The CCC Trail at Devil's Lake is a brief and difficult climb on the South Face of the East Bluff. It begins at the CCC parking lot or can be reached from the South Shore via the Grottos Trail. It is used by rock climbers to access some of Devil's Lake State Park's best climbing locations and where climbing lessons take place. The CCC trail connects directly to the East Bluff Trail and Upland Trail at a three-way intersection.
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| CCC Trail at Devil's Lake State Park |
slope is a signature feature of the Devil's Lake bluffs. This is the area at the base of quartzite cliffs where the talus, piles of boulders, slope down into the valley. Like the Potholes and Balanced Rock Trails, the CCC climbs the talus via hairpin switchbacks on a trail of stone steps laid by CCC crews in the Great Depression.
The Civilian Conservation Corps was established by President Roosevelt to put young men to work providing public goods that would last for generations. Devil's Lake hosted one of these CCC encampments on the site that is now the Group Camp. This policy had both the effect of distributing economic impact through direct paychecks to the workers while at the same time establishing infrastructures such as bridges, roads, and parks.
Since the construction of the park's amenities, Devil's Lake has become a central attraction in Sauk County, leading the county to rank third highest in tourism spending behind Milwaukee and Dane counties. Devil's Lake itself brings in 3 million visitors annually, a significantly higher draw than all but the top four national parks. For comparison, Yellowstone National Park draws approx. 3.5 million visitors annually.
There is no doubt that Devil's Lake's natural assets are what attracts visitors, but the amenities that the CCC provided have profoundly enhanced the visitor's experience. Imagine a Devil's Lake without its hiking trails, stone picnic shelters, bathhouses, and campgrounds. It certainly wouldn't be the jewel of our state without these. It seems just to honor the CCC's accomplishments with at least one trail in their name.
The CCC trail offers splendid views and a challenging work-out. The .4-mile long trail should not be underestimated. The climb itself is precarious and difficult. After catching a breather at the top of the bluff it is only a short distance to the Devil's Doorway Trail where you'll find one of the park's most famous rock features. Nearby Devil's Doorway is the Potholes Trail which descends the South Face. Combining the CCC Trail with the Potholes trail and portions of the East Bluff and Grottos trail makes for a nice and challenging 2-mile loop from the CCC parking lot.
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| Rock Climbers along the CCC Trail at Devil's Lake State Park |
Devil's Lake State Park - CCC Trail
COUNTY: Sauk
COMMUNITIES: Baraboo, Merrimac
TOTAL MILES: .4-Miles linear
DIFFICULTY: Difficult
POINTS OF INTEREST: South Face, East Bluff, Devil's Lake Oak Forest State Natural Area
CAMPING: Devil's Lake State Park Camping
Directions and Trail Map
Click Map Image to load the full interactive map.
Address for your GPS: S6513 WI-113, Merrimac, WI 53561
| Coordinates: N43.409566, W089.724014 |
| 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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| CCC Trail at Devil's Lake State Park |
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| CCC Trail at Devil's Lake State Park |
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| CCC Trail at Devil's Lake State Park |
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| CCC Trail at Devil's Lake State Park |
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| CCC Trail at Devil's Lake State Park |
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| CCC Trail at Devil's Lake State Park |
Links
Devil's Lake State ParkOther Trails at Devil's Lake State Park
East Bluff Trail
West Bluff Trail
Tumbled Rocks Trail
Balanced Rock Trail
Devil's Doorway Trail
Potholes 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