Get a foothold close to home at Devil’s Lake

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Some of the best rock climbing in the Midwest is at Devil’s Lake State Park in Wisconsin. The nearly 10,000-acre park is two miles south of Baraboo and about 40 miles northwest of Madison. | Photo courtesy Sidney H. Friedman

Updated: July 8, 2011 2:13PM

Chicagoans don’t need to head out West to find good rock-climbing terrain. Some fantastic rock lies not too far north of the Wisconsin border in the purple quartzite cliffs of Devil’s Lake State Park.

“The park has more than 2,000 routes of all levels, and it’s got to be one of the prettiest places around to climb,” said Jill Griffis, a guide with Baraboo, Wis.-based Apex Adventure Alliance.

Many of the park’s climbing routes range between 50- and 70-feet tall, making them ideal for teaching.

“And right beside a tough route, there might be an easy one, so you have students with varied abilities in a class learning right next to each other,” she added.

According to park officials, Devil’s Lake draws thousands of climbers every year, many of them from the Chicago area. Visitors first began scaling the cliffs more than 90 years ago at the park, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.

Griffis, who grew up outside of DeKalb in Sycamore, Ill., said she got hooked on climbing when friends introduced her to the sport several years ago at Devil’s Lake.

“Now I’m addicted,” she said.

Devil’s Lake hiking trails offer a short stroll to many of the park’s better climbing routes. They can be crowded on Saturdays, but there’s enough terrain for climbers to spread out if need be.

“Everybody is pretty laid back and friendly here, willing to share ropes and other gear, so it’s a fun place to climb,” Griffis said.

Brian E. Clark