A Free Wildlife Preserve Near Devils Lake

A bison standing near the road has a way of changing the pace of a drive. At this free wildlife preserve near Devils Lake, that possibility is built into an outing that can be as simple as a slow auto tour or as sprawling as a day of trail walking, lake views and time spent watching a prairie dog town.

The scenery has more variety than many people expect from eastern North Dakota. Steep hills rise above mixed-grass prairie, with dense oak woodland, oak savanna, wetlands and stretches of shoreline all folded into the preserve. Devils Lake appears from overlooks and along certain trails, giving the landscape another dimension beyond open grassland.

This is a quiet place to take in at an unhurried pace. Animals may show up near the entrance, from the road, beside marshy areas or farther along a trail, so the outing carries a little of the pleasant uncertainty of a wildlife watch.

The automotive loop runs about four miles and gives visitors a comfortable way to look for wildlife without immediately setting out on foot. The route may be seasonal, and sightings change with weather, time of day and simple animal luck, but it is a useful first pass through the preserve.

Bison are among the animals to watch for. They have been seen near the entrance, along the auto-tour route and in marsh areas, and they can occasionally turn a drive into a brief, slow-moving bison traffic jam. Give them plenty of room and let the road clear on their schedule.

Elk are another possibility, including sightings of a large bull and an unusual elk buck. White-tailed deer, waterfowl, bald eagles and other birds also add interest, especially around the wetlands and shore. Foxes, raccoons, skunks, weasels, mink, turtles, muskrats, rabbits and squirrels have all been noted here, though no single drive comes with a wildlife checklist.

The prairie dog colony is one of the preserve's liveliest stops. The animals scamper around their town, popping up and disappearing again among the burrows, and it is easy to spend longer here than planned.

A prairie dog colony offers a very different kind of wildlife viewing from spotting a large animal across a field. Instead of scanning the horizon, you can pause and watch the small, busy movements close to the ground. Keep a respectful distance, skip the snacks and let the colony carry on with its own business.

More than three miles of hiking trails make it easy to shift from driving to walking. Most begin near the visitor center, while the overlook trail starts separately. A visit can be arranged around one short walk, or stitched together from several trails and the auto loop.

Some of the trails run directly alongside Devils Lake. That lake edge changes the feel of the walk: one stretch may be open prairie, another wooded, and another close enough to the water to put waterfowl and shoreline views on the agenda.

Long grass and trails can expose walkers to ticks. During tick season, shorter mowed areas may be the more comfortable choice. Staying on marked trails also protects the landscape and keeps encounters with wildlife at a sensible distance.

For broad views over open ground and woodland, the overlook is worth knowing about before you arrive. It is reached by a long staircase of approximately 193 steps, so this is a destination for visitors ready for a climb rather than a casual curbside stop.

At the lookout platform, a working telescope adds a useful extra reason to linger. The view is broad enough for looking across the preserve's changing terrain, picking out the relation between woodland and prairie, and taking in the larger sweep of the lake country.

Parking near the Devils Lake and White Horse Hill overlooks is limited. The overlook also sits apart from the trails that generally begin near the visitor center, so it works best as its own stop rather than an afterthought.

An approximately quarter-mile accessible trail provides an easier option and includes interpretive signs designed for children. It is a practical choice for families who want an outdoor walk with things to read and point out along the way, without committing to the longer trail system.

The preserve has also hosted scavenger hunts, student programs, classes and seasonal snowshoe demonstrations or tryouts. Those offerings are not year-round fixtures, but they show how the site can turn a nature outing into something more hands-on when programming is available.

The visitor center gives a visit an indoor counterpart, with taxidermy displays, a classroom and educational activities for children. It is a useful place to spend a little time after the drive or before heading out, especially for anyone trying to identify the animals and habitats outside.

There is also an amphitheater for programs or events. Souvenirs have been offered at reasonable prices, and a donation box supports the preserve. Visitor-center hours are limited and seasonal, so it is wise to verify availability before building a day around the exhibits or a program.

Fall brings color to the preserve's trees, a notable contrast with the grassland and the open lake views. The oak woodland gives the season a stronger presence than it has on a drive through more uniformly open country.

Winter does not put the preserve entirely out of play. Wildlife viewing and hiking can still be part of a cold-weather visit, and snowshoeing has been included among seasonal activities. Conditions and programming vary, but the mix of hills, trees and prairie offers a different landscape once snow is on the ground.

A quick visit might mean the auto loop, a prairie dog stop and a look across Devils Lake. A longer one can include several trails, the staircase to the overlook and time in the visitor center if it is open.

Entry is free, which makes the preserve easy to add to a Devils Lake drive without turning it into a major commitment. The automatic gate restricts entry during off-hours, so access is not always open-ended. Once inside, the best plan is simply to slow down: watch the roadsides, scan the marshes, and leave room for the animals to set the day's schedule.