BARABOO, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced that a parking lot repaving project on the North Shore of Devil’s Lake State Park will begin in early August 2026.

Work will include pulverizing and repaving the existing lots and parking lot improvements for water conveyance, which may include culverts, ditching and curb and gutter. The project will also install standard lighting in the parking lots and a universal kayak launch.

The parking lot reconstruction will be done in phases to maintain minimal parking for visitors for the remainder of the 2026 season. The project is estimated to be completed in spring 2027.

There will be a designated foot traffic path maintained to allow access to other areas of the park during construction. North Shore shelters and day-use areas will remain open to the public; however, access to these areas and parking will be limited. The North Shore Chateau and Rock Elm Shelter will temporarily close for access in late 2026 for short-term renovations.

The DNR will add some additional temporary accessible parking stalls to the North Shore Visitor Center parking lot during the initial phase of construction. 

The public is asked to stay out of all active construction areas. Signs, barricades and fencing marking the perimeter declare the area closed to all public use to ensure public safety during construction. The DNR recognizes how popular this area is and appreciates the public’s cooperation.

To avoid any disruptions caused by construction, the DNR encourages visitors to explore other areas. The South Shore day-use area of the park has no construction interruptions planned. There are also several other DNR properties in the area including Mirror Lake, Natural Bridge, Rocky Arbor, Roche-A-Cri and Buckhorn state parks and Sauk Prairie State Recreation Area.

The Devil’s Lake State Park reconstruction project was requested in the 2023-2025 DNR Capital Budget and approved by the legislature. Similar road improvement projects, also requested and approved in the 2023-2025 budget, are in progress at other state properties, as many of the system’s roads are in poor condition and need total replacement. Current road improvement projects near Devil’s Lake include Mirror Lake, Buckhorn and Governor Dodge state parks and Sauk Prairie State Recreation Area.