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Elevation: 961 ft
GPS: 43.4168, -89.73151
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Shared By: Anonymous on Dec 31, 2000 · Updates
Admins: Ian Cotter-Brown, Doug Hemken, James Schroeder, chris tregge, Ben Strobel

Description Suggest change

Devil's Lake is a state park in Wisconsin that contains some of the best rock climbing in the Midwest. Located in a picturesque setting, these quartzite rock cliffs of upwards of a hundred feet in height attract climbers from all over the country. Over 1600 routes are listed in the Swartling & Mayer guidebook. There is no shortage of climbable rock in the park.

Famous climbers such as Joe and Paul Stettner, John Gill, Jim Erickson, and Eric Zschieschie have left their mark here. The legendary Pete Cleveland may have introduced 5.12 back in the 1960s. Son of Great Chimney, led onsight, may have been the hardest route in the country at the time of Cleveland's first ascent in 1968.

Devil's Lake offers mellow toproping, well protected leads, and some harder "headpoint" style leads. Bouldering is extensive, if a bit spread out. Those who intend to toprope here should remember to bring plenty of sling materials as some of the anchors wind up being a good ways back from the cliff edges. Some climbs are "occupied" for extended stretches during the day, but climbers are often willing to share the rock here with a friendly request.

The quartzite rock is beautiful, but it can be slick. Smearing is much less utilized than edging. Climbing here is traditional. There are no bolted routes at the Lake, so sport climbers may be dissatisfied here. Devil's Lake may have more quality moderate climbs (5.5-5.8) than anywhere in the country. There are also many well protected 5.9-5.11a leads. More difficult climbs are usually attempted on toprope and are led if and when they are wired. The harder climbs tend to be technical and the sequences tend to be cryptic. Maybe it's the smooth nature of the rock, but more than one climber has referred to Devil's Lake ratings as stiff.

There is a beautiful lake here with fishing, non-motorized boating, and even diving for the multi-day visitor for non-climbing days.

Dave Groth on "The Good The Bad and the Jacked"

Dave Groth on The Good, the Bad, and the Jacked. 1985. Photo: Dave Langhoff.

Andy Hansen on Lost Face Overhangs:

Great route. Photo: Peter Beck.

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A great film about the history of the DLFA by Darin Limvere, available for download on Vimeo: 

*temporarily unavailable*

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Bouldering Suggest change

Devil's Lake has great bouldering. From the long established problems at Tombstone Rocks, to the neo-classics at the Reserve, there are many worthwhile areas. See Devil's Lake Bouldering  for more info on the wealth of problems that the Lake offers.

Organization

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There are multiple cliffs in the area. These include the East Bluff, the West Bluff, the South Bluff, and the Sandstone Bluff. The greatest number of routes will be found on the East Bluff and West Bluff areas.

The East Rampart, a quarter-mile long cliff band, is the most popular climbing area and contains the highest concentration of climbs at the park. The area contains some of the finest climbs and longer climbs in this area. It tends to also be the most crowded.

Location/Directions

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Devil's Lake State Park is located NNW of Madison and just S of Baraboo. From the North, you can access it off I-90/I-94 to US 12 and head east following the signs. From the South, you can access it from I-90 to US 12/US 18 which skirts Madison on its southern edge, following this to US 12. From the East, you can access it from I-94 to I-90 S to US 12. From US 12, follow the signs into the park.

A vehicle admission fee is required in the park. You can get a day pass at the self-serve kiosks in most parking lots.

Guidebooks

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The most comprehensive guidebook for Devil's Lake is by Sven Olof Swartling and can be purchased at several Baraboo area shops and campgrounds. It's also sold at the REI in Brookfield, WI and on Madison's west side. Boulders Climbing Gym in Madison now carries the guidebook as well.

Mike Farris also wrote a guide to Wisconsin and Minnesota which briefly covers DL and gives a few other quality climbing areas (mostly in North/Northwestern WI). That's a Falcon guidebook.

A new DL route guidebook by MP's own Jay Knower is now available for sale locally (Wildside in Baraboo, Boulders in Madison). Order here: wolverinepublishing.com/sto…

A bouldering guidebook by Peter Bonamici and others for Minnesota and Wisconsin available here: escapeclimbing.com/extra/mn… (and also at AdRock, Boulders, and Wildside in Barbaoo)

A bouldering guidebook by Ian Cotter-Brown to Devil's Lake is available here: (also at Boulders, Wild Side, and the park admin building) kdanielspublishing.com/cart…

Accomodations

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There is nearby accomodations available in Baraboo, just to the North. Camping is available in or near the state park, but it can be quite popular.

2,885 Total Climbs

Route Finder - Best Climbs for YOU!

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Classic Climbing Routes at Devil's Lake

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
V0 4
 109
Super Slab
Boulder
V2 5+
 159
Big Bud Arete
Boulder
V3 6A
 109
Slope of Dadaism
Boulder
V4 6B
 133
The Flatiron
Boulder
5.4 4a 12 IV 10 VD 3c
 254
Queen's Throne
Trad, TR
5.4 4a 12 IV 10 VD 3c
 182
East Comfort Route
Trad
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b
 396
Brinton's Crack
Trad
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 248
Peter's Project
Trad, TR
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 136
Watermarks
Trad, TR
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 134
Roger's Roof
Trad, TR
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 269
Upper Diagonal
Trad, TR
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 186
Congratulations
Trad, TR
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 166
Sometime Crack
Trad, TR
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 165
Cheatah
Trad, TR
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 131
Thoroughfare
Trad, TR
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Super Slab Devil's Lake Bo… > … > W Bluff Central > Super Slab Area
 109
V0 4 Boulder
Big Bud Arete Devil's Lake Bo… > … > 1. N Shore > 3. Big Bud
 159
V2 5+ Boulder
Slope of Dadaism Devil's Lake Bo… > … > 6. Monolith Ridge > 1. E of Trail Boulders
 109
V3 6A Boulder
The Flatiron Devil's Lake Bo… > … > 07. E of CCC (G… > 4. Flatiron
 133
V4 6B Boulder
Queen's Throne W Bluff 03 - Cl… > Cleo Amphitheater
 254
5.4 4a 12 IV 10 VD 3c Trad, TR
East Comfort Route W Bluff 03 - Cl… > Cleopatra's Needle
 182
5.4 4a 12 IV 10 VD 3c Trad
Brinton's Crack E Bluff 04 - E… > 07: Brinton's Buttress
 396
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b Trad
Peter's Project E Bluff 04 - E… > 09: Many Pines Buttress
 248
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad, TR
Watermarks E Bluff 06 - Ba… > 2. Balanced Rock Wall
 136
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad, TR
Roger's Roof E Bluff 07 - Ra… > 7.3 - Horse Rampart
 134
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad, TR
Upper Diagonal E Bluff 04 - E… > 05: Pedestal Buttress
 269
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad, TR
Congratulations E Bluff 04 - E… > 05: Pedestal Buttress
 186
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Trad, TR
Sometime Crack E Bluff 04 - E… > 05: Pedestal Buttress
 166
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Trad, TR
Cheatah E Bluff 04 - E… > 11: Bill's Buttress
 165
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Trad, TR
Thoroughfare E Bluff 04 - E… > 08: Two Pines Buttress
 131
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Trad, TR
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