The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources finalized a land acquisition this spring that adds approximately 100 acres to Devil’s Lake State Park.
Following an initial 2025 purchase by The Conservation Fund, the DNR utilized the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program to permanently protect the parcel from future development.
Devil’s Lake is Wisconsin’s largest and most visited state park, drawing an impressive 2.3 million visitors in 2025.
Located in Sauk County, the destination is renowned for its 360-acre lake, ample recreational activities, and 500-foot quartzite bluffs.
The 100-acre acquisition expands the northeast recreational area of Devil’s Lake. Prior to this transaction, the land was one of the largest privately owned tracts remaining within the park’s boundaries, according to an article by The Cap Times.
Andrew Hanson III, a partnerships liaison for Wisconsin State Parks, stated that the DNR had been hoping to purchase the property since 1971.
“That doesn’t mean the DNR is actively sending letters or making phone calls to the landowner,” he said. “The DNR only acquires land from willing sellers.”
The Conservation Fund, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to buying at-risk land with high conservation value, initially secured the property in 2025.
The DNR then began an eight-month process to obtain final ownership of the property.
“There is a U-shaped terminal moraine that’s on the property, which is really unique in the United States, if not North America and even the world,” Hanson said.
“But also, the property has oak woods, maple woods, old fallow fields, rock outcrops and most notably some very long vistas by Wisconsin standards.”
Hanson noted the property also features several bedrock glades, representing a relatively rare ecological community found in areas with exposed or thinly soil-covered bedrock.
These unique ecological traits underscore the importance of the long-term protection made possible by the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program.
Established in 1989, the stewardship program was created to fund conservation land purchases and recreational development statewide.
However, the program’s future is currently uncertain because the Wisconsin Legislature and the governor failed to renew its financing last year, meaning its funding is set to expire next month.
If the funding lapses, the state will likely lack the financial resources to complete future conservation acquisitions.
Despite this legislative hurdle, the new Devil’s Lake parcel offers the potential for new trail developments, which may eventually include a segment of the Ice Age Trail.
Devil’s Lake and other central Wisconsin parks are currently operating under the development of the Central Sandhills Regional Master Plan, which is expected to be finalized in the summer of 2027. “Until that plan is complete, we can’t construct any new trails at the property,” Hanson said.
The newly acquired parcel is open to the public for walking, but visitors must know how to navigate the undeveloped terrain using a compass, handheld map, or GPS device.
James Carter, superintendent for the DNR’s Bureau of Parks and Recreation, noted that visitors should anticipate large crowds during the busy summer season.
“We’re expecting a busy season as always,” he said. “Parking is always in high demand, so we just ask that everyone abide by the rules, keep their vehicle limited to a parking stall, and make sure that they get their camping reservations early.”
Alongside standard recreation, Devil’s Lake will host various scheduled summer programs, including art workshops and guided nature walks.
Carter recommended that guests follow the Friends of Devil’s Lake State Park nonprofit, which organizes events like the Big Band at the Lake Saturday evening concerts.
“We’re looking forward to a safe and enjoyable recreation season ahead,” he said. A complete schedule of upcoming events is available at devilslakewisconsin.com/park-events.
For the outdoor hospitality sector, this 100-acre expansion highlights the vital role of public-private conservation partnerships in securing public access to at-risk wilderness areas.