Home is Where the Hills Are: Conquering the Devil's Lake Loop

After years of traversing the majestic Appalachian Mountains, in August 2025, I moved to Wisconsin. It was time to trade those soaring peaks for the familiar, rugged beauty of the terrain I grew up in for a nice little side project. First on the list for this homecoming tour? The iconic Devil's Lake State Park, where I took on a beautiful, challenging loop.

Devils Lake Eastern Peak View

A Wisconsin Welcome

The journey began with a three-hour drive from Racine, culminating in the stunning panorama of Devil's Lake. When I arrived I was greeted by helpful park staff who offered great advice on parking and confirmed the best approach for my planned route. Stepping out of the car, I was immediately struck by the view: two majestic, 500-ish meter bluffs (let's call them "hills of substance") standing sentinel over the lake.

I had downloaded my route on AllTrails the day before but hadn't studied it closely, so discovering I'd be tackling two peaks today what a wonderful surprise!

After capturing a few photos of the tranquil lake—a perfect calm before the climb—I set out.

My plan was simple: take it slow, soak up the environment, and capture the beauty from my unique point of view.

The Ascent of the South Bluff

The first couple of miles were a pleasant warm-up, but suddenly, the terrain got steep. For the sake of training for more grueling hikes to come, I was still carrying a hefty 50lb pack to build endurance. At one point, I was literally hunched over like a hobbit, pushing up the incline.

After about an hour and a half, I finally summited the first bluff. The views were breathtaking! I decided to hike the loop backward specifically to avoid the crowds (which worked perfectly). From the peak, I had a front-row seat to watch magnificent, hawk-like birds circling below—I definitely need to study up on my Wisconsin raptor breeds; they were owning the sky that day.

I spent time soaking up the views before descending back toward the water level for a well-deserved break.

Lunch and the North Bluff Challenge

It was the perfect time to let the numerous tour groups pass by. I settled in for a quick backcountry lunch: a delicious Mountain House Chicken Stir Fry (leftover from a previous trek) paired with a classic mountain trail mix.

Thirty minutes later, fueled up and ready, I headed toward the final challenge: the second 500m bluff. This side proved to be much steeper. I was completely focused and locked in on the ascent. I even had to do some light scrambling and, at certain points, had to really search to figure out the exact path—a true test of navigation!

Reflection and Refuel

All in all, I finished the hike almost 2,000 calories lighter and had the most amazing time capturing the raw, rugged beauty Devil's Lake has to offer. I topped off this accomplishment with the most satisfying Big Mac on earth from McDonald's. (Hey, shout-out to endurance hobbies and their high caloric rewards!) This trip was the perfect re-introduction to my home state's trails.

I'm looking for my next Wisconsin adventure! Have you ever been on a hike in the state? If so, what was your favorite trail, and why? Comment below!