Devil's Lake Balanced Rock Trail Hiking Guide
Balanced Rock is the short, steep way up Devil's Lake's East Bluff. The DNR lists the trail at just 0.4 miles and rates it most difficult, describing it as more like an uneven rocky staircase than a path. The rock it is named for, which seems to balance at the cliff edge overlooking the lake, sits about three-quarters of the way up, so you earn it.
Permit: State park admission pass needed to park at the South Shore: $13/day for Wisconsin vehicles, $16/day out of state, or a 12-month pass ($28 / $50)
A Staircase, Not a Path
Mapping apps list the climb and return at about 0.9 miles with roughly 400 feet of gain, almost all of it on stone steps up the south face of the East Bluff. The steps are as uneven as the DNR's description warns, with quartzite boulder fields beside the route. The DNR places Balanced Rock about three-quarters of the way up; one local guide says two-thirds. Either way, it is a natural rest stop before the last push to the top.
Starting from the South Shore
Park in the South Shore day-use lot and follow the paved walkway to the railroad tracks. Just past the tracks, the Grottos Trail goes right and the Balanced Rock Trail goes left and starts climbing almost immediately. With North Shore lots under phased reconstruction from August 2026 into spring 2027, the South Shore is the less disrupted side of the park this season; the DNR says no construction is planned there.
Making It a Loop
At the top, Balanced Rock meets the East Bluff Trail, and local trail guides note that Devil's Doorway can be reached from this south side via the Balanced Rock, Potholes or CCC trails as well as from the north. Coming down the Potholes Trail, which squeezes between quartzite walls on stone steps, makes a short, very steep loop that the Grottos Trail closes along the base of the bluff. Going down is harder on balance than going up.
Crowds and Conditions
This is one of the busiest climbs in the park in summer, and the staircase is narrow enough that passing takes patience. On warm-season weekends the DNR expects long waits and full lots, often before 9 a.m. Local guides do not recommend the trail in winter because the steps are usually icy and snow-covered. Leashed dogs are allowed, on an 8-foot leash, but the tall, uneven steps are hard on small or older dogs.
Hiking tips for Devil's Lake Balanced Rock Trail
- Turn left immediately after the railroad tracks; the Grottos Trail to the right is the flat one.
- Use the climb up for the stairs and plan a slower descent, which is the harder direction.
- Pick up your vehicle pass at the South Shore entrance kiosk before parking.
- Avoid this trail once the steps ice over; local guides do not recommend it in winter.
- Lift small dogs over the tallest steps or choose the Grottos Trail for them instead.
Nearby trails to explore
- Devil's Lake East Bluff Trail
- Devil's Lake West Bluff Trail
- Parfrey's Glen Trail
Hike this trail with TrailMates
Balanced Rock is the quickest, steepest way onto Devil's Lake's East Bluff. Use TrailMates to find Madison hikers heading to Balanced Rock. Download the TrailMates app to connect.