On our recent trip to Madison, Wisconsin we toured the beautiful state capital building, walked around the farmer’s market that occupies four sides of a large city block on which the capitol building stands (with hundreds of other people).
We visited Olbrich Botanical Gardens, ate at a few unique restaurants, and shopped a couple thrift stores. It was hot and humid, but we had a good time in spite of it. I have been to Madison many times, but Gary had never been there. He liked it.
On our way back to Minnesota, we stopped at Devils Lake State Park, a park near Baraboo WI, which is a half hour from Madison. Our friends knew of a unique trail there so we decided to take a hike.
It’s called Tumbled Rocks Trail. It was a narrow, winding, asphalt trail through humongous boulders…not “rocks” on each side of the trail. The trail followed Devils Lake and was scenic (although there was some haze from the wildfires burning in northern MN and Canada).
It was fairly easy walking on the water’s edge trail. The large boulders (Quartzite) created a natural cliffs as they tumbled down the hillside. I’m not sure where the boulders came from, or what made them stop where they did, and why they stay in place now, but it was an interesting hike. And it was pretty, with Devils Lake on one side and the boulders lining the western side of the lake. I like the name of the trail, although I do believe it should be named Tumbled Boulders Trail, not Tumbled Rocks Trail…although scenic, these are not your lovely, smooth rock piles.
We have been to many of Minnesota’s wonderful State Parks. Other than Interstate State Park we have not been to any Wisconsin State Parks. It was fun to finally see Devils Lake State Park, since for many years I have driven by the sign for it along the 90/94 Interstate through Wisconsin.
Our stop piqued my interest…maybe it’s time to start looking at other parks in Wisconsin: Mirror Lake State Park, Governor Dodge State Park…there are 50 of them in the state.