Devil's Lake (WI): Motor and Boating Rules
Sauk County · near Baraboo · managed by Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
- Gas outboard NO
- Electric trolling YES
- PWC / jet ski NO
- Sauk County, WI
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Quick answer
Devil's Lake is an electric-only water. Gasoline engines are banned outright. Trolling motors of any thrust rating are legal. Devil's Lake in WI is restricted to electric motors only — gasoline engines are prohibited under Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources regulations (verified July 26, 2026). Most anglers here run 30–55 lb thrust off a 12 V battery. Rules change and local ordinances may add restrictions — always confirm with Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources before you launch.
Rules at a glance
What this means in practice
Electric-only means the hull can be almost anything — the power source is what matters. The typical setup on Devil's Lake is a transom-mount trolling motor in the 30–55 lb thrust range on a deep-cycle 12 V battery. Thrust is not horsepower: 55 lb of thrust moves a small boat at roughly walking pace. Our guide on what electric-only really means covers setups and run time.
Watch the detail that trips people up: a gas outboard left tilted up on the transom is still a gas motor on the boat. Some agencies tolerate it unused; others treat any attached combustion engine as a violation. On Devil's Lake, the safe play is to leave the gas motor at home unless Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources says otherwise in writing.
Worth knowing about Devil's Lake: Wis. Admin. Code NR 45.11(6)(a) allows only battery-powered electric motors, operated at slow-no-wake speed not to exceed 5 mph, on Devil's Lake in Devil's Lake State Park, Sauk County. The DNR park water recreation page confirms that only electric motors are allowed..
Two more Wisconsin waters worth a look while you plan: Crystal Lake (No motors, Vilas County) and Fish Lake (Electric only, Dane County). For the complete picture, all verified Wisconsin lake motor rules sit on one sortable page.
Common mistakes on Electric only water
Ignoring the fine print. Most electric-only rules cap the power source, not the motor's size — but a few local rules do add size or mounting conditions. The notes on this page carry anything lake-specific we verified for Devil's Lake.
Forgetting registration. In most states a kayak becomes a registrable motorboat the moment a trolling motor goes on. Paperwork stops here are more common than speed stops.
Before you launch — verify
- Official rules: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
- Unsure about a detail? Call the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources district office that covers Sauk County before towing your boat out.
- We last verified this page on .
Rules change and local ordinances may add restrictions — always confirm with Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources before you launch.
Frequently asked questions
Are gas motors allowed on Devil's Lake?
No. Gasoline engines are prohibited on Devil's Lake; the lake is limited to electric motors. Verified July 26, 2026.
Can I use an electric trolling motor on Devil's Lake?
Yes. Electric trolling motors are allowed on Devil's Lake. A transom-mount motor in the 30–55 lb thrust range with a deep-cycle battery is the typical setup for this class of water.
Are jet skis (PWC) allowed on Devil's Lake?
No — PWC cannot legally run here. The motor restriction on Devil's Lake rules them out along with other powered craft.
Who enforces boating rules on Devil's Lake?
The rules summarized here come from Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (state department of natural resources), with possible additional ordinances from Sauk County or local municipalities. Any peace officer can cite violations, so treat posted rules as enforceable regardless of who is watching.
Where do I verify the current rules for Devil's Lake?
The Sources section links the exact regulation we summarized, and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources publishes the live version. This page was last checked against it on July 26, 2026.