XC SKIING AT DEVIL’S LAKE STATE PARK

Cross Country Skiing at Devil’s Lake - It’s Complicated

At Wisconsin’s most visited state park, it’s beautiful every season of the year. During winter, snow and ice often decorate the cliffs, trees and rocks, creating a gorgeous winter wonderland often more easily explored via skis, snowshoes, or at least some traction-assist devices.

If you’d like to visit the park in the winter, you might be surprised that the Park does not groom trails for nordic skiing. Why not? Well, it’s complicated (see below). However, the lack of grooming doesn’t mean you can’t have a lot of fun cross-country skiing at Devil’s Lake, it just means you need to be strategic about it.

short history of XC Ski Trail grooming at devil’s Lake

The Friends of Devil’s Lake State Park last purchased and donated a snowmobile to the Park for ski grooming purposes in 2002; the Park used the snowmobile and associated equipment to groom cross-country trails, which it had done on-and-off for years.

Several years later (exact date unknown), however, Park management, supported by the Parks Bureau, phased out of grooming ski trails at Devil's Lake. There has been a movement in recent years for Wisconsin parks to diversify recreational opportunities, so they don’t all offer the same set of activities in each park. One reason is that quite simply, parks have different terrain features. Another reason is operations efficiency, e.g. since Mirror Lake State Park is only 15 minutes from Devil’s Lake, why not concentrate ski grooming efforts there? Additional reasons specific to ending xc ski trail grooming at Devi’s Lake included:

• The decrease in significant, consistent snowfall needed for maintaining the ski trails at Devil’s Lake is greater, given the rocky terrain, as compared to a sand-based trail system such as Mirror Lake.

• Mirror Lake has a dedicated warming shelter, which supports charging state trail pass fees, but Devil’s Lake does not have a warming shelter.

• Mirror Lake also has a fleet of equipment and various equipment specific to maintaining ski trails for various conditions, as it historically had been a preferred location for cross country skiing.

• There had been a noticeable decline in the number of users of cross country skiers, and there are far more hikers and snowshoers (cost of entry contributes to this) using the Park trails.

• Current agreements for the Ice Age Trail prohibit the Devil’s Lake from restricting hiking on the trail, even when it is snow-covered. As such, the distance of possible trail restricted strictly to cross country skiing was reduced to only the 2.4-mile Steinke Basin Loop.

• The snow covered ski trail restriction for cross country skiers prohibits all other trail recreation, regardless if they are useable for the skiers. Under the current multi-use designation, the trails can be used by all users at any time.

Best Trails for XC Skiing at Devil’s Lake

So Devil’s Lakes State Park used to groom ski trails, but they no longer do. However, if we’re fortunate enough to get more than 6” of snow on the ground, you can find still enjoy great cross-country skiing in the Park, if you’re willing to break your own trail, or follow existing ski tracks. Grab your rock skis and explore some of the following adventures!

Beginner Level Nordic Skiing

Roznos Meadow

Rozno’s Meadow offers the easiest xc ski terrain at Devil’s Lake. The terrain is fairly flat, the underlying topsoil is sandy (few rocks) and you have gorgeous views looking east, up into the mouth of the old river valley. The sandstone bluff and east bluff, further on, stand out in winter, with the leaves down.

Steinke Basin Trails

The Steinke Basin trail system is a collection of old, double-track farm roads. The terrain is more rolling than Rozno’s Meadow (i.e. more interesting) and you have a greater variety of loop options.

Tumbled Rocks Trail

The Tumbled Rocks trail gains very little elevation and makes for good easy xc skiing terrain when snow is fresh. However, because the trail is so popular and well-traveled, the snow here never stays in good shape for long. If you are fortunate enough to get to the Park on the morning of a fresh snowfall, give Tumbled Rocks a try. Otherwise, look elsewhere.

Intermediate Level Nordic Skiing

Uplands Loop

The Uplands Loop is probably my favorite ski trip at Devil’s Lake. At 3.8 miles (6.1 km), it’s long enough for a bit of a workout, the terrain and views are varied, and there’s never too much traffic. However, this trail is much rockier than Steinke Basin or Roznos meadow, so if the snow is thin, expect some bumps and scrapes - bring your “rock skis." A few steeper hills on the east end (near Hwy 113) will create some interest/excitement!

Sauk Point Trail

Sauk Point makes for a moderate xc ski adventure when you ski it east-to-west, i.e. uphill. You’ll gain about 800 feet of elevation, fairly gradually. The single track trail is nice and tight, and the less-traveled nature of Sauk Point might mean you don’t see another soul. Unless you want a solid adventure, do this as a one-way trip, arranging a car shuttle at the Uplands Loop / Ice Age trailhead on Hwy 113.

Advanced Cross Country Skiers Only

Sauk Point Trail

Going down the Sauk Point Trail is much more technical than going up it. Though there are no large, steep hills, the trail descends consistently, some turns are tight, and the singletrack doesn’t leave much room for error.

East Bluff Woods Trail

The Park used to groom the East Bluff Wood Trail, which could be a wild ride. If you take the Steinke Basin south to where CCC Trail meets the East Bluff Trail, then continue west on East Bluff Trail, you can connect with the East Bluff Woods Trail. From this point, East Bluff Woods makes some significant, long, steep descents as it works its way back to the North Shore. Make sure there’s plenty of snow, for this downhill section has many rocks in the double track, and these obstacles hidden by snow can be treacherous. For adventuresome skiers, however, this can be a really fun way to create an longer, spicer xc ski loop.

Dangerous Ski Terrain

West Bluff, Balanced Rock, Potholes and CCC Trails

While these trails may offer gorgeous views and great hiking in warmer months, they are simply too steep and technical for cross-country skiing. Better to use snowshoes or traction cleats to explore these!

Good XC Skiing Near Devil’s Lake State Park