Our Baraboo Hills Scenic Drive suggestion takes you over the highest peaks of the Baraboo bluffs and offers some spectacular vistas along the way. The main route is about 30 miles round trip. The extra sections add another 6 miles or so to your loop, depending on how you connect them.
The Baraboo Hills Scenic Drive will offer some nice views from the car, but also gives you a few opportunities to get out a hike if you want to spend some time on your feet. You’ll also want to note this drive when looking to enjoy the best of Wisconsin’s Fall colors as well.
Google Map
Due to sketchy cell service, we recommend downloading the map to your Google App before heading out.
To make things easy we start this trip at Circus World Museum in Baraboo and head east out of the city on Highway 113. You’ll follow Hwy 113 south, up and over the Baraboo range coming back down on the south side of the hills. (If you have an outside temp display in your car, watch, does the temperature change from the bottom to the top of the bluffs?) Once over and back at the bottom, you’ll see Devil’s Lake State Park to your right. Just past the South Shore Road entrance, there is a parking area where you can get out and enjoy the views. This area is called Roznos Meadow and is part of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail as well. If you want to get out and hike, you can (If you have a Wisconsin State Park Sticker!)
Just past the Roznos Meadow parking area, turn left (East) on County Road DL toward Parfrey’s Glen and Devil’s Head Resort.
Devil’s Delight Add-On
If you want to include the small Devil’s Delight road add-on, watch for the turn about a mile down the road on your left. (Photo above)
Devil’s Delight is a short, but vertical climb consisting of 2 sharp switch backs to take you to the top of the bluff. The road will merge and become Kentview Rd at the top. Follow it west to get some wonderful views of Devil’s Lake State Park (Especially late in the season when the leaves are off the trees.). When you reach the junction at Solum Ln., turn left to continue back to Hwy 113, or turn right to find more parking for the Ice Age Trail and go for a hike.
Once you reach Hwy 113, you turn left and you’ll be heading back down the bluff. Once you past Roznos Meadow, turn left on County Road DL. This time you can drive right past Devil’s Delight and continue on to Parfrey’s Glen State Natural Area.
As you continue east on County Road DL, Devil’s Delight Road will come up about a mile down the road on your left, about another mile past Devil’s Delight Road, Parfrey’s Glen State Natural Area will also be on your left. During a busy summer weekend, you’ll see cars lined up on both sides of the road at the SNA. Stay for a hike, or drive on until you reach the 4-corner intersection at Bluff road.
From Bluff Road go straight. You’ll see Devil’s Head Resort in the distance on your left hand side. You’ll drive up a large hill, coming down the other side until you stop at a “T” in the road. This is Hwy 78. Here, you will turn left.
Highway 78 would eventually take you out to the Interstate 90/94 but you won’t be going that far. You’ll drive about 2.25 miles until you’ll again turn left onto Owen Park Road. Keep an eye out for the Scottish “Coos” along Hwy 78.
Owen Park road will take you back up into the Baraboo Hills. You’ll eventually be heading west as you climb a steep hill. At the top of the hill, on the left-hand side is Owen Park.
Messer Road Alternative
You can continue another half mile past Owen Park Road and take Messer Road up the bluff instead. We like this road simply for a couple of nice northern vistas. If you take Messer, then you’ll join Owen Park Road just past the park. It only adds a few minutes to the trip to then back track left, up to the park before continuing on the main tour.
Owen Park offers amazing views of Lake Wisconsin down in the river valley below. You’ll find picnic tables and depending on the season, a porta- potty. In early summer, you can catch some beautiful sunsets here as well.
When you’re ready to go, just continue west on Owen Park Rd. Just a short distance from the park, Owen Park Road will turn north and quickly descend on a winding path down through a thick forest. In peak fall colors, this is a beautiful drive. Eventually, you’ll come to County Rd. W, meeting it at a corner. The temptation is to continue straight, but you’ll need to turn left here. Up ahead to your right, you’ll see a lone bluff which stands some 1,200 feet tall. This is Pine Bluff. But don’t get distracted, you’ve got a turn coming up.
You’ll only travel just under a mile on County W before, you’ll turn left again on Lubke Road. You’ll be driving about a half mile through some rolling farm land before coming to a stop at a “T” in the road. This is Durward’s Glen Road. Turn Left!
As soon as you turn left on Durward’s Glen Road, you may want to pull over and look out over the rolling hills to the east where you just came from. Great photo op! Otherwise just continue south on Durward’s Glen Road. Again, you’ll drive through some thick forests which are amazing in the fall.
In about 3 miles you’ll turn on McLeisch Rd. Durward’s Glen Retreat will be on your right. This is another opportunity to stop and walk a short trail. Durward’s Glen has a short public trail, quiet picnic area, chapel, religious icons, gardens and a cool little walking bridge.
Leaving Durward’s Glen, you’ll turn right and follow McLeisch Rd. This is really the heart of the rural Baraboo Hills. Eventually McLeish become’s Tower Road. (About 3 miles) Tower will come to another “T” at Bluff Road. You’ll have a slight jog there. Turning south, then west. STAY ON TOWER ROAD.
Now you simply stay on Tower Road for another 3 miles until you come back to Hwy 113. Turn right on Hwy 113 to head back to Baraboo. Just before you come to 113, look for the historic Wedding Chapel on your right. Another nice photo opportunity!
We hope you enjoyed this little drive through the Baraboo Hills!