Around Devil’s Lake This Weekend

Every Thursday, during the peak season, we update this page with a fresh look at the upcoming weekend around Devil’s Lake, current trail conditions, weather outlook, park programs, local events in Baraboo and Sauk County, and anything else worth knowing before you head out. Bookmark it, check it weekly, and spend less time searching and more time outside.

Beautiful Blue Skies and Lake at Devil's Lake State Park
Updated every Thursday for the upcoming weekend.

Weekend of August 22–23

Weather (Source: NWS Baraboo, WI)
Friday: partly sunny, high near 79, 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms mainly after 5pm. Saturday: sunny, high near 79. Sunday: sunny, high near 77. A good weekend to be outside, with Friday evening the only real wildcard.

Trail Conditions
Hiking trails remain in good summer condition. Recent rain has left a few muddy spots in low-lying areas, but overall it’s a great weekend to get out on the trails.

Air Quality
No advisory currently posted for the area. Check airnow.gov and airquality.wi.gov day-of for the latest.

Water Quality
No beach advisory currently posted for Devil’s Lake. Check the DNR beach monitoring map before you swim, since conditions can shift quickly in summer.

Boat Launch & Pet Swim
The North Shore boat launch was reported by the DNR to be open by early August; however, what wasn’t reported was that further construction on the main lots on the North Shore would then start. This means access to the boat landing will be hit-and-miss into the foreseeable future. South Shore boat launch is open. Pet swim is available at South Shore. More about the construction.

Parking & Access
Devil’s Lake State Park’s main North Shore parking lot is closed for construction.

Parking is available in the small lot by the Visitor Center and in the additional lots across the railroad tracks, but they’ll fill up quickly. Worth knowing before you go: from those lots, it’s a walk to the beach and picnic areas over uneven ground. If that’s a concern, South Shore is the easier option. That means limited or no access to the North Shore boat launch, regardless of whether dredging work there is finished. More about the construction.

Separately, Highway 113 on the park’s east side is under construction, and through-travel this weekend may or may not be possible. We recommend entering and exiting on the west side, via South Shore to or from Highway 12, the city of Baraboo.

Both the North Shore parking project and the Hwy 113 work are expected to continue into winter. We’ll keep this section updated weekly rather than treating it as a one-time note.

Park & Naturalist Programs
Programs are free with a vehicle admission sticker. All are weather-dependent.

Devil’s Lake State Park

  • Wisconsin Bats — Saturday, August 22, 7:30–9:00pm. Meet at the Rock Elm Shelter, near the North Shore Boat Launch. Learn about the park’s nocturnal flyers, why they need protecting, and what you can do at home to help them, then use high-tech bat equipment to find out what’s actually flying overhead.
    Full schedule: devilslakewisconsin.com/park-events
    Nature Center info: devilslakewisconsin.com/nature-center/

Mirror Lake State Park

  • Ho-Chunk Singers and Dancers — Friday, August 21, 6:00pm. Blue Water Bay field. Family-friendly cultural performance featuring music and dance of the Ho-Chunk Nation, led by Elliott Funmaker, Sr. and his group.
  • Beautiful Butterflies — Saturday, August 22, 10:00am–12:00pm. The Beach. See butterflies and moths up close and learn about pollinator life cycles.
  • Fun Fish Prints — Saturday, August 22, 1:00–3:00pm. The Beach. Printmaking with lifelike fish stamps; bring an old t-shirt or use provided paper.
  • Bird Homes — Sunday, August 23, 10:00am–12:00pm. The Beach. Explore bird nest types and try building your own.
  • Here’s to Herptiles — Sunday, August 23, 1:00–3:00pm. The Beach. Meet Wisconsin’s reptiles and amphibians with the naturalist.
    Programs sponsored by Friends of Mirror Lake State Park. Info: Eliana.Hudock@wisconsin.gov, 608-254-2333.

Area Events

  • Badger Steam & Gas Show | Fri–Sun, Aug 21–23, 8:00am–8:00pm, Badger Steam & Gas Grounds, Baraboo — 63rd annual show, live sawing/threshing/plowing demos, antique machinery, flea market, kids activities, daily parade. $10 admission, veterans free Sunday.
  • Loganville Firemen’s Festival | Sat, Aug 22, starting 10:30am, Loganville (about 20 minutes from the park) — parade, BBQ chicken dinner ($15), fun run/5K/10K, live music by Last Ride, games, bake sale, kids’ activities, raffle at 3:30, fireworks at dusk at Loganville Ballpark.
  • OTAKU Collectacon | Sat, Aug 22, 8:00am–7:00pm, Ho-Chunk Gaming Wisconsin Dells — anime and card collector show, 50 vendor booths, free admission.

Last Updated: Aug 20, 2026

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