As autumn settles into Devil's Lake State Park and the surrounding Sauk County area, we're…
This weekend, May 18th and 19th, Devil’s Lake State Park is going to be busy. Very busy, as the park will be hosting the 2019 Big Ten Rowing Championships.
It’s fair to say that many folks around here are really excited to see and host the championships. That said, there will be some major impacts for park visitors who are not here for the event.
The park is expecting an additional 1,000 cars in the park this weekend, and while that’s not really a big number when compared to a summer holiday weekend at Devil’s Lake, it’s going to be busy none-the-less.
From The DNR Press Release
… On Saturday, areas along the south shore of the park will be restricted so teams can prepare their boats, called shells, and staging areas. On Championship Sunday, the South Shore will continue to have restricted areas, and visitors of the park are encouraged to use the North Shore, Steinke Basin and Roznos Meadow parking areas. On Sunday from 6 a.m. to noon the northwest portion of the north shore will be restricted for the race starting area.
Rowing lanes are established for the races and the lanes will be closed to other watercraft while teams are practicing on the lake on Saturday 8 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sunday during the races from 6:30 a.m. to 8 a.m. On Sunday, the races begin at 9 a.m. and are scheduled every 20 minutes with the last beginning at 11 a.m.
“We are very proud that one of our premier state parks is able to host such a premier event,” Bergey said. “We understand that this may cause some inconvenience for some visitors, but we hope everyone will enjoy seeing these elite athletes competing in a national event.”
Other Options?
We think it’s pretty awesome that the Big 10 Event is being held at Devil’s Lake. That said, it’s NOT going to be the weekend to find any peace and tranquility within the park. If that’s what you are looking for, this is going to be the weekend to get out and explore the many other parks and natural areas here in Sauk County. If you were hoping to get out in your canoe or kayak, Mirror Lake State Park, The Baraboo River, and other nearby locations are waiting as well.
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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