October In The Valley

One of the best shows of color at Devil’s Lake State Park is when the south valley below the East Bluff reaches its peak.

This is the area of the park where the CCC parking lot and the group camp are located, and where South Shore Road leaves the park to join Hwy 113 to the east. It was also the original location of the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) camp that housed about 200 young men. They earned about a buck a day and built, among other things, the original steep trails up the bluff from that end. These include the CCC, Potholes, and Balanced Rock Trails, created with sheer muscle power, since industrial equipment wasn’t allowed. The thinking was that heavy machinery would disturb visitors and wildlife, and hauling it in would only tear up the landscape.

(I’m always amazed that back then so much could get done, and today it’s a struggle to get anyone to work on the crumbling bluff trails.)

Each of these three south-facing trails is only about a third of a mile long, which is deceiving when you look at a map, because they also climb about 500 feet in that short distance—nearly all stairs.

The best way to see the full autumn show in this part of the park is from the top of the East Bluff, at the many lookouts along the East Bluff Trail from Balanced Rock east over to the CCC Trail. That means you do have to climb. There are no roads, elevators, or gondolas to take you up, so you either have to tackle one of the three steep trails or hike up the more gradual trails from the north end and cross over. You’ll also need to cover the 1.3-mile distance to the south side, then return. Generally, that’s a 2–4 hour hike depending on the route you take.

Many locals find it easiest to park at the Steinke Basin Trailhead and follow the rescue road up to the top. It’s an easier walk, but there’s still a climb, and you’ll put in nearly four miles up and back from this location.

Another factor is how the unique climate and weather come together each year and whether they produce the full-on color show you see here or something more subdued. Because the valley is nestled between the East and South Bluffs, it tends to reach its peak slightly later than the rest of the park. Depending on when you visit, you never quite know what you’re going to get. And that’s the thing about nature: there’s no schedule and no promises.

Do we know exactly when peak color is? No. (See above.) But usually it’s somewhere around the second week in October. And as of today, I have no reason to believe otherwise.

If you’re planning a visit to Devil’s Lake State Park this fall, we share weekly color updates each Thursday on our Facebook page, click here. You may also find the links below helpful.

More Information –

• Devil’s Lake State Park Trail Descriptions, Map, Photos
• Fall Colors in the Devil’s Lake Region