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🗺️ Farm Day Trips guide
Things to Do Near the Lavender Farms of Baraboo & Devil's Lake, Wisconsin
Ride a wagon through New Life's lavender fields outside Baraboo, then hike Devil's Lake State Park, with nearly 30 miles of trails and 500-foot bluffs.
7 places · updated October 17, 2026
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Baraboo sits in a bowl of ancient quartzite hills about 45 minutes north of Madison, a few miles south of the Wisconsin Dells strip but far calmer. The town was the winter home of the Ringling Bros. Circus, and its old winter quarters on the Baraboo River are now Circus World. South of town, Devil's Lake fills a gap in the bluffs, and short drives reach a stone arch, two sandstone gorges and the only place in the world that keeps all 15 crane species.
Two lavender farms work the Baraboo Bluffs. New Life Lavender & Cherry Farm sits on County Road W just west of the Highway 12 bypass, near Pewit's Nest; its admission includes a wagon ride, a lavender labyrinth, gardens, wildflowers and sheep, and it also grows cherries. Rowley Creek Lavender Farm is a smaller family farm that makes lavender skin care and honey from its own bees; check their website for visiting days. Come in summer for the fields, or in fall for apples, cider and color on the bluffs.
The lavender farms
- New Life Lavender & Cherry FarmLavender farm · Baraboo
Mid-June to mid-July, some varieties into late July
Closed for the 2026 season; reopening in 2027 Tuesday-Saturday 10 AM-5 PM with wagon rides or self-guided tours, peak-season u-pick classes and events.
- Rowley Creek Lavender FarmLavender farm · Baraboo
Best time to visit
May 1 opens the International Crane Foundation for the season (daily through October 31), with daily guided tours in June, July and August and weekend tours in May, September and October. June brings strawberries at The Berry Farmer west of town. New Life opens for the summer with peak-season pricing and U-pick classes when the lavender is in flower; it does not publish fixed bloom dates, so watch its events page for festival days and evening photo sessions. September and October are apple season at Ski-Hi Fruit Farm in the Baraboo Hills, and the oaks on the Devil's Lake bluffs turn color through October. Devil's Lake, Natural Bridge and Mirror Lake state parks are open year-round. Circus World's 2026 season has ended; it plans to reopen in February 2027, and New Life is closed until its 2027 season.
Places to see nearby parks, trails, beaches and landmarks
- Pewits Nest State Natural Area🌲 Preserve · Baraboo · about 1 mi, 3 min drive
Skillet Creek has cut a 30- to 40-foot gorge here, with potholes and low falls in the sandstone. No food, fires, climbing or cliff jumping.
Daily 6 a.m.–8 p.m.
Wisconsin state park vehicle admission sticker required
- Circus World🏛️ Museum · Baraboo · about 3 mi, 7 min drive
The Wisconsin Historical Society's museum in the Ringling Bros. winter quarters, seven National Historic Landmark buildings holding the world's largest collection of restored circus wagons.
2026 season has ended; reopens February 2027
- Devil's Lake State Park🌳 State park · Baraboo · about 5 mi, 10 min drive
A 360-acre lake under 500-foot quartzite bluffs, with nearly 30 miles of hiking trails, swimming beaches and year-round naturalist programs.
Open year-round, 6 a.m.–11 p.m.
Wisconsin state park vehicle admission sticker required
- International Crane Foundation🌷 Garden · Baraboo · about 8 mi, 15 min drive
The only place in the world with all 15 crane species, plus nature trails. Hour-long guided tours start at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
May 1–October 31, daily 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
- Mirror Lake State Park🌳 State park · Lake Delton · about 10 mi, 15 min drive
2,200 acres around a narrow, quiet lake with a swimming beach, picnic areas and an amphitheater.
Open year-round, 6 a.m.–11 p.m.
Wisconsin state park vehicle admission sticker required
- Parfrey's Glen State Natural Area🌲 Preserve · Merrimac · about 12 mi, 20 min drive
Wisconsin's first State Natural Area (1952), a mossy sandstone gorge on the south side of the bluffs. Floods took out the boardwalk, so the 1.6-mile round trip follows a rocky creek bed with one shallow ford, and you may not go past the waterfall. No pets, food or drinks.
Daily 6 a.m.–8 p.m.
Wisconsin state park vehicle admission sticker required to park
- Natural Bridge State Park🌳 State park · Leland · about 15 mi, 25 min drive
A sandstone arch with an opening 25 feet high and 35 feet wide, beside a rock shelter that people used about 11,000 years ago as the glaciers melted. Day use only.
