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LakeQuality

Devils Lake

Sauk County, Wisconsin374 acresView mapDirections

No nutrient or algae sampling on record from Wisconsin DNR for this lake.

Level
8.52 ft
USGS · Jul 6 · gage height
Max depth
47 ft
Bathymetric survey
Area
374 acres
Surface area
  • Curly-Leaf Pondweed
  • 47 ft max depth
  • Public access
  • Limited data
See the measurementsDirectionsWhere to stay

Devils Lake in Sauk County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Maximum depth: 47 ft. Surface area: 374 acres.

Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on Devils Lake. DNR survey details →

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Devils Lake is a 374-acre lake in Sauk County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 47 feet. The lake supports 6 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Smallmouth Bass. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings and 2 public beaches.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2024-05-23. Methodology: how these readings are compared.

Devils Lake covers about 370 acres in Sauk County. It has 2 public boat landings, so a lakefront rental is not the only way to get a boat on the water. Vrbo is where to look for cabins and lake homes around Devils Lake, and Booking.com and Expedia search hotels near the lake for your dates.

What Devils Lake is good for

From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.

  • Boat launch2 documented ramps
  • Beach2 documented beaches
  • Fishing6 species recorded
  • Deep water47 ft surveyed max depth

Swimming conditions

No reading

Bacteria tested: low

Bacteria testing record
from E. coli testing · 357 samples, 9 seasons

Based on E. coli testing, Devils Lake rarely exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 1.4% of 357 samples across 9 seasons.

This is a historical summary of past testing, not a current condition — bacteria levels change quickly, especially after rain. Always check Wisconsin’s current beach and health-department advisories before swimming.

Whether Devils Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.

Compare swimming lakes near Wisconsin Dells →

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Water quality measurements for Devils Lake

These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Devils Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.

No clarity data.

Ask about Devils Lake

Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.

Current Conditions

8.52 ft
Gage Height

USGS snapshot Jul 6, 2026, 5:00 AM from gauge 05404500 (Devils Lake Near Baraboo, WI). Station page ↗ — a live reading replaces this snapshot when the gauge responds. Missing live data is not an all-clear.

→ Devils Lake water level: the live USGS gauge reading

DNR fisheries survey

Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on Devils Lake.

A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Devils Lake’s water-quality measurements separately. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.

WI DNR Lake Profile

Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. 38 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).

DNR Assessment
Reported
Trophic State Index 45 (mesotrophic) · 5-year average

Fish Species (DNR-rated)

Panfish(Abundant)Largemouth Bass(Common)Northern Pike(Common)Smallmouth Bass(Present)Trout(Present)Walleye(Present)
Contour map (PDF) →Full WI DNR LakePage →Water quality stations →

DNR Reports & Resources

Wisconsin DNR Fisheries scientists publish multi-year survey reports for Devils Lake covering fish populations, stocking, water quality, and management. 2 reports on file.

These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).

Lake Details

Max depth

47 ft

Surface area

374 acres

Public access

Yes

Listed by Wisconsin DNR

Lake Size & Watershed

Watershed (drainage) area

4 sq mi

HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS

Shoreline

3.3 mi

HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS

Elevation

951 ft

Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).

Recreation & Access

2
Boat Landings
2
Beaches
Yes
Public Access
  • Devils Lake State Park - North ShorePublic
  • Devils Nose State Natural AreaPublic

Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps

Stays via Stay22

Stays near Devils Lake

Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Devils Lake in Sauk County, Wisconsin — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.

Top-rated places to stay near Devils Lake

Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.

Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.

Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →

Follow Devils Lake’s readings

Email me when new measurements post for this lake. Updates stay free.

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Fish Species

PanfishLargemouth BassSmallmouth BassNorthern PikeTroutWalleye

Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.

Fishing Devils Lake

Invasive & Introduced Species

Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.

Banded Mystery SnailChinese Mystery SnailCurly-Leaf PondweedEurasian Water-Milfoil

Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby

4 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Devils Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.

  • Baraboo Wastewater Treatment Facility
    Baraboo · 2.5 mi away · NPDES WI0020605
    MajorRecent violation
  • Wi Dnr Devils Lake State Park
    Baraboo · 0.9 mi away · NPDES WI0060241
  • Teel Plastics Co Inc
    Baraboo · 1.5 mi away · NPDES WI0004421
  • Us Dept Army Badger Army Ammun
    Baraboo · 3.6 mi away · NPDES WI0043974

Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.

Nearby Lakes in Sauk County

Seeley Lake—View →Buckhorn Lake—View →Mirror Lake4.6 ft clear · Eutrophic—View →Mirror Lake—View →Lake Delton2.5 ft clear—View →Lake Blass—View →

Frequently asked questions about Devils Lake

Where is Devils Lake?

Devils Lake is a lake in Sauk County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.

What is the water quality of Devils Lake?

Devils Lake in Sauk County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Maximum depth: 47 ft. Surface area: 374 acres.

Measurements on this page ↑

Is Devils Lake safe to swim in?

Based on E. coli testing, Devils Lake rarely exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 1.4% of 357 samples across 9 seasons. That is a historical summary of past bacteria testing, not a current reading and not a swimming clearance. Bacteria levels can spike quickly after heavy rain, so whether Devils Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for Wisconsin's water agency and the county health department; check their current beach advisories before you swim.

Swimming on this page ↑

How deep is Devils Lake?

Devils Lake has a maximum depth of 47 feet. The lake covers 374 acres.

What fish are in Devils Lake?

Fish species found in Devils Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Trout, Walleye. Devils Lake is located in Sauk County, Wisconsin.

Fish on this page ↑

What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Devils Lake?

Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on Devils Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Devils Lake’s water-quality measurements separately. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.

DNR on this page ↑

What is the water level at Devils Lake?

The USGS snapshot on this page for Devils Lake is 8.52 ft of gage height, recorded Jul 6, 2026, 5:00 AM at gauge 05404500. Current Conditions hydrates a live NWIS reading from that same station when the gauge responds. A missed live fetch is not an all-clear.

Conditions on this page ↑

Are there boat ramps on Devils Lake?

Devils Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Devils Lake State Park - North Shore, Devils Nose State Natural Area. Public access is listed as yes.

Access on this page ↑

Can I fish at Devils Lake?

Devils Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Wisconsin's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.

Access on this page ↑

Explore Devils Lake across LakeQuality

Wakesurfing on Devils Lake

Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules

Wisconsin Fishing Guide

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Sauk County Fishing

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Lake Fishing Forecast

Species activity outlook by water temperature and season

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State Parks Near Devils Lake

Devil's Lake State Park

State Park · 0.9 mi

Natural Bridge State Park

State Park · 11.1 mi

Mirror Lake State Park

State Park · 11.2 mi

Rocky Arbor State Park

State Park · 16.1 mi

Other Lakes in Wisconsin

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Dane County · Measured

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Dane County · Measured

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Dane County · 2.8 ft

Corning Lake

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Where this data comes from

3 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.

Collected and reported by

  • Wisconsin Department of Natural ResourcesWIDNR_WQX3 samples · 2022–2024
Monitoring station identifiers (1)

EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.

Other records on this page

Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)

Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)

Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes

Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory