This year at Devil’s Lake, the annual First Day hike will be a twilight hike/snowshoe…
Cow Chips, Music, Fur Traders, Honey Bees and more this weekend in the Baraboo Hills. First, let’s thank everyone who will be working so that we can play this Labor Day Weekend! Here’s what’s up here in the Devil’s Lake State Park area…
The Weather
The main story in our area will be the cooler temperatures with highs each day in the lower to mid-70s. Although it sounds like we’ll have some clouds on and off, the only real chance of rain in the forecast for Saturday. Even that looks to be south of us. So all-in-all a good weekend! Here’s one forecast.
The Trails
Hiking trails in the area are all in good summer condition. The only exceptions are the Manley Creek Boardwalk at the Merrimac Preserve which is closed for maintenance AND some small sections of the 400 State Bike Trail near Wonewoc. Everything else is looking good.
Keep in mind that this is a Holiday weekend so Devil’s Lake State Parks popular East Bluff, West Bluff and Balanced Rock trails will be very busy. Be patient. If you bring your dog, keep them on leash. If you listen to music, wear headphones.
Devil’s Lake State Park Activies & Events
Friday, August 30th, 2019
5:00 pm to 7:30 pm – Last Friday Fish Fry of the Season
The Barn Restaurant will be hosting the Friday Fish Frys at Devil’s Lake outside the Chateau throughout the summer.
8:00 pm to 9:30 pm – Last “Park After Dark” of the Season
Explore the world of nocturnal animals. Bring your sense of adventure and we’ll bring some of our high-tech gear to discover the secrets of the night! The hike will go along the eastern section of the Johnson Moraine Trail and be about a mile and half in length. This program is best for kids 7 and older and adults, but open to “kids” of all ages. Meet at the Steinke Basin Parking Lot.
Saturday, August 31st, 2019
11:30 am – 12:30 pm Honey Extraction!
It’s time to extract honey from the Nature Center’s beehive! Our beekeepers will show you how they extract honey and you can have a taste! If you’d like to know more about beekeeping, come and visit with the local beekeepers too. This program is great for all ages. Happening outside the Nature Center.
1:00 pm to 3 pm – Monarch Tagging
The monarch butterflies are starting to migrate south for the winter and it’s a perfect time for us to capture and tag them. The results will be recorded with. We will provide the nets and monarch tags. This program is great for all ages. Meet at the Steinke Basin Parking Lot.
5:30 pm to 7:30 pm – Last Guided Kayak Tour of the Season
Go on a kayak adventure at Devil’s Lake! Guides will take you on a 2-hour tour of the lake exploring the geology, history and lake’s wildlife. Space is limited, so you’ll need to preregister. If you need to rent a kayak, please let us know when you register. The rental fee is $25 for a single kayak and $45 for a double. To register, please contact the Nature Center at (608) 356-8301 ext. 140. This program is best for adults and children 10 and older. Meet at the Chateau (North Shore Concessions).
9:00 pm to 10:30 pm – Universe In The Park
Join astronomers from the UW-Madison Astronomy Program for an evening of exploring the Universe! There will be a short presentation then some time looking through the telescope at the night sky! This program is best for adults and children 10 and older. Meet at the Rock Elm Shelter (North Shore).
Mirror Lake State Park Events
Saturday, August 31st, 2019
7:00 pm to 8:00 pm – International Wolf Center Presentation
Please join Debbie and Jerry as they discuss the habits and biology of wolves, how they hunt, what they eat, what wildlands they need, and human interactions/impacts. There will be a PowerPoint and videos of these magnificent creatures. Meet at the amphitheater. (Rain location: Bluewater Bay Shelter, near the shower building).
Sunday, September 1st, 2019
10:00 am to 11:30 pm – Hike the Echo Rock and Ishnala Trail
Travel back in time on this 2.4-mile hike to learn how Mirror Lake was formed. Explore the wildflowers, smell the fresh pine trees, walk through the cool Ishnala Gorge. Learn about the human history of the park, who lived in and around the park, before it was a park. Let’s see if we can find some cool bugs and creatures and birds as well. If there is light rain, we will still go. If there is heavy rain and/or lightning, we will cancel. Meet at Echo Rock trailhead at the top of the boat landing parking lot.