Open year-round, 6 a.m.–11 p.m.
Wisconsin state park vehicle admission sticker required
- Rocky Arbor State Park🌳 State park · Wisconsin Dells · about 15 mi, 20 min drive
A small, shady park of pines and sandstone bluffs with hiking trails, just off the Dells strip.
Open year-round, 6 a.m.–11 p.m.
Wisconsin state park vehicle admission sticker required
Where to stop: farms, food and stays
- AL. Ringling Brewing Co.Brewery or taproom (21+) · Baraboo
A downtown brewpub on Broadway for a lunch of pretzels, burgers and wings, open daily from 11 a.m.
- Ski-Hi Fruit FarmApple orchard · Baraboo
A long-running Baraboo Hills orchard with about 30 apple varieties, fresh cider, cider donuts and pies in fall.
- The Berry FarmerStrawberry farm · Baraboo
Ten acres of strawberries just west of town, plus peas and blueberries, picked by you or ready-picked.
- Balanced Rock WineryWinery or vineyard (21+) · Baraboo
A year-round tasting room on the road to Devil's Lake pouring wines from cold-hardy grapes, with food and live music (21+ to taste).
- Bekah Kate'sBoutique · Baraboo
A downtown kitchen shop with Wisconsin-made foods and gifts and a full calendar of cooking classes.
- Wollersheim Winery & DistilleryWinery or vineyard (21+) · Prairie du Sac
A historic estate above the Wisconsin River, about 25 minutes south, with daily flight tastings and a bistro.
A one-day plan
- 9:45 AMInternational Crane Foundation
Join the 10 a.m. guided tour (daily June–August) to see all 15 crane species; about 1 hour 15 minutes.
- 11:15 AMNew Life Lavender & Cherry Farm · about 15 min drive
Take the wagon ride through the fields, walk the labyrinth and gardens and stop in the farm store; about 1.5 hours. Open in summer only.
- 12:50 PMPewits Nest State Natural Area · about 3 min drive
A short walk to look into the Skillet Creek gorge; about 30 minutes.
- 1:30 PMAl. Ringling Brewing Co. · about 8 min drive
Lunch downtown near the courthouse square; about 1 hour.
- 2:45 PMCircus World · about 5 min drive
Walk the Ringling winter quarters and wagon collection; about 1.5 hours (check the season before you go).
- 4:30 PMDevil's Lake State Park · about 10 min drive
Walk the shore or climb a bluff trail for the view over the lake; about 1.5 hours.
- 6:15 PMBalanced Rock Winery · about 5 min drive
Wind down with a flight or dinner on the way back to town; plan a designated driver.
Tips
- Devil's Lake, Mirror Lake, Natural Bridge, Rocky Arbor, Pewits Nest and Parfrey's Glen all need a Wisconsin state park vehicle admission sticker; a yearly sticker pays off if you visit more than a couple of them.
- Parfrey's Glen now has no boardwalk: wear shoes that can get wet, expect a rocky creek bed and leave dogs, food and drinks behind.
- New Life does not allow pets on the farm or in the store (service dogs excepted); pets may wait only in its fenced parking lot.
- New Life charged $10 per person in non-peak season and $15 in peak season, children 2 and under free; the wagon ride is included.
- Circus World and the Crane Foundation are seasonal; the state parks stay open year-round from 6 a.m.
Checked in October 2026 against official park, tourism and business websites. How we check listings
Questions
When can I visit the lavender farms near Baraboo?
New Life Lavender & Cherry Farm opens for a summer season and is closed until 2027; it does not publish fixed bloom dates, so check its events page for peak-season days. Rowley Creek arranges visits through its website.
Can I pick my own lavender?
New Life offers U-pick classes during peak season, with discounted admission that day. Sign-ups are posted on its website.
Is Devil's Lake State Park open all year?
Yes. It is open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. year-round, and a vehicle admission sticker is required.
Can I bring my dog to Parfrey's Glen?
No. Pets, food and drinks are not allowed in the natural area.
When is the International Crane Foundation open?
Daily from May 1 through October 31, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with guided tours at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. (daily in summer, weekends in spring and fall).
🪪 Collect a stamp at every stop
The free Lavender Passport keeps a stamp for each farm and stop you visit, in real life and in the Lavender Farm Simulator. At the farm, play Field Quest to collect plant varieties as you walk, climb the leaderboards and unlock sponsor rewards.
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