Wisconsin Lakes

1. Elkhart Lake

Located in the Wisconsin's Kettle Moraine State Forest only one hour from Milwaukee and about 2.5 hours from Chicago, Elkhart Lake is one of the oldest Wisconsin resort lakes and has been a popular summer destination since 1860.

• The resorts around the lake were famous for sailing, bathing, and gambling.
• Of the 446 hotel rooms that existed at that time, many are still around, now renovated and updated. Osthoff Resort is one of our favorites. The shoreline is well developed, mostly with summer homes.
• There is a very active sailing club, and motorized boats are prohibited on Sundays, when sailing races are held.
• The clear, clean lake is very good for swimming and the fishing is excellent all year round.
• The area around the lake is popular for hiking in the summer and cross-country skiing in the winter.

2. Beaver Dam Lake

Located in central Wisconsin around 40 miles from Madison and 60 miles from Milwaukee, Beaver Dam Lake is a 5,540-acre man-made body of water with 39 miles of shoreline surrounded by rolling Wisconsin farmland.

• The lake was created in 1842 by impounding the Beaver Dam River with a series of dams that were to power a gristmill and a sawmill.
• The original dams were formed much earlier by beavers, giving both Beaver Dam Lake and the river their names.
• In spite of the average depth of only five feet, the shallow water is full of fish, particularly walleye, northern pike, crappie, bluegill, and large- and smallmouth bass.
• When the lake freezes in the winter, ice fishing is very popular, as is ice skating.
• There is a marina here, in addition to a few public ramps located along the shore.
• There is a choice of places to stay if you decide to visit for the weekend, including inexpensive camping.

You can drive from Madison to Beaver Dam Lake in 45 minutes.

3. Big Green Lake

Green Lake, also called Big Green Lake, is the deepest inland lake in Wisconsin. This natural lake is also one of the oldest resort communities in the state. The spring-fed lake’s maximum depth is 239 feet and its water is exceptionally clean, with plentiful algae and many species of fish that require oxygen-rich water, such as walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, muskie, crappie, bluegill, and lake sturgeon. The clear water of the lake makes it very popular for scuba diving, snorkeling, swimming, sailing, and kayaking. Nearby Horicon National Park is great for hiking and bird watching. Once the lake is frozen, many ice fishermen come to drop their lines.

4. Castle Rock Lake

Castle Rock Lake is a massive 16,640-acre lake in the Central Sands Prairie region of Wisconsin, in Adams and Juneau Counties. It, together with Lake Petenwell, was created by impounding of the Yellow and Wisconsin Rivers when the Castle Rock Dam was created. The dam is still used by the Wisconsin River Power Company to generate power for the area. The coastline is largely undeveloped and natural, offering a home to many species of wildlife and birds. The shore is sandy, creating a number of lovely beaches. The Castle Rock County Park offers 300 campsites, a beach, and a boat launch. There are great hiking trails through the surrounding wilderness. Another park in the area is the Buckhorn State Park and Wilderness Area, located on a peninsula, where it is easy to spot Canada geese, sandhill cranes, herons, ducks, muskrats, otters, beavers and, in higher elevations, whitetail deer, wild turkeys, coyotes, and the occasional black bear.

5. Crystal Lake

Crystal Lake is a 152-acre lake located in Sheboygan County with 3 miles of shoreline and, as it is spring-fed, it has clear, deep blue water. Most of the shoreline is developed and is dotted with both seasonal and permanent homes. There is a public boat launch in the bay at the southwest end of the lake. Fishing is the most popular activity, with great populations of walleye, northern pike, large- and smallmouth bass, crappie, bluegill, and perch. The use of motorboats is prohibited on Sundays, allowing kayakers and canoers to glide peacefully across the lake. Ice fishing is very popular in the winter and the surrounding area is great for snowmobiling and cross-country skiing. North of the lake is the Sheboygan Marsh State Wildlife Area, with scenic hiking trails and facilities for all sorts of activities.

6. Delavan Lake

Delavan Lake is located in Wisconsin’s Southern Savanna region, about 63 miles from Madison and 87 miles from Chicago. The lake has been operated as a summer resort since the 1800s. There are several houses here that were designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and he even designed two boathouses on the lake. Although still heavily developed today, Delavan Lake is mostly used for sailing and water sports. The local yacht club organizes racing and regattas on the lake every summer. Fishing is excellent, especially for bluegill, muskellunge, largemouth bass, northern pike, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, and walleye. In the winter, there are ice fishing contests. A public boat ramp is located on the lake’s northeastern shore.

7. Eagle Lake

Eagle Lake is a fairly shallow 515-acre lake in Racine County, Wisconsin. The most popular activities are fishing and boating, although the average depth of 6 feet means that the boaters have to be aware of shallow parts and avoid them, especially in summer when the water level drops. There are almost 5 miles of nice sandy beaches with a shady wooded shoreline. The lake is quite developed and there are very few unspoiled spots. Fishing is good all year around, especially for largemouth bass, perch, northern pike, bullhead walleye, and bluegill. On the lake’s northern shore is Eagle Lake Park, which features a boat launch, several sports fields, playgrounds, and picnic areas. There is also a fishing pier, which is a great spot for kids to learn to fish.

8. Fox Lake

Fox Lake is located in Wisconsin’s southern savanna region and is known for its excellent fishing, especially for walleye. This glacial natural lake was enlarged in 1845, when a dam and sawmill were built on Mill Creek, raising the water level by 11 feet. The lake has six scenic islands and about 18 miles of shoreline. Fishing is by far the most popular activity, with a healthy population of northern pike, walleye, and crappie. Ice fishing in the winter is also very popular. There are several public boat ramps in the parks around the lake. Boat rentals are available, and kayaking is a great pleasure on the clear lake waters.

9. Jordan Lake, Wisconsin

Jordan Lake, also known as Long Lake, is a 213-acre lake in the Central Sands Prairie Region of Wisconsin, about 15 miles from Wisconsin Dells. The lakeshore has been populated for a long time and most of the residents are there all year round. Besides water sports such as kayaking and swimming, the large number of birds that come to this area, such as bald eagles and sand hill cranes, make bird watching a popular activity among residents and visitors. The lake water is very clear, and although the areas along the shore are fairly shallow, there are much deeper holes that can reach as far down as 90 feet. A public boat launch is located at the lake’s western end, and bluegill, northern pike, largemouth bass, and walleye are plentiful, attracting local fishermen. In the winter, the network of trails is buzzing with motorized four-wheelers.

10. Lake Butte des Morts

Once a large marshland, Lake Butte des Morts was created by the construction of a dam on the Fox River in the 1800s, which flooded the area, creating a flat, shallow lake with the maximum depth of only 9 feet. Today, for the safety of boaters, there is a marked navigation channel across the lake. The lake is part of the Winnebago Pool and fishermen can enjoy catching the plentiful drum, carp, channel catfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and white bass. It is particularly famous for its lake sturgeon, which can reach up to 100 pounds. Winter ice fishing is also very popular on the lake.