High on the hog in the hills

Sauk County is a feast for the eyes, from the savannah of the Sauk Prairie to the towering Baraboo Bluffs. What better place to savor this scenery than the seat of a hog?

Good news: There’s an established scenic drive that will take you from Sauk Prairie to Baraboo. Along the way, you can zip past Circus World, through the Sauk Prairie State Recreation Area and Devil’s Lake State Park, and along the Great Sauk Trail.

The Baraboo Hills Scenic Drive is the primary motorcycle route connecting Devil’s Lake, Baraboo and Sauk Prairie. Take state Wisconsin Highway 113 and Sauk County Road DL to create a loop with scenic views, connecting to the Great Sauk Trail and Sauk Prairie State Recreation Area.

Baraboo Hills Scenic Drive

Start at Circus World in Baraboo, where the Ringling Brothers started their “Greatest Show on Earth” more than a century ago. Head east on Highway 113, following it south as it winds up and over the Baraboo Range.

Turn east onto Highway DL toward Parfrey’s Glen State Natural Area. No one would blame you for stopping off and enjoying a hike: Parfrey’s Glen’s mile-long trail features sandstone and quartzite formations, as well as a stream-fed waterfall.

After you leave Parfrey’s Glen, you’ll pass Devil’s Head Resort in Merrimac, whose slopes attract skiers in winter and golfers in summer.

Want to try an especially steep, short climb with switchbacks? Turn onto Devil’s Delight, a 2-mile road winding through farms and woods on its way to the top of the bluff. Up there you’ll find views that will get your motor running.

Turn left onto Owen Park Road – this park is another ideal spot to enjoy the view – to continue your route.

Great Sauk Trail

You can reach the Great Sauk Trail via a mile-long stretch of Highway 113 that connects to Marsh Road, then to Highway DL, and finally to the Great Sauk Trail near the south entrance to Devil’s Lake.

Feel free to make another stop here. Devil’s Lake is Wisconsin’s most popular state park, attracting hikers bent on scaling the bluffs, as well as paddlers and anglers drawn to the lake below.

Back to the Great Sauk Trail: This 11-mile paved trail runs parrel to the Wisconsin River. It passes through Sauk City and Prairie du Sac, and into the Sauk Prairie Recreation Area. Once home to the Badger Army Ammunition Plant, this reclaimed land offers un unpaved loop for dual-sport and adventure motorcycles. It’s a great place to enjoy off-road motorcycle riding on a mix of existing trails and access roads, from old pavement to gravel and grass tracks.

Other options

Are there other nearby options for bikers? You betcha:

• For a scenic, gravelly route, check out Rustic Road 21 in Natural Bridge State Park, not far from the Baraboo Hills off Sauk County Highway PF.
• The Lower Wisconsin River Road Scenic Byway follows Highway 60 from Lodi to Prairie du Chien, offering a gorgeous drive with views of the river and its bluffs.

Fresh air, unparalleled views and the roar of a hog engine: You’ll find it all in Sauk County.