Get Out & Wisconsin | Mirror Lake State Park

Mirror Lake is a 137-acre lake in a narrow sandstone gorge, and the whole lake is slow-no-wake. With no motorboat wakes, the water often lies still enough to earn the name, a few minutes from Wisconsin Dells. Sandstone cliffs up to 50 feet high line the gorge.

The 2,200-acre park around it has three campgrounds, more than 19 miles of trails and a cottage designed by Frank Lloyd Wright that you can rent year-round. In winter, 18 miles of trails are groomed for both skate and classic skiing.

Written by Ryan Dahlberg. Facts checked against the DNR on October 24, 2026.

Badge's take

Start with the Echo Rock Trail. It's short and mostly paved, and it takes you out to the bridge over the gorge, the best look at why this lake is different. Want a workout after that? The Northwest Trail is the park's toughest, with steep hills, sharp turns, lake views and an old resort foundation along the way. Bluff-Canyon climbs above the narrows across from Pulpit Rock.

Bring a boat if you've got one. No wakes are allowed anywhere on the lake, so a canoe or kayak can slip into the gorge between the sandstone walls, where the cliffs reflect in the still water.

Two things before you go: there are no lifeguards at the beach, and dogs aren't allowed on it (there's a pet picnic area across the road from the beach shelter). In winter, stay off the groomed ski trails on foot. Snowshoe the Sandstone, Pulpit Rock or Wild Rice trails instead, and remember that nobody checks the ice.

Quick answers

When is the best time to visit Mirror Lake State Park?

It depends on what you came for. Camping is best in June–September, fall color in October, swimming in July–August and boating & paddling in June–September.

What can you do at Mirror Lake State Park in each season?

Winter (December–February): winter camping, hiking, fishing, ice fishing, mountain & fat biking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and nature centers. Spring (March–May): camping, hiking, fishing, biking, mountain & fat biking, hunting and nature centers. Summer (June–August): camping, hiking, swimming, boating & paddling, fishing, biking, mountain & fat biking, nature centers and picnics & shelters. Fall (September–November): camping, hiking, fall color, boating & paddling, fishing, biking, mountain & fat biking, hunting, nature centers and picnics & shelters.

Do you need a state park sticker at Mirror Lake State Park?

Yes. Every motor vehicle that stops at Mirror Lake State Park needs a Wisconsin State Park System vehicle admission sticker, daily or annual (from $13 a day with Wisconsin plates). Our Pass page has every price and which one to buy.

Can you camp at Mirror Lake State Park in winter?

Yes. Mirror Lake State Park provides numerous opportunities for winter recreation including trails groomed for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and hiking trails, winter camping and ice fishing. Camping reservations are required year-round and can be made for the same day of your arrival or up to 11 months in advance of your planned date of occupancy.

What state parks and trails are near Mirror Lake State Park?

The closest state properties, as the crow flies: Rocky Arbor State Park (5 mi), Devil's Lake State Park (10 mi) and Sauk Prairie State Recreation Area (13 mi).

Best for

Paddlers: the whole lake is slow-no-wake, and most of it sits in the narrow sandstone gorge. Canoes and kayaks rent from the park's concession in summer. You can also launch at the Town of Delton landing on Lakeview Road, at the west end of the lake.
Campers who want shade: the 151 family sites are spread over three mostly wooded campgrounds of pine and oak. Sandstone Ridge is the one near the beach, boat landing and fishing pier. Cliffwood has paired "double sites" for two groups camping together.
Cross-country skiers: 18 miles of trail are groomed for skate and classic skiing, with one more mile groomed for classic only. Skiers 16 and older need a state trail pass.
Winter campers: Sandstone Ridge sites 58 to 65 stay open in winter, with electricity and plowed pads. Showers and flush toilets close for the season.
Easy off-road riding: about nine miles of wide trails on sand, grass and woodchips, south of Fern Dell Road, open May through October. No single-track, and no trail pass needed.
Architecture fans: the Seth Peterson Cottage, designed in 1958, was the first Frank Lloyd Wright house anyone could rent. It's booked through the Seth Peterson Cottage Conservancy, not the state park reservation system.

Best months

January · February · May · June · July · August · September · October · November

Visiting

Admission: A vehicle admission sticker is required.
Hours: Open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. year-round.
Address: E10320 Fern Dell Rd. Baraboo, WI 53913
Phone: 608-254-2333

Accessibility

The Echo Rock Trail is the one to know. It's 0.6 miles in all, with 0.4 miles paved, and it leads to overlooks of the lake and the 150-foot bridge over the Mirror Lake Gorge. The short Lakeview Trail links the boat landing with Sandstone Ridge campground. A paved walkway leads to the beach, and each of the three picnic areas has an accessible shelter.

The park lends an adaptive tandem kayak with a launching chariot, and has cross-country sit skis. Call the park office to ask about availability. Accessible campsites are site 63 in Sandstone Ridge and site 132 in Cliffwood, and there's an accessible cabin. The amphitheater has wheelchair areas and a ramp to the stage.

Accessible campsite -- every developed campground here has at least one
Accessible cabin
Accessible fishing pier
Accessible hunting blind
Adaptive equipment: Adaptive kayak, Cross-country sit skis
Universal trails: Echo Rock Trail, Lakeview Trail

From the DNR's accessibility guide, reviewed October 2026. Call the property to confirm before you go.

Pair it with

Devil's Lake State Park, about 10 miles south as the crow flies: the opposite of Mirror Lake. Quartzite bluffs 500 feet high above a 360-acre lake, and nearly 30 miles of trail. Hike the bluffs there, then paddle the calm water here.
Rocky Arbor State Park, about 5 miles north as the crow flies: a secluded park of pines and sandstone bluffs 1.5 miles from Wisconsin Dells, with wooded campsites and hiking trails.

Nearby

Rocky Arbor State Park (5 mi)
Devil's Lake State Park (10 mi)
Sauk Prairie State Recreation Area (13 mi)
Great Sauk State Trail (16 mi)
Natural Bridge State Park (16 mi)

Closures and alerts for Mirror Lake State Park: updates · RSS · JSON Feed

The guide on this page is written by Ryan Dahlberg. Text and park details on this page come from the property's DNR pages, checked every Monday; last change October 24, 2026. Closures and notices load live. Check current conditions before you go.

Official DNR page ↗