Parfrey’s Glen State Natural area

This place is so fun to hike and very easy! I sat on a large rock near the waterfall and sang songs from the Little Mermaid like Ariel. My husband thought I was crazy, but I’m more of an opportunist! :)

Beautiful area, and a nice hike that can be accomplished by kids as well as adults, but will give you a bit of a challenge. It is true that all of the wooden walkways have been removed, save for one small one that acts as a bridge over the stream.
The rest is all dirt pathway (sometimes with a steep slant to the side and roots in the way, so watch your step) and rocks to clamber over, which for me was fun!
The sandy soil makes the bottoms of your feet slippery on the rocks, which I did not anticipate. I did slip on the way out — getting too confident — and got my feet wet. So, as they say, wear shoes you don’t mind getting wet! Tennis shoes or hiking boots are a good plan, otherwise water shoes with a good gripping sole or Teva sandals.
It looks like people often park out on the road to avoid the $ 7 day pass fee from the self-​service registration station. There is a parking lot for maybe 20 – 30 cars, otherwise, but to park in there you need to have registered.
You can get a sticker from a Wisconsin DNR office before you go, too, if you prefer, and if you get a day pass that will get you into Devil’s Lake as well, I believe.

Being so close to Devil’s Lake, this place tends to get overlooked a lot. Even though I grew up in the area I didn’t even know this place existed for years. It’s a real shame too, because this park has a lot to offer. A little bonus nugget: it’s the state’s first official «natural area.»
Personally, I think it’s a bit better than Devil’s Lake. It’s never crowded, and the scenery is – in my opinion at least – even a bit better. It’s rougher around the edges in terms of trail maintenance, but that’s one of the charms. Despite being significantly smaller than Devil’s Lake, it has plenty of trail to walk.
During the spring, it’s especially lush and green back here. I think the height of spring would be the best time to visit, although I wouldn’t say no to a summer or a fall trip. I’m not sure if the area is even accessible during the winter, but even if it were some of the trails might be a little hairy in the snow.

The Devil’s Lake area is close to a 3 hour drive for us and we like to optimize the bluff hikes that overlook the lake. It wasn’t until this past weekend that I ventured out to nearby Parfrey’s Glen, and quickly realized that I had been missing out on a beautiful area.
Located just 6 – 7 miles east of Devil’s Lake, Parfrey’s Glen was Wisconsin’s first state natural area, designated in 1952. I couldn’t locate an actual address for Parfrey so I would recommend searching your GPS device or printing a map of the area BEFORE setting out for it. The closest address to Parfrey’s is neighboring Rustic Ridge Cabins located at E13981 County Road DL. Parfrey’s is on County Road DL about a quarter mile west of Bluff Road. The entrance to the park is on the north side of the road, and the lot only holds about 15 cars. Shoulder parking can also be had on County Road DL, outside of the park. As an advisory, please keep in mind that a state park day permit is required. It cannot be purchased at Parfrey’s, but you can buy a day pass at Devil’s Lake.
After heading into the parking lot at Parfrey’s you’ll notice a paved path leading north. This is the route you’ll likely want to take to head into the Glen. The paved path is short lived as it turns into a earthen path that’s just as easy to follow. For about a half mile this route seems like a common path with no discernible features. Then a rickety stream appears off to the left, and the scenery starts to change. It’s after this point that you realize that you’re very slowly ascending. Also about a half mile in is a Parfrey’s Glen plaque that describes the history of the area. First timers should take note, the short narrative gives you some neat facts.
Continuing in has you crossing a small bridge over the aforementioned stream, then a criss-​crossing effort begins within the canyon. Rock walls mount on both sides and at points, becomes narrow and widens as you ascend. Traversing this portion of the park becomes more difficult. My six year old son was able to do it, but only with my helpful hands. At one point he put both of his feet into a pit of mud which almost cost him his shoes. Of course, he found this to be one of the best parts of the park. If you’re hiking in this portion of the park I highly recommend a sturdy hiking boot or shoe with proper socks. Trust me, footing in this portion of the park can be dangerous, and your shoes/​boots will get wet, if not totally submerged.
Traversing and steadily climbing the back portions of the park are very cool. The rock formations include a mixture of rock types and moss growth was in high season in late July. Our apex and the stopping point of most is about a mile back where a smooth waterfall careens down an elevated slide of large boulders. There was a downed tree trunk that tempted further access, but safety ruled that out for my six year old.
My description of Parfrey’s was written with the intent of not giving too much away. I didn’t know anything about this park before entering it, and our ignorance was what created a high level of bliss. Most that visit Devil’s Lake overlook this hidden gem. Now that we’re aware of it, I can’t wait until my son can manage an even deeper hike in.
Happy hiking and climbing.