Construction is beginning in earnest this week on WIS 113 between WIS 78 and Mound…
The Wisconsin DNR announced this week that a full reconstruction of the North Shore parking lots at Devil’s Lake State Park is underway, starting in early August 2026. If you’re planning a North Shore trip for the rest of this season, this changes things.
What’s happening
The project pulverizes and repaves the existing lots and adds water conveyance improvements — culverts, ditching, curb and gutter — along with standard lighting and a universal kayak launch. It’s being done in phases so some parking stays available through the rest of 2026, but don’t expect the lot capacity you’re used to. The DNR estimates completion in spring 2027.
A foot traffic path will stay open through the work zone so you can still get to other parts of the park, and the North Shore shelters and day-use areas remain open. Access and parking around them will just be tighter than normal. The North Shore Chateau and Rock Elm Shelter will close temporarily for short-term renovations later in 2026. The DNR is adding some temporary accessible parking stalls at the Visitor Center lot during this first phase.
Boat landing access
The North Shore boat launch and its parking lot were already closed for dredging, from July 6 through approximately August 11, 2026. That closure window runs right into the start of the parking lot reconstruction. So even once dredging wraps up, don’t expect the North Shore landing to reopen to normal access. It sits inside the same lot that’s now getting torn up and repaved, and that work continues into spring 2027. The South Shore boat launch has stayed open through the dredging closure and isn’t affected by the parking lot project.
One caveat worth being upfront about: the dredging closure dates come from a park update last confirmed June 16, 2026. That’s before this reconstruction announcement, so treat the exact reopening timeline as soft until the park confirms it post-construction start. If you’re trailering a boat to the North Shore this season, call ahead or check current conditions before you drive out.
Parking, realistically
North Shore parking was already tight on a normal summer weekend. With active construction phasing through the lots for the rest of 2026, expect that to get worse, not better. The DNR is keeping some parking available throughout, and adding a handful of temporary accessible stalls at the Visitor Center lot, but total capacity is going to be a fraction of what it normally is. If you’re headed to the North Shore beach, Visitor Center, or trailheads this season, plan on arriving early, having a backup plan, or being willing to turn around if the lot’s full. This isn’t a “might be a little tighter” situation — parking access on the North Shore is genuinely iffy through the rest of the year.
If you’re headed to the North Shore
Stay out of anything marked as an active construction area — signage, barricades, and fencing are there for a reason, not a suggestion. If the North Shore lots are full or you’d rather skip the construction entirely, the South Shore day-use area has no construction interruptions planned this season. That’s your easiest swap if you’re just after swimming, a picnic, boat access, or bluff trail access from the south end.
If you’re not committed to Devil’s Lake specifically, DNR properties nearby without this disruption include Mirror Lake, Natural Bridge, Rocky Arbor, Roche-A-Cri, and Buckhorn state parks, and Sauk Prairie State Recreation Area. Worth noting Mirror Lake, Buckhorn, Governor Dodge, and Sauk Prairie SRA all have their own road improvement projects going right now too, part of the same 2023–2025 DNR Capital Budget round, so check current conditions before you commit to any of them.
The bigger picture
This project was requested in the 2023–2025 DNR Capital Budget and approved by the legislature — part of a broader push to replace state park roads and lots that are, in the DNR’s own words, in poor condition system-wide.
Questions on the project can go to Devil’s Lake State Park Superintendent Jim Carter at James.Carter@wisconsin.gov or 608-963-8033.
Read the full release here.
For over 30 years, 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 out of 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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