The ‘Prettiest Lake In Wisconsin’ Boasts Stunning, Unique Scenery

Wisconsin has no lack of beautiful lakes. Surrounded on two sides by a pair of the Great Lakes and dotted with thousands of lakes inside its borders, the Badger State has an incredible amount of lake beauty to enjoy.

Yes, Wisconsin even lays claim to having more lakes than the neighboring "Land of 10,000 Lakes". The Wisconsin DNR says Wisconsin has 15,000 lakes, while the Minnesota DNR says Minnesota has 14,380 lakes.

While those numbers all get down to how you define what a lake really is, there's no question that these lakes offer a lot of awe-inspiring natural beauty that people really enjoy.

There is one particular Wisconsin lake, however, that stands above all others in terms of beauty. That is, if you believe what the team at Reader's Digest has to say. They have named the prettiest lake in each state, and it's hard to argue with how uniquely beautiful Wisconsin's is.

What is Wisconsin's prettiest lake?

Just south of Baraboo in Southcentral Wisconsin, you'll find Devil's Lake. According to old records, the lake got its name because it is "situated in a deep chasm with no visible inlet or outlet".

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The lake isn't by any stretch Wisconsin's biggest lake, but the unique beauty it offers makes it a destination for many people. The iconic "Devil's Door" rock formation in the image above can be seen high atop one of the bluffs surrounding the lake.

The tall bluffs, which reach as high as 500 feet, surround the lake with some beautiful wilderness and great hiking opportunities to view the lake from above.

What's there to do at Devil's Lake?

Devil's Lake is situated inside Devil's Lake State Park, which means the lake's shores are not dotted with houses like many of Wisconsin's lakes.

The park offers a lot of opportunities to enjoy the scenery around the lake as well as activities on the lake itself.

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Camping, biking, and hiking around the lake are popular. The park has over 400 campsites, four miles of off-road bike trails, and 29 miles of hiking trails around the park. Some offer easy walking, while others (like those to get the stunning aerial views) require a little more strenuous trip.

Boating, canoeing, and kayaking are on-water activities enjoyed on Devil's Lake. The park only allows electric motors for watercraft, and there are watercraft available for rent at the park.

The lake features two swimming beaches as well as fishing opportunities for brown trout, walleye, northern pike, bass, and panfish. You do need a Wisconsin fishing license, but there is some free basic fishing equipment available to check out at the park office.