Fall Color Report Oct 13th – 20th

It’s not peak, but it’s getting nice out there with lots of colors all around Devil’s Lake State Park and the Baraboo Hills.

At A Glance

When you approach the Baraboo Hills from any direction this week you can see the calico colors of autumn still mixed with the last remaining greens of summer. But we’re now at that point where a walk on nearly every trail or a scenic drive on any country road in the area will offer you lots of beautiful colors!

Devil’s Lake State Park

There is quite a bit more color in the park than we had last weekend. The color on the north shore has really come on. We’d recommend hiking the East Bluff Trail & East Bluff Woods Trail along with the Uplands trail, Sauk Point and Steinke Basin trails this week. These are mostly wooded trails that will often surround you in yellows right now. Steinke Basin also has some nice cotton candy reds dotting the landscape as well. South Shore has some amazing individual trees but lags behind the north shore when it comes to full-color changes. That said, if you want to see RED, definitely check out the south shore picnic area for a couple of amazingly red trees!

Photo Gallery

Each week I post a selection of photos from around the park and the area to give you a feel for where the colors are at. The “rule” here is that I am taking the photos right out of the camera with little editing so that you can see what the camera sees. Keep in mind that I’m shooting with a DSLR which will still look richer than most cell phone photos.

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Outside of the Park

Again, the landscape is dotted with color! Some of the best hiking options will be wooded areas such as Parfrey’s Glen & Baxter’s Hollow. If you want to see the color by car this week we invite you to do our Country Roads Classic drive or this Baraboo Hills Scenic Drive that will take you passed the Wedding Chapel in the photo above. This is also a great time to bike the 400 State Trail & The Elroy-Sparta Trails. We have more info on biking opportunities right here.

Weather?

We’re looking at a hard freeze again on Friday and both Saturday and Sunday will be partly sunny and in the 50s. Cool, but pleasant if we get enough sun! Here is one area forecast.

Events?

It’s time for the Fall Art Tour where Wisconsin artists open their studios, allowing visitors a unique, behind-the-scenes view into how their work is created. It’s also another great way to drive around and see the colors! Visit their website for details and maps.

Saturday, Oct 15th from 6 pm to 7 pm is also Mirror Lake State Park’s Halloween Mystery Hike. You can take a self-guided hike in the woods on the trails lit by torchlight. Along the way you can use your detective skills to guess who the mystery guest will be at the amphitheater. There will be four clue boxes along the path to assist you with your detective work. After or before your hike, enjoy some time by the campfire and enjoy some hot chocolate/cider and sweet treats. Meet at the beach area. Details.

Wrap Up

Well, I think that’s about it for this week. While we may not call it “peak color” this weekend, it’s actually really colorful out there. It will be another week before the hillsides and the deep valleys get that deep orange we always look forward to. Still, you’re not going to be disappointed if you visit the area now either! And if you get out driving around the cornfields in the area, watch for sandhill cranes gathering in the area. I’ve seen groups of more than a hundred at a time out there.

Stay Safe!