The Baraboo Range holds some of the best hiking in the Midwest, and the reason is rock: ancient quartzite bluffs that rise 500 feet over Devil’s Lake and string trails along their rims. Devil’s Lake State Park, Wisconsin’s most-visited, anchors the trail map about 10 minutes south of Baraboo, with Parfrey’s Glen, Pewit’s Nest, Mirror Lake’s wooded loops, and segments of the 1,000-mile Ice Age National Scenic Trail filling in around it. You can hike a different landscape every day for a week without a long drive between any of them.
Baraboo RV Resort by RJourney makes a comfortable trail base. It sits on Terrytown Road off US Highway 12, with full hookup RV sites, tent sites, and cabins under mature shade, plus a pool and a swimming pond that earn their keep on post-hike afternoons. The resort runs roughly May through October, which lines up neatly with prime hiking season. Here are the trails worth your boots, roughly ordered by effort.
Devil's Lake: The Headliner Trails
Wisconsin’s most-visited state park earns the traffic. The quartzite bluffs deliver real elevation by Midwest standards, and the trail menu runs from flat shoreline strolls to stone-step climbs.
Tumbled Rocks and the Shore Paths (Easy)
The Tumbled Rocks Trail runs along the lake’s west shore through a field of fallen purple quartzite, mostly flat and paved, with the bluffs overhead the whole way. Pair it with the park’s 2 beaches for a low-effort day that still delivers the signature views, and bring the cooler; shoreline picnic space fills early on summer Saturdays.
Balanced Rock and Devil's Doorway (Steep and Worth It)
The classic circuit climbs the East Bluff on stone steps, steep, uneven, and honest work, to the 2 formations every photo of this park features: Balanced Rock on the climb and Devil’s Doorway along the rim. Wear real shoes, carry water, and budget more time than the mileage suggests, because the elevation arrives fast. Start early on summer weekends; parking and trail traffic both build by mid-morning.
The East and West Bluff Rims (Half-Day Loops)
For a longer day, the rim trails link the climbs into loops with sustained views over the 500-foot drop to the lake. The quartzite gets slick when wet, so check the park’s current trail conditions before committing to a full loop, and save it for a dry day if you can choose.
Beyond Devil's Lake: Glens, Gorges, and the Ice Age Trail
Parfrey’s Glen, Wisconsin’s first State Natural Area, follows a stream into a narrow, mossy gorge east of Devil’s Lake; expect wet feet, cool air on hot days, and an out-and-back that ends where the gorge does. Pewit’s Nest, another State Natural Area just outside Baraboo, packs a small canyon and waterfalls into a short walk, with limited parking that fills fast on weekends. Mirror Lake State Park runs quieter wooded loops above its sandstone-walled lake, 15 minutes northwest of town. And the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, the 1,000-mile route tracing Wisconsin’s glacial edge, passes through the Devil’s Lake area, so section hikers can tag a famous stretch from the same campsite. One caution for the State Natural Areas: they’re minimally developed by design, with no facilities and fragile terrain, so stay on the path.
Basing at Baraboo RV Resort for a Trail Trip
Trail trips run better with a comfortable reset between hikes, and that’s the resort’s role: about 10 minutes from the Devil’s Lake entrance, with full hookups at your own site, a pool from Memorial Day through Labor Day, and a swimming pond for tired legs. The camp store handles firewood and forgotten items, and Wisconsin Dells sits 15 minutes north for rest-day plans. Summer weekends book ahead, especially themed weekends, so reserve early if your hiking window lands in July or August. Dogs travel well here too, with an on-site dog park for the post-trail zoomies, though cabin guests should note pets aren’t allowed inside the cabins.
Baraboo RV Resort by RJourney
Baraboo RV Resort sits on Terrytown Road in West Baraboo, off US Highway 12, in a wooded pocket of the Baraboo Range. Devil’s Lake State Park is about 10 minutes south and Wisconsin Dells about 15 minutes north, close enough to the Dells waterparks for a day trip and far enough out to sleep somewhere quiet. Sites tuck back into mature trees, and several guests say the layout reads more like a state park than a private campground. One thing to plan around: the resort runs seasonally, roughly May through October, and is closed in winter. When it is open, the on-site list runs long for a park this size, a pool, a swimming pond, mini golf, a jumping pillow, a snack shack, and a themed-weekend calendar that runs the length of the season. Rates start at $40 a night.
