This year at Devil’s Lake, the annual First Day hike will be a twilight hike/snowshoe…
The Devil’s Lake State Park Annual Candlelight Hike & Snowshoe is coming up on Saturday, February 8th, from 6 pm to 8:30 pm. The hike is based out of the Rock Elm Shelter on the park’s north shore, which is just south of the main parking lot. At the shelter, you can warm up by the campfire and make a s’more. (Sponsored by the Friends of Devil’s Lake)
Remember, you will need a Wisconsin State Park admission sticker on your car, or purchase one at the event.
Borrow Free Snowshoes
Of course, many folks just park and head right to the trail. This is why if you want to borrow snowshoes, they will be handed out at the trailhead this year. You can borrow them for free, but there is only a limited number available. Arrive early for your best shot at getting snowshoes right away, or you may have to wait for some to be returned. (There are kid sizes available too!) If you’re new to snowshoeing, don’t worry, volunteers will be there to help you put them on!
About The Route
We always get questions about the route. Well, the trail starts near the parking lot and then heads up a hill and loops through the Northern Lights Campground. Plan for a 2 mile, 35 minute to 1 hour + hike. Adults with a good stride could do the hike in 30 minutes or so. Parents with kids… an hour or so is more realistic. Stomping through the snow will slow you down!
Please note: At the beginning of the route, you will slowly ascend about 100 feet, then descend back down into the campground before climbing and descending one more time to return to the parking lot. Depending on your needs, this may or may not be an issue. (Park staff poured sand on the first hill.)
Map
Weather
Saturday’s forecast calls for a slight chance of snow in the morning, generally cloudy with a high of 30f. The low is predicted to be around 18. Temps should be closer to 30 at the time of the hike. But, forecasts change, so you can check here.
Last-Minute Check
We hiked the trail on Wednesday evening and much of the trail is in good hiking condition. The start of the trail is icy. Park staff poured sand on this section. (You may not want to wear your snowshoes until you get past the sand.) Once you are past the sand, you can certainly snowshoe the trail. The snow is shallow enough that you could hike it as well, but we’d still recommend ice cleats due to ice sections.
Photos
Here’s what the trail looked like on Wednesday evening.
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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