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12 Gorgeous Recreational Lakes near Madison, WI

Madison is the most lake-friendly city in the country. It is not only surrounded by a wide variety of them, but its downtown is wedged between two lakes, offering visitors and locals lake panoramas at every step.
ItIsWild.com: Best Lakes near Madison WI

Locals may take it for granted, but there is no other city in America where the downtown is wedged between two lakes. Lake Monona and Lake Mendota offer breathtaking Madison panoramas and a whole host of activities, summer or winter.

The options don’t end there. The area around the city is rich in lakes and reservoirs, most of which provide a wide variety of parks, campgrounds, and boat launches.

From quiet fishing holes to buzzing, crowded lakes, the choice is excellent, and all of the options are within an hour’s drive. Check out what Madison has to offer!

Lakes near Madison:

  1. Lake Monona
  2. Lake Mendota
  3. Lake Wingra
  4. Lake Waubesa
  5. Lake Kegonsa
  6. Indian Lake
  7. Rice Lake
  8. Rock Lake
  9. Lake Koshkonong
  10. Yellowstone Lake
  11. Lake Wisconsin
  12. Devil’s Lake

Related: 11 Fascinating State Parks near Madison

Lakes near Madison Wisconsin Comparison Table
Comparison Table

1. Lake Monona

Lake Monona in Madison
Source: dreamstime
  • Website: Lake Monona
  • Distance from Madison: 0 miles (0 min)
  • Activities: Fishing, Swimming, Boating, Kayaking, Canoeing, Paddleboarding, Picnics, Walking, Biking, Sailing, Water Skiing, Wakeboarding, Tubing, Cross-Country Skiing, Ice-Fishing

Immediately southeast of downtown and the capitol complex, Lake Monona covers 3,359 surface acres and has a variety of parks and facilities that serve residents and visitors to Madison. 

Available for year-round access in the heart of the Madison metropolitan area, the lake is at least partially frozen over for approximately 100 days each year, providing a venue for great winter recreation. 

Olbrich Botanical Gardens offers a variety of amenities on the lake’s northern end, including a boat launch. 

The six-acre Yahara Park Place provides greenspace at the location where the Yahara River brings waters from Lake Mendota across the Madison Isthmus and into the lake. 

Situated on the western end of the lake near downtown, Brittingham Park has 25.8 acres of waterfront space and features boat rentals. 

Along the lake’s southern end, the 47-acre Olin Park provides many recreation options, including sports fields and trails, while the adjacent 64-acre Turville Point Conservation Park preserves the natural landscape. 

In nearby Monona, Schluter Beach and Frostwoods Beach both offer public access. Fish that swim in the lake include panfish, walleye, bass, northern pike, sturgeon, and catfish. 

Related: 11 Fascinating State Parks near Madison

2. Lake Mendota

Lake Mendota Jazz Frenzy
Source: dreamstime
  • Website: Lake Mendota
  • Distance from Madison: 0 miles (0 min)
  • Activities: Fishing, Swimming, Boating, Kayaking, Canoeing, Paddleboarding, Picnics, Hiking, Biking, Sailing, Water Skiing, Wakeboarding, Tubing, Cross-Country Skiing, Snowshoeing, Ice-Fishing

On the northern and western sides of the Madison Isthmus, Lake Mendota offers 9,781 acres of freshwater for recreational pleasure. 

During the end of the last Ice Age, meltwater from the glaciers created a large body of water geographers called Lake Yahara. As water levels began to decline, deeper areas formed Lake Mendota and other nearby lakes within the areas carved by glaciation. 

Covering 422 acres on the north side of the lake, Governor Nelson State Park offers year-round access. Warner Beach, a park with seasonal swimming opportunities, sits on the northeast corner of the lake. 

Burrows Park is at the lake’s eastern end and is a site that preserves some early indigenous effigy mounds and illustrates their significance. The lock and dam at Tenney Park send the water downstream through the Yahara River to Lake Monona. 

Similar to Brittingham on Lake Monona, the 12.6-acre James Madison Park at the lake’s southeastern corner is a popular gathering place for those spending time downtown. 

Fish found in the lake include muskellunge, panfish, bass, pike, sturgeon, catfish, and walleye. A record 9.1 oz golden shiner was caught here in March 2021.

3. Lake Wingra

Lake Wingra in Madison
Source: flickr/CC BY 2.0
  • Website: Lake Wingra
  • Distance from Madison: 2 miles (5 min)
  • Activities: Fishing, Swimming, Kayaking, Canoeing, Paddleboarding, Picnics, Hiking, Cross-Country Skiing, Snowshoeing, Ice-Fishing

Located west of Lake Monona and southwest of downtown Madison, Lake Wingra is another beautiful lake that preserves the natural environment a short distance from the heart of the city. 

This 336-acre lake connects with Lake Monona through Wingra Creek, formerly Murphy Creek, a greenway that has a bike trail running through it to offer easy access to both lakes.

The Arboretum at the University of Wisconsin-Madison surrounds much of Lake Wingra and offers an aesthetically pleasing destination to visit for those who want to enjoy nature within the city. 

First proposed in 1911, the original land acquisition for this tree preserve took place in 1932, and the Arboretum was dedicated in 1934, with a focus on preserving aspects of the original Wisconsin landscape. This destination now includes 1,200 acres near the lake. 

Access to Lake Wingra is available from a public beach and boat landing on the lake’s north side. At Lake Wingra’s northeast corner, the city’s Vilas (Henry) Park offers beach access, a pleasant park, and a children’s zoo. 

Those who enjoy boating may rent a vessel during the warmer months. The Friends of Lake Wingra advocate for the lake’s preservation. 

Fish found here include panfish, muskellunge, walleye, northern pike, and largemouth bass.

4. Lake Waubesa

Lake Waubesa in Wisconsin
Source: flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0
  • Website: Lake Waubesa
  • Distance from Madison: 9 miles (15 min)
  • Activities: Fishing, Swimming, Boating, Kayaking, Canoeing, Paddleboarding, Picnics, Camping, Hiking, Biking, Sailing, Water Skiing, Wakeboarding, Tubing, Cross-Country Skiing, Snowshoeing, Ice-Fishing

After water flows through Lake Monona, it continues through the Yahara River into Upper Mud Lake and Lake Waubesa, a 2,074-acre body of water. 

Along the way, Capital Springs State Recreation Area is a year-round location that provides access to Lake Waubesa’s northern shoreline. This popular state park offers opportunities for picnicking, hiking, biking, fishing, boating, and bird watching. 

The William G. Lunney