eat well the night before, so you are well-rested and you have plenty of energy during our time together.
If you are have anxiety about your climbing or rappelling day, reading What to Expect and Frequently Asked Questions may help you feel more informed.
If you climb in a gym or like to workout, you might take a day or two off before our trip so your muscles are well-rested and strong. Otherwise, relax and get psyched for an adventure!
WHAT TO EXPECT
TRIPS: After intros and waivers in the parking lot, we ascend the bluffs (about 20 min.) to a great climbing or rappelling area, where we will set up for our planned activity (climbing, rappelling, bouldering, etc.). Your instructor will customize the trip to your group’s goals and ability levels, but you can be sure we’ll spend our time on a variety of routes, discussing skills and technique along the way.
COURSES: After intros and waivers in the parking lot, we figure out what gear you have and supplement according to our needs. We hike in to a low-traffic climbing area (about 20 min.), make a base camp and begin our course work. Along the way, we ask questions to determine where your skills/knowledge are and how best to structure our time together. Expect a combination of demonstration, short lecture, and experiential learning, culminating in extended practice sessions where you implement new skills.
APPROACH: The approach hike takes 10 - 30 minutes, ascending up to 500 feet in elevation. The terrain is steep and rocky; expect large, high steps on hard, slippery rock. Many hikers find this hike challenging, and need to stop to catch their breath multiple times. We recommend carrying everything in your backpack, so your hands are available to provide balance.
For more details information, read What to Expect on a Guided Climbing Day.
WHAT TO BRING
Comfortable, athletic clothes work best for our adventures and courses. These can be tight-fitting, stretchy garments like tights or Under Armor, or loose, nonrestrictive clothing like sweats or t-shirts. Please avoid jeans, which tend to be restrictive and uncomfortable for climbing. If you wear shorts, make sure they are at least mid-thigh length (min. 5” inseam) so the harness won’t chafe your legs. In addition to comfortable clothing, please bring:
A minimum of 1 liter of water per person; 2 liters/person is essential during hot summer days
More food and snacks than you think you’ll eat
Sunglasses and sunscreen
Sturdy and supportive close-toed shoes (not sandals or slip-ons)
One backpack per person (30L for climbing trips, 40-50L for technical courses) to carry personal and group climbing gear
*** Unless you are really fit, do not bring an ice-filled cooler. We will not return to the car for lunch and trails are steep to most climbing areas.
For more an illustrated guide, see our What to Bring Climbing.
Cancellations
While we are looking forward to climbing with you, we understand cancellations are sometimes necessary due to unplanned events. Please read our Cancellation Policies, should you need to cancel your event for any reason between now and your trip date.
We recommend purchasing trip insurance to avoid losing money in the event of an emergency or a change to your travel plans. Forbes has a great trip insurance search tool for finding the right option for your situation.
Client Resources
If you appreciate a detailed briefing, check out our hour-by-hour overview of what our typical climbing day looks like.
An illustrated guide to what to bring - and what not to bring - on your guided climbing day.
Want to show up at the cliff with some lingo in your back pocket? Rock Climbing Terms for Beginners explains some of the climbing-specific language you might hear at the crag.
We provide all equipment you’ll need for your trip or course. However, if you’d like to purchase your own kit, you may order it in advance from our Client Store.
If you’d like to order a DLCG hat or t-shirt, please order it in advance from our store and we’ll bring it to your trip for you!