Sites & Hookups
RV sites come in pull-through and back-in layouts with full hookups: water, sewer, and electric, in both 30-amp and 50-amp, so a small trailer and a 40-foot Class A both have what they need. Every site has a fire pit and a picnic table. Tent sites carry water and electric hookups too, plus fire pits and picnic tables, with one guest noting they fit two 10-by-10 tents, a canopy, and two cars on a single tent site with room to spare. The wooded layout is the part guests bring up most: mature tree cover holds real shade through summer, and sites sit far enough apart that you are not stacked on your neighbor. Keep in mind these sites are available during the resort’s open season, roughly May through October; for winter camping, see the year-round state-park options below.
What's On-Site
For a park this size, the on-site list runs long during the open season. The pool opens Memorial Day and runs through Labor Day. A swimming pond with a floating obstacle course gives kids a second way to cool off. Mini golf, a jumping pillow, a basketball court, a volleyball court, a playground, a dunk tank, and giant chess, checkers, and connect four cover the rest of the daylight hours. The Baraboo Snack Shack handles food on-site with pizza, ice cream, and quick options, and the camp store stocks snacks, firewood, and essentials. There is a pavilion for group gatherings, a game room for rainy afternoons, a dog park, and pedal cart rentals. Themed weekends run the length of the season, from Cinco de Mayo and Christmas in July to Labor Day, with water wars, glow parades, potlucks, game tournaments, and craft sessions.
What Guests Say
Baraboo RV Resort holds a 4.0-star rating across 343 Google reviews. Three things come up again and again. First, the tree-lined sites and the shade they hold through summer. Second, the spread of on-site activities, the pool, the pond, mini golf, the jumping pillow, which keeps families with kids busy without leaving the campground. Third, the location: about 10 minutes to Devil’s Lake State Park and 15 to Wisconsin Dells. Returning guests talk about the themed weekends, and some book specific weekends off the activity calendar. Tent campers single out the water and electric hookups at tent sites and the room to fit multiple tents and vehicles on one site.
State-Park Camping Near Baraboo, WI
<p>Devil’s Lake and Mirror Lake hold most of the area’s trail mileage. Day-trip them from the resort, or camp inside the parks if setting beats hookups; either way, check current trail conditions before you go.</p>
Mirror Lake State Park
One of the few campgrounds in the Baraboo area that keeps sites open through winter, with a quiet sandstone-bluff lake and trails for hiking, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing in the cold months. Winter camping means reduced services: confirm open loops, electric availability, and water before you go. Reserve through Wisconsin State Parks. Visit website.
Devil's Lake State Park
Wisconsin’s largest and most-visited state park, with 500-foot quartzite bluffs, two swimming beaches, and miles of trails. It offers year-round access, though peak-summer campground sites book out months ahead and winter brings reduced services. A strong day-trip anchor from the resort in summer and a cold-weather option in its own right. Reserve through Wisconsin State Parks. Visit website.
Things to Do Around Baraboo Year-Round
Devil’s Lake State Park, 10 minutes south, anchors the area’s water recreation with two swimming beaches below 500-foot quartzite bluffs, open in summer for swimming, paddling, and shoreline picnics. Mirror Lake, 15 minutes northwest, adds a quiet sandstone-walled lake for kayaking and canoeing. In winter both lakes shift to a different kind of draw: frozen-lake scenery, ice activity where conditions allow, and trailheads for snowshoeing along the shore. Baraboo RV Resort’s own swimming pond and pool serve the warm-season water fun on-property.
The Baraboo Range is built for hiking and, in winter, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Devil’s Lake offers some of the best bluff hiking in the Midwest, with the East Bluff and Balanced Rock trails the standouts. Mirror Lake’s trails groom for cross-country skiing in the cold months. Downtown Baraboo carries the area’s history: the Circus World Museum and the International Crane Foundation are both nearby, and the Ho-Chunk and Aldo Leopold heritage sites round out the cultural draws across the seasons.
Wisconsin Dells, 15 minutes north, is the region’s marquee day trip, indoor waterparks and attractions that run year-round, so a winter base near Baraboo still has a rainy-day, or snowy-day, option close at hand. In town, Walmart and Menards sit off Highway 12 for resupply. In summer the Dells outdoor waterparks and the Wisconsin River boat tours open up the full menu, making the resort’s May-through-October window the busiest time to base here.
