The West Bluff Trail is a difficult 1.6-mile long trail at Devil's Lake State Park that connects the North Shore to the South Shore via steep climbs to the highest point in the park. It is one of the park's most popular trail and combined with the Tumbled Rocks trail Devil's Lake's most popular loop.
The trail is a single-track asphalt path with stone steps. Popular features along the route include Prospect Point and Cleopatra's Needle. The West Bluff Trail as a leg of the Devil's Lake Segment of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail.
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| West Bluff Trail at Devil's Lake State Park |
With 3 million visitors annually, Devil's Lake State Park draws more than all but the top 4 national parks. Its unique landscape was carved out of stone by enormous glaciers, and this is where one glacier ended. The South Bluff is a terminal moraine that plugged a flow of meltwater which became the deep Devil's Lake.
Today the rock features, lake views, and mountain-like scenery is an anomaly in the Midwest that provides for premiere hiking experiences. The West Bluff Trail will be the choice for ambitious and athletically fit hikers seeking a challenging climb to soaring viewscapes. The trailbed is asphalt and easy to follow. The challenge is the long and sometimes steep 1-mile long climb to Prospect Point from the North Shore.
You can step to the edge of sheer cliffs and dangle your feet above the expanse at innumerable bald rock outcroppings along the hike. Be sure to stop at Prospect Point and Cleopatra's Needle to grab photographs and time to contemplate the enormity of the ice sheets which once covered all that you can see.
After descending to the South Shore you can find your way back on the Tumbled Rocks Trail. Head down the cottage road and you'll find the trailhead for the Tumbled Rocks trail hidden behind one of the lake's remaining cottages. Combined, these two trails make a 3.2-mile loop that will take approximately 1 1/2 hours to hike.
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| West Bluff Trail at Devil's Lake State Park |
Devil's Lake State Park - West Bluff Trail
COUNTYSAUK COUNTY
COMMUNITIES
BARABOO
TOTAL MILES
1.6-MILE POINT-TO-POINT
DIFFICULTY
DIFFICULT
LOWEST ELEVATION
960 AMSL
HIGHEST ELEVATION
1490 AMSL
TOTAL ELEVATION GAIN
860 FT
TOTAL ELEVATION LOST
-850 FT
CAMPING
Devil's Lake State Park
POINTS OF INTEREST
West Bluff, Prospect Point, Cleopatra's Needle
Directions and Trail Map
Click Map Image to load the full interactive map.
Address for your GPS: S5975 Park Rd, Baraboo, WI 53913
| coordinates: 43.434496, -89.739531 |
| From Milwaukee | 2 Hours |
| From Madison | 45 minutes |
| From Green Bay | 2.5 Hours |
| From Wausau | 2 Hours |
| From Minneapolis | 3.5 Hours |
| From Chicago | 3 Hours |
Photos
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| West Bluff Trail at Devil's Lake State Park |
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| West Bluff Trail at Devil's Lake State Park |
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| West Bluff Trail at Devil's Lake State Park |
Links
Devil's Lake State ParkOther Trails at Devil's Lake State Park
East Bluff Trail
Tumbled Rocks Trail
Balanced Rock Trail
Devil's Doorway Trail
Potholes Trail
CCC Trail
Group Camp and Grottos Trail
Roznos Meadow Trail
Steinke Basin Trail
Upland Trail
East Bluff Woods Trail
Johnson Moraine Trail
Ice Age Trail Devil's Lake Segment
Ice Age Trail Sauk Point Segment
Ice Age Trail Merrimac Segment
Parfrey's Glen Trail