A man in his early 20s died Tuesday afternoon after falling near the Devil’s Doorway rock formation at Devil’s Lake State Park in Baraboo. Baraboo Fire and EMS were called around 2:15 p.m. for a report of a fall and launched a rope-rescue operation before locating the victim below the iconic rock feature. Officials said the incident remains under investigation.
Search And Rescue Crews Worked From Above And Below The Bluff
Responders deployed rope-rescue technicians from the top of the bluff while another team reached the area below the formation using an unofficial route, according to WTMJ. Assistant Fire Chief Mark Willer told the station, “When we arrived on scene, there was no immediate visibility of the person,” adding that rescuers located an eyewitness about 15 minutes after arriving. Crews stayed on scene until about 5:30 p.m., with mutual aid departments assisting the operation.
Devil’s Doorway Is A Steep, Popular Scramble
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources lists Devil’s Doorway among the park’s most difficult trail segments, a narrow and exposed slice of quartzite perched atop the East Bluff that draws experienced hikers and climbers. The park sees more than 2.5 million visitors each year, which keeps trails crowded in summer and increases the odds that some people will try unofficial routes, according to the Wisconsin DNR hiking guide and its Wisconsin DNR travel tips on handling crowds. State materials repeatedly stress staying on marked trails and using designated access points to limit risk.
Local Rescue Teams Train For Technical Terrain
Baraboo Area Fire and EMS notes that its crews are trained to the Rope Rescue Technician level and frequently send technical-rescue teams into Devil’s Lake, where sheer bluffs and loose talus make standard access tough, according to the department’s services information. Those skills, along with help from neighboring agencies, were part of the coordinated response to Tuesday’s fall.
A Troubling Pattern At The Park This Year
This was the second reported fatal fall at Devil’s Lake in 2026. In late May, a well-known local climbing guide died after a fall during a gear-safety course, an incident covered by local outlets and climbing community posts. Coverage of that earlier death, along with the latest response, has led to renewed reminders about route safety from park volunteers and rescue officials, per Spectrum News.
Officials Urge Hikers To Stick To Marked Routes
Assistant Chief Willer urged visitors to remain on designated trails and warned against taking unofficial paths that drop beneath the formation, a point he emphasized again in comments to WTMJ. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is leading the investigation into what caused the fall, and authorities have not yet released the victim’s identity, citing the need to notify family and complete further inquiries.