Seasonal Guide for RV Travelers Near Baraboo
Summer (June through August)
Peak season and the heart of Baraboo RV Resort’s open window. The pool runs Memorial Day through Labor Day, themed weekends fill the calendar, and Devil’s Lake draws crowds, so book the resort ahead for July and August weekends. This is the strongest time to base here.
Fall (September through October)
The Baraboo Range turns color and crowds thin after Labor Day. The resort typically stays open into October, making this a quieter, scenic window for a warm-layers stay. Confirm the resort’s closing date before booking a late-October trip.
Winter (November through March)
Baraboo RV Resort is closed. For winter RV or tent camping near Baraboo, the state parks are your option: Mirror Lake keeps sites open with reduced services, and Devil’s Lake offers year-round access. Expect vault toilets, limited or no water, and self-reliance for heat. Confirm open loops with the park first.
Spring (April through May)
Shoulder season. The resort opens around May, but exact dates shift year to year, so an early-April trip likely falls before opening. Verify current open dates and keep a state-park backup if your plans land before the resort’s season begins.
Practical Tips for Hiking Trips Near Baraboo
Baraboo RV Resort runs roughly May through October, but exact open and close dates shift year to year. Call (608) 716-4993 before booking a shoulder-season trip in April or late October.
From Memorial Day through Labor Day, the resort's pool, pond, and themed weekends pull families in. Reserve July and August weekends well ahead to lock in a shaded site.
Devil's Lake's own campgrounds book months ahead in summer. Basing at Baraboo RV Resort, 10 minutes away with full hookups, sidesteps that crunch while keeping the park close.
Parking and trail traffic at Devil's Lake build by mid-morning on summer weekends. Arrive at opening for Balanced Rock and Devil's Doorway, then spend the hot afternoon at the resort's pool or pond.
Parfrey's Glen and Pewit's Nest are minimally developed by design: no facilities, fragile terrain, limited parking. Stay on the path, pack out everything, and have a backup plan if the lot is full.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best hiking trails near Baraboo, WI?
Devil’s Lake State Park headlines with the Balanced Rock and Devil’s Doorway climbs and the easy Tumbled Rocks shoreline trail. Parfrey’s Glen and Pewit’s Nest add gorge walks, Mirror Lake runs quieter wooded loops, and the Ice Age National Scenic Trail passes through the Devil’s Lake area.
How hard is the Balanced Rock Trail at Devil's Lake?
Short but demanding. It climbs the East Bluff on steep, uneven stone steps, so wear real shoes, carry water, and budget more time than the distance suggests. The payoff is the park’s signature formations and rim views over the 500-foot drop. Start early on summer weekends to beat the crowds.
Are there easy hikes near Baraboo?
Yes. Tumbled Rocks at Devil’s Lake is mostly flat and paved along the west shore with the bluffs overhead. Mirror Lake’s wooded loops stay gentle, and Pewit’s Nest is a short walk to a small canyon and waterfalls, though its footing is uneven and parking is limited.
Where should I camp for a hiking trip near Baraboo?
Baraboo RV Resort sits about 10 minutes from the Devil’s Lake entrance with full hookup RV sites, tent sites, and cabins under mature shade, plus a pool and swimming pond for post-hike recovery. It runs roughly May through October, which matches the prime hiking months.
Can I hike the Ice Age Trail from Baraboo?
Yes. The 1,000-mile Ice Age National Scenic Trail passes through the Devil’s Lake area as it traces Wisconsin’s glacial edge, so you can section-hike a well-known stretch from a Baraboo base. Check the Ice Age Trail Alliance’s current maps for segment access points.
Are dogs allowed on the trails at Devil's Lake?
Wisconsin state parks allow leashed pets in designated areas, and rules differ by trail and beach, so check the park’s posted pet policy before you go. Back at Baraboo RV Resort, dogs are welcome at RV and tent sites and get an on-site dog park, though cabins don’t allow pets.
Plan Your Baraboo RV Stay
Baraboo RV Resort by RJourney is our warm-season pick near Baraboo, open roughly May through October with full hookups, 30 and 50-amp service, shaded sites, a pool, a swimming pond, and a full activity calendar, 10 minutes from Devil's Lake State Park. For winter camping, plan around the area state parks, then come back to the resort once the season opens.
See site types, rates, current open dates, and live availability on the Baraboo RV Resort page.
Book Your RV Site (608) 716-4993