The 2024 deer gun season starts this weekend. Here in Sauk County, hunting of one…
Hard to believe it’s Memorial weekend already! Well, we’ve got a lot of ground to cover, so let’s hit it!
Our Local Weather
Not a bad forecast with a mix of sun and clouds. The biggest chance for rain will be on Friday. Temps will be in the low 70s through Monday and Near 80 on Saturday! Here’s our local weather forecast.
Trail Conditions
Trails in the area are in pretty good shape, but there’s been a lot of rain, so there’s some mud out there too. Here’s the detailed trail report.
Devil’s Lake Events
Devil’s Lake Friday Fish Frys begin tomorrow (Friday, May 24th and are hosted by The Barn Restaurant. Dinner is served from 5 pm – 7:30 pm outside the North Shore Chateau. Cost is $12 per person.
Exploration Station – Fish – Saturday, May 25
Drop in Between 10:00 am – 12:00 pmDrop by the Exploration Station to take a closer look at fish! Join us for hands-on activities, crafts and fun. This program’s activities are designed with families in mind, but open to “kids” of all ages. Happening outside the Nature Center.
Garlic Mustard Pull – Saturday, May 25th – It’s volunteers like you that help keep the park beautiful! This Saturday you can join the folks from NatureWorks LLC as they pull invasive garlic mustard in the woodlands near Devil’s Doorway from 8 am to Noon. No skills necessary, just bring your good nature and love of the park! Contact [email protected] or at 608-577-8881 for more details.
Meet the BeeKeepers – Saturday, May 25
Starting at 11:30 am. Check out the Nature Center’s bee hive! Come visit with the bee keepers and watch as they take care of the hive. This program is great for all ages. Happening outside the Nature Center.
Critter Corner – Snakes – Saturday, May 25
Drop in Between 1:00 – 3:00 pm Slither on over to the Critter Corner to discover how great Wisconsin snakes are! Join us for hands-on activities, crafts and fun. This program’s activities are designed with families in mind, but open to “kids” of all ages. Happening at the North Shore Beach by the Chateau.
Kayak Tour – Saturday, May 25 – 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. This program is best for adults and children 10 and older. There is a limited amount of space, so we ask you to preregister prior to the event. If you need to rent a kayak, please let us know when you register. To register: please contact the Nature Center at (608) 356-8301 ext. 140.
Exploration Station – Rocks! – Sunday, May 26
Drop in Between 10:00 am – 12:00 pm You will “dig” this Exploration Station as you delve into rocks! Join us for hands-on activities, crafts and fun. This program’s activities are designed with families in mind, but open to “kids” of all ages. Happening outside the Nature Center.
Critter Corner – Owls – Sunday, May 26
Drop in Between 1:00 – 3:00 pm Whooo goes there? Owls of course! Fly over to the Critter Corner and join us for hands-on activities, crafts and fun. This program’s activities are designed with families in mind, but open to “kids” of all ages. Happening at the North Shore Beach by the Chateau.
Projects – Naturally! – Monday, May 27
10:30 am – 12:00 pm Join the naturalist each Monday to create some fun, hands-on projects inspired by nature. This program’s activities are designed with families in mind, but open to “kids” of all ages. Happening outside the Nature Center.
Mirror Lake State Park Events
Nature Hike – Saturday, May 25 – 10:00 am Echo Rock Trail (90 minutes), meet at the upper boat landing parking lot. We will hike Echo Rock Trail and part of the Ishnala Trail. Marty Heidke will share some natural history and human history along the way. Bring bug spray.
Bugs & Birds – Saturday, May 25 – 1:00 pm Join Cindy Cseri at the Beach shelter for games and activities about bugs and birds.
Campfire & Story Time – Saturday, May 25 – 6:30 pm Join Cindy Cseri at the Amphitheater for a campfire and story time.
Bike Trails
Planning a bike trip this weekend? Remember, some sections of the state 400 and Elroy Sparta Trail are still closed. The Great Sauk Trail is open. You can find more local biking information here.
Area Canoeing & Kayaking
If you’re looking to paddle this weekend, we’ve got lots of local info here. If you need rental or shuttle services for the Baraboo River this weekend check out www.BarabooRiverRentals.com for reservations or call 608-737-1100.
Devil’s Lake Nature Notes
This weekend, watch for all the late spring flowers along the trails, especially on top of the park’s East Bluff near Devil’s Doorway. Violets, Shooting Stars and wild geraniums are just starting to bloom. Meanwhile, over at the Great Blue Heron Rookery on the south shore, the chicks are getting big and noisy! Remember, if you are interested in birdwatching or wildlife in the park, we’ve got more information here.
Oh, and let’s look at bugs… Mosquitos have not been a problem yet at the park, but gnats are out and heavy on some trails. Ticks are in the woods of course, but honestly, they are not as bad around Devil’s Lake as they have been in the past!
The Last Word…
The most important thing I can tell you this memorial weekend is when visiting the area and especially Devil’s Lake State Park on a holiday, bring your patience. Be safe out there, our local ropes rescue team has been practicing, but they’d rather you just be safe. Oh, and please respect our parks and natural areas. If you see people trashing Parfrey’s Glen, cliff jumping at Pewit’s Nest or off-roading at the Sauk Prairie Rec Area, Call or text the DNR Tip Line 1-800-847-9367. This is the fastest way to get a warden to the area.
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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Hiya Derrick. Great article, as always. Your ‘bring your patience’ piece that you linked to is really, really good too, and should be read by every first-timer and probably reviewed once in a while by us oldtimers too. That link could appear in every post — I bet a lot of folks could benefit from it. Seriously, it should be on the DNR site too.
Thanks. Yep, if people are mentally prepared for crowds and lines, I think they can cut down on the stress a bit. My hope is that the new lanes help a bit too. We’ll see this year. 🙂
Hi! Do you know of a way to find out the water temps at Devils Lake? I did a google search and cant come up with anything…
Sorry Jamie, No one checks the temps regularly. It’s something we are looking into doing. I think what you’re asking is if it’s warm enough to swim? Well, some people are going into the water now, but they are coming out pretty quickly. It’s got to be mid-50s out there. The lake generally doesn’t get comfortable until mid-June and this spring has been cool.