Overview: There are a lot of acorns falling around Devil’s Lake and the Baraboo Hills this autumn. Folklore says a bumper crop predicts a hard winter. The science is much more interesting. Oaks periodically produce enormous crops of acorns in…
Overview: It’s that time of year when the fall color predictions start coming in, and for 2026 there are plenty of reasons to predict everything from an early, muted autumn to a late and colorful one. Wisconsin has had drought,…
Overview: Devil’s Lake State Park was recently ranked by WorldAtlas among the state parks with the highest tick-borne illness risk in the country, but the ranking needs some context. Sauk County does have a significant Lyme disease problem, and the…
One thing that stands out these days, as social media promotes "nature," is how loud it all is. On the surface, everyone posting videos promoting fun and excitement seems like a good thing. But it can also be the foundation…
Every year from late May through June, Wisconsin's turtles are on the move. Females are leaving the lakes, rivers, and wetlands where they spend most of their lives and heading overland to find nesting sites, usually in sandy or gravelly…
Two Boulders on the Johnson Moraine Trail Traveled 300 Miles to Get Here If you've hiked the Johnson Moraine Trail north of Steinke Basin, you've probably walked right past two rocks that have no business being here. About 50 feet…
Mud Season at Devil’s Lake State Park Updated March 2026. Spring at Devil’s Lake State Park in Wisconsin usually means wet trails. Snowmelt and rain settle into the low spots, especially where thousands of boots have already compacted the soil…
February may still feel like winter in Wisconsin, but the seasonal shift has already begun. At Devil’s Lake State Park, some of the earliest signs of spring don’t show up in wildflowers or warm temperatures. They show up in daylight…
Over the past few decades, many park systems and outdoor educators have observed a gradual shift in the types of programs that draw the largest audiences. Historically, presentations on things such as geology, natural history, and focused programs exploring specific…
As we sat watching the cold sunset fade softly over the bluffs at Roznos Meadow in Devil’s Lake State Park on Monday evening, I found myself thinking about why we travel, and what “vacation” actually means to us. In the…