Big Ten Women’s Rowing 2024: What To Know

Devil’s Lake State Park is excited to host the 2024 Big Ten Women’s Rowing Championships on Sunday, May 19, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event, organized by the University of Wisconsin, will take place on the scenic Devil’s Lake. Here’s what you need to know:

Event Setup and Practice

Set up and team practice will occur from Wednesday, May 15, through Saturday, May 18. During this time, all areas of the park will remain open, but visitors should expect increased activity on and around the lake.

Championship Sunday

On Sunday, May 19, the South Shore will be restricted to Big Ten Rowing event permit holders and championship vehicle admission ticket holders only. Tickets must be purchased online in advance. Other areas of the park will remain open and accessible to visitors; however, the property is expected to experience a significant increase in visitation before 2 p.m.

Visitor Registration

Those planning to attend the event should register online. Registration is free, but an admission sticker is required on all motor vehicles parking within Devil’s Lake State Park.

Getting Around the Park

Moving around the park by car during the event can be challenging. One alternative is to ride your bike into the north shore of Devil’s Lake and chain it up at the racks near the Chateau or find other spots to lock up your bike if the racks are full. Generally, bikes have always been safe at the park.

Since the south shore is restricted, drivers will have to park on the north shore. From there, you can hike around the lake on the Tumbled Rocks Trail and find a good viewing area along South Shore Rd. You may also want to hike to the top of the East Bluff or West Bluff to watch the event from above. (This is usually my choice!)

There is private parking at the main entrance of the park, but you will pay a steep fee. On the other hand, since you’ll be walking in from there, you won’t need to pay for a parking sticker.

If you can’t find parking on the north shore, don’t want to pay for parking and didn’t ride your bike, you can park at the Steinke Basin parking lot and hike into the north shore on the Ice Age Trail. From Steinke Basin, you can also hike up to the top of the East Bluff to watch the event. Keep in mind that it will take most people about 45 minutes to hike back to the lake from Steinke Basin.

Post-Event Options

After the event, nearby options for a meal or a drink include Tumbled Rock Brewery & Kitchen or Balanced Rock Winery. You can also drive into Baraboo, where you’ll have a few options, including Driftless Glen Distillery along the Baraboo River by Circus World.