East Bluff and East Bluff Woods Trail Loop is a 2.6 mile heavily trafficked loop trail located near Baraboo, Wisconsin that features a lake and is rated as moderate. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.
Asphalt with stone steps, winds between bluff edge and adjacent woods. Scenic views with drop-offs. Elephant Cave and Elephant Rock at the north end.
Wisconsin Department of Tourism, P.O. Box 7976, 201 W. Washington Avenue , Madison, WI, 53707-79761, Phone: 608-266-2161
Directions from Baraboo, WI: Travel I-90 / 94 to exit 92, Baraboo / Wisconsin Dells. Take US 12 about 9 miles. Turn left (east) on Hwy. 159. Proceed 1.5 miles. Turn right (south) on Hwy. 123 and proceed 0.5 mile. Cross County DL and proceed on park road. Visitor information areas are located off South Shore Road and South Lake Drive. East Bluff Woods Trail - Yellow access is from the North Shore parking area.
We're visiting from Missouri. Wisconsin has not disappointed. I really needed this hike alone today. Absolutely beautiful and very peaceful. The snow was perfect. Hardly anyone on the trail so that made it more personal. A few spots were slick on the rocks but that was to be expected. To date, this was my favorite hike out of all the hikes I've completed using All Trails.
Perfect little hike. We went uphill (steep at times) on the East Bluff Trail which had gorgeous lake views and plenty of big rocks to hang out to admire the view, and then went downhill (moderate slope) on the East Bluff Woods Trail which was wide and lovely, with several benches toward the trail head to sit along the creek to relax. We showed up at 7:30 AM and saw very few people the entire time.
Arrived at 9am on a Sunday and the park was virtually empty. The side closest to the water is the East bluff trail and it is a pretty rough climb, but not unmanageable - it can get narrow on parts of the rock-stairs. Beautiful views at the top and there are multiple “look out” points easily accessible from the trail to overlook the whole park. The side further from the lake is the East bluff woods trail and is much more moderate with a steady incline on rocks/gravel with only a few steep spots. Trail is much wider and very well shaded, no views of the lake but a nice nature walk. I would definitely recommend starting on the Woods trail for a steady incline up and then use the Bluff trail to go downhill on the “hard side.” By the time I got back down to the parking lot (11am) it was pretty much full. Get here early to enjoy the quiet. Otherwise overrun with families and teens.