Devil's Lake State Park

Officially becoming a state park in 1911, Devil's Lake is the largest state park in Wisconsin while also being the oldest continually open state-run park in the United States. When you come, it is best to check out the visitor's center and nature center. The visitor's center has free trail maps, as well as bathroom facilities and an information kiosk to help you find your way once you enter the park itself. There is also a newly built nature center located at the northern edge of the park. 

The nature center covers the geological history surrounding this beautiful lake, as well as the inhabitants that occupied this land thousands of years ago. Tours run weekly during the warmer months, and more information on these tours can be found on the Wisconsin DNR website. If you enjoy the water, scuba diving has been popular at Devil's Lake for over 15 years. Because of the deep freshwater, Devil's Lake makes for a perfect scuba training ground. 

Classes are available through third parties only, but public swimming is available all throughout the summer months. Dogs are prohibited from all public swimming structures and areas. There are over 29 miles of hiking trails here for you to enjoy with your dog. While some of these are exceptionally challenging, the majority of these trails are gradual inclines providing amazing views from 500-foot bluffs. 

All of the hiking and walking trails in Devil's Lake State Park are free for your dog to explore, provided they stay on a leash at all times. As this is a year-round park, many winter activities are popular here, most notably ice fishing. Setting up a stand requires a permit from the Wisconsin DNR. These licenses are relatively limited, so make sure to plan accordingly. Dogs are allowed on the ice at any owner's discretion.