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…
Fall Colors 2025
It’s time for the first official Fall Color Report of the season, and as most locals could tell you, there isn’t much to report just yet. We’re still looking at the occasional “show stopper” tree here and there, but overall,…
Storm Over Devil’s Lake
Severe storms rolled through our area yesterday afternoon, but fortunately, there wasn’t too much damage aside from more downed trees. Just minutes after the tornado alerts sounded, the Baraboo area was hit with high winds and hail, some slightly larger…
Prescribed Burns: Helping Devil’s Lake Thrive
Yesterday, March 18th, a prescribed burn was carried out on Devil's Lake State Park's Roznos Meadow. I’ve spent years photographing prescribed burns at Devil’s Lake State Park and talking to the folks who make them happen. Watching these fires unfold…
Tuesday Topics – Too Risky? A Winter Hiking Discussion
As our climate changes and visitor numbers climb, Devil's Lake State Park's bluff trails see hikers well into winter, with the East & West Bluff trails now active year-round. But let's be clear - winter hiking here comes with serious…
Leave No Trace, Except?
Anyone who frequents Devil's Lake State Park knows how special this place is. From its towering quartzite bluffs to its pristine beaches, it's a natural treasure we all want to protect. While most visitors try to follow Leave No Trace…
Prairie Colors: This Weekend’s Must-See
As we start talking about changing leaves, it's good to note that fall colors are not all about trees. In fact this time of year many of our local prairies near Devil's Lake State Park are a sea of greens,…
The Shifting Landscape
Opinion - As the world changes, each new generation tends to accept their environment as normal. Science calls this "Shifting Baseline Syndrome". It's why you might not know what you've lost if you weren't around to see it go. Take…
Nature’s Tell
Editorial: Land just is. The land and the critters that live upon it just “are”. The plants, trees, worms, bees, and bears all co-exist in some semblance of balance. Left alone, and barring any natural disaster, the natural world just…
What’s Blooming?
If you plan a hike at Devil's Lake State Park, now is the perfect time to check out the wildflowers adorning the bluffs. Here are some of the beautiful blooms you might encounter: Wild Roses (Rosa): Fragrant, pink or white…