Featured Nearby Events
Multi-Day Events
Wisconsin State Cow Chip Throw 2019 Friday, Aug 30th & Saturday, Aug 31 – Sauk Prairie
Approximately 40,000 people attend the Wisconsin State Cow Chip throw each year. The current Cow Chip throw state record is 248 feet. Featuring two stages of entertainment, arts and crafts fair, food booths, 5k & 10k run and much more! Located at Marion Park on Grand Avenue and First Street in Prairie du Sac, WI. Visit Website.
Los Dells Festival – Saturday, Aug 31st and Sunday, Sept 1 – Mauston
The first major Latin Music & Arts Festival in the Midwest and the largest Latin Music Festival in the U.S! We provide a multi-cultural experience for fans of Latin music just outside one of the largest family-friendly entertainment destinations in the Midwest:The Wisconsin Dells. With art installations, a vast culinary program, and a heavy hitting lineup, festival attendees are in for an unforgettable experience. Join us for the best weekend of the summer! Cost: Children 10 and under free with ticketed adult. Ticket packages range from $79 to $675. Camping passes $125, or $225 for RV camping. Parking passes $20 per day for general parking, $40 per day for VIP parking. Shuttle bus passes $10 for two days. Visit the website for details.
Baraboo River Rendezvous at Spirit Point in Baraboo, WI – August 30, 2019 – September 1, 2019
The Baraboo River Rendezvous is held the first part of September with the Spirit Lake Mountain Men arriving from all over the Great Lakes region. These pre-1840s fur traders gathered each autumn to trade furs and stories while enjoying games of skill. Throwing axes and tossing around loaded beaver traps is just part of the fun. Dressed in buckskins and woolen garments these rendezvous events were a means of making a living before the Great Lakes region was “settled”. Camps, traders, events and food vendors. 9 am-5 pm daily. Location: Spirit Point Baraboo.
More…
Saturday, August 31st, 2019
7:30 am to 1:00 pm – Downtown Baraboo Farmer’s Market
Started by local growers in the late-1980’s, the Baraboo Farmers’ Market has become a favorite feature of downtown life for Baraboo residents, who avail themselves of the wealth of locally produced agricultural products every Wednesday and Saturday morning from early May through October. Only Wisconsin-produced fruits, vegetables, meats, cheese, eggs, bakery items, flowers and perennials, bedding plants, jams and jellies, maple syrup and honey, herbs and herbal products, and other commodities are allowed to be sold at the market. The Baraboo Farmers’ Market is held on Wednesday and Saturday mornings from 7:30 am to 1:00 pm on the Courthouse Square on Oak Street between 3rd and 4th Streets. The market runs from May through October. Visit Website
Sunday, September 1st, 2019
9:00 am to 3:00 pm Downtown Baraboo Sunday Market
The Downtown Baraboo Sunday Market includes Antiques & Vintage Collectibles, Artists and Crafters, & Farmers selling their work on the streets of Downtown Baraboo. Located on the Courthouse Square on Oak Street in Downtown Baraboo between 3rd & 4th Street. More Information.
Bring Your Patience!
I shouldn’t have to say it, but this is going to be a very busy weekend and at Devil’s Lake State Park, this means lines. It also means parking issues, crowded beaches and long lines on some hiking trails as well. The best way to avoid the stress is to get out early. Hike or walk the beach from sunrise to 10 am. Then get out on lesser-traveled trails such as Devil’s Lake’s Uplands Trail or the Merrimac Preserve Trails. We also have an article called “7 Ways to find solitude at Devil’s Lake State Park” which has some other ideas. But the main thing is, be kind. Be patient. Be respectful. Put your dogs on a leash, wear headphones if you want to listen to music. You know, all that good stuff. Have fun. Be safe!
For nearly 2 decades the Skillet Creek blog has focused on 3 main goals; To inspire you to visit and explore the Devil’s Lake region, to help you get the most your visit by sharing tips, events, and other helpful information. Lastly to advocate for our environment & wildlife and talk about how we can keep our natural areas amazing now and into the future! That last goal can sometimes cause controversy, but it’s the only way we can accomplish the first two. – Derrick Mayoleth, Owner.
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