9 Great Things to add to Your Devils Lake Itinerary
Devils Lake is the second largest lake in North Dakota making it one of the state’s main attractions. The city and surrounding area have so many great things to offer, resulting in a fantastic weekend destination. I have put together a list of 9 great things to add to your Devils Lake Itinerary to kick off your adventure planning!
One of my favorite parts of visiting this area was driving on the roads throughout the lake.
Outdoor Attractions
In addition to the actual lake of it all, Devils Lake has many great things to do outdoors. Whether you have a taste for hiking or water sports this area has something for you.
Grahams Island State Park
I’m always one to find a State Park when I visit someplace new. Grahams Island State Park is 20 minutes from the town of Devils Lake and so worth the drive!
There are very few trails within the park- two are available for walking in the summer, and one for cross country skiing in the winter. we spent just over 30 minutes on the Sivert Thompson Loop. The grassy trails were easy to navigate and we were treated to some great views of the lake. For a map and more details regarding the trails, click HERE!
After our walk we spread out our blanket and enjoyed the small beach. The state park also serves as a popular place to launch boats.
Be sure to bring $7 for a day pass our your $35 North Dakota annual park pass!
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White Horse Hill National Game Preserve
White Horse Hill National Game Preserve was one of the highlights for the weekend. The preserve is filled with wildlife, native foliage, and great views. Almost all of the hiking trails originate at the visitors center and range from .24 miles in length to 1.4 miles. We hiked for about 30 minutes on Nature Trail- I would definitely recommend! Click HERE for more detailed information about the trails.
After our hike we drove up to the White Horse Hill Overlook trail head. Although this is considered a trail (.08 miles) it really just is about 200 steps up to the overlook. Once i caught my breath at the top, the stairs were SO worth it! Definitely add a trip to White Horse Hill National Wildlife Refuge to your Devils Lake Itinerary!
The wildlife refuge is home to bison, elk, deer, fox, coyotes, and gophers. Although we didn’t see any of these animals while we were there, many visitors of the park may see these animals while driving through.
P.S. Visiting is totally free!
Kayaking on Devils Lake
Kayaking was one of the other highlights of our Devils Lake weekend. We rented kayaks from Creel Bay Golf Course for $8 a piece. Rentals are in two hour increments and we kayaked for just over an hour. It was so nice to have the opportunity to get on the lake while we were there!
Creel Bay Golf Course is located about 10 minutes from the heart of Devils Lake and so easy to access. We didn’t golf while we were there, but after being at Creel Bay Golf Course I’m totally adding it to my itinerary for next time I’m in DL.
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Food and Drink
There is no shortage of great places to find a bite to eat in Devils Lake. We spent much of our time eating and drinking so here are 7 great options to add to your Devils Lake Itinerary!
Black Paws Brewery
Honestly, Black Paws Brewery had me from the moment I saw they had a giant pup as their logo. The delicious food, tasty drinks, and great decor only added to my love for this spot. While we were there we both ordered a sour beer and shared the Brisket Panini as our meal. After we were done eating we played a game of UNO- Black Paws has tons of great games to keep you and your friends/family occupied all afternoon.
Pros Lakeside at the Cove
We enjoyed Proz Lakeside at the Cove for dinner on Saturday night. The patio is wonderful with views of a small beach and a boat launch. I started with a raspberry daiquiri which was the perfect refreshing beverage after a hot day. Drinks were followed up with a personal pizza (it was huge!) for Bailey and the Garlic Shrimp and Bacon Rice Bowl for myself. If you do order the rice bowl I would suggest getting it without the pork belly or subbing for traditional bacon.
The Ranch Steakhouse
The Ranch Steakhouse was our first taste of Devils Lake and it came highly recommended. The large red barn houses a full formal restaurant upstairs in addition to a regular bar and restaurant downstairs; both have cute and quirky decor. We ordered the sweet potato fries to start and I had the cedar plank salmon with garlic mashed potatoes; both were good! Bailey ordered a steak which also looked delicious.
Mr. and Mrs. J’s Restaurant
Mr. and Mrs. J’s Restaurant was a great way to start our busy Saturday. This diner had a welcoming atmosphere and friendly staff. We both enjoyed a coffee as we waited for our breakfast.
I ordered the breakfast burrito and Bailey ordered the #1: bacon hash browns, eggs, and toast. We had wonderful experience at Mr. and Mrs. J’s Restaurant!
Dunn Bros Coffee
Dunn Bros is a Midwest chain coffee shop with delicious options. There are a few other popular local coffee shops including: Crossroads Coffee & Espresso and Liquid Bean.
Charras and Tequila
This was my first time trying Charras and Tequila. There are three local North Dakota locations (DL, Grand Forks, and Bismarck). The food was excellent; we enjoyed the fajitas for two.
Our weekend in Devils Lake was a great taste of what the area has to offer. The lake was beautiful, the parks were gorgeous, and the food was delicious. If you’re looking for a fun weekend getaway this is a great local destination. I hope this list of 9 great things to add to your Devils Lake Itinerary is enough to kick off your weekend planning! For more information check out devilslakend.com.
Looking for other great weekend adventure ideas? Check out:
How to Spend One Day in the Twin Cities
or
Great Things to Do in Alexandria, Minnesota
