Time again for your last minute weekend report, and it looks like we’re in for a good one! We’ve put everything in drop-down “accordions” to make it a bit easier to sort through all the information. I hope this helps a bit… Let’s get started!
Weather
Sunny. Sunny. Sunny! We’re looking at 57f today, 64 on Saturday and 70 on Sunday. So, Awesomeness! Click here for a detailed area forecast.
Well, other than the lake flies are starting to hatch!!! Learn More.
Trail Report
So, we’re doing our trail report a little differently now. Simply go to our Trail Report page and bookmark it. You can not only get the “lastest” trail info anytime, but you can help us out by submitting your own trail reports which we will use to keep our reports up to date as well.
The down-n-dirty this weekend is that most trails will be good. The Steinke Basin trail is in poor condition and the Uplands Trail has muddy areas. Lake flies are hatching near trails close to the lake, i.e., Tumbled Rocks may get nasty!
While the rain has stopped, some locations on the trails may still be wet through the weekend. We’d like to encourage you to stay on the trails. As you can see in the photo above, that by trying to avoid one wet spot, hikers have simply created a muddy alternative, killing ground cover and causing more erosion damage. It’s better to just jump the puddle!
Events and Activities
This weekend at Devil’s Lake State Park, the Nature Center has a “Frog Safari” and a “Learn to Fish” program on Saturday and Letterboxing on Sunday. Remember, you can always find upcoming park events here.
Sat. April 20, 9 am to 11 am – Learn To Fish – Want to try fishing but don’t know what to do? Join our Learn to Fish program and we’ll show you how! We’ll have fun activities that will teach you the basics before sending you off to catch some fish. If you are 16 and older, you’ll need a fishing license. We’ll supply all of the equipment and bait. This program’s activities are designed with families in mind, but open to “kids” of all ages. Meet at the north shore boat launch.
Sat. April 20, 7:30 pm to 9 pm – Frog Safari – If you are a frog fanatic, you will want to join us for this nocturnal trip to the park’s kettle ponds. We’ll listen for spring peepers, wood frogs, and chorus frogs. We’ll also listen for other night sounds as we hike the Johnson Moraine Trail. Bring your flashlight as we’ll be hiking right around dusk. Meet at the Steinke Basin parking lot. This hike is great for all ages but especially geared towards families. – Want a preview? Click Here.
Sun, April 21, 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm – Spring Letterboxing Adventure! – Letterboxing combines elements of hiking and treasure hunting into an activity that the whole family can enjoy. Participants seek out hidden letterboxes by following clues and recording their discovery in their personal journal stamping with the rubber stamp you get to make! We’ll have journals for you to take with you or you can bring your own. Stop at the Nature Center to pick up the clues. This is a great program for all ages. Meet at the Nature Center.
More Local Activities This Weekend
Saturday, April 20th 10 am to 11:30 am – Hike the Echo Rock and Ishnala Trail with Marty at Mirror Lake State Park. – Meet our volunteer naturalist Marty at the Boat landing/Echo Rock Trailhead to start your adventure! This easy to moderate 90-minute hike will take you to scenic overlooks, sandstone rock formations and a beautiful gorge. Marty will share geological and historical information about Mirror Lake State Park and the area.
Nature Lovers
This is going to be a great weekend to get outside! Be sure to check out the “spring colors”! Reds, oranges and yellows are created by a mix of maple and willow coming back to life after a long winter. Watch for wildlife this weekend as well! Here’s what’s out there.
Be sure to check out our new birdwatching and wildlife content. There’s quite a bit to explore. Start here.
And Lastly,
You’re going to see a lot of trees down in the park. This is due to Emerald Ash Borer. This is going to impact campgrounds as well. Learn More Here.
Well, I think that’s it for this weekend. Have fun and be safe.. which reminds me, the water is VERY cold. Life Jackets and drysuits are a must.
Oh, and if we had to recommend an activity this weekend… Our suggestion would be to hike the Ice Age Trail section at Gibraltar Rock State Natural Area near Lodi. It’s just a short drive and a free ferry ride away.
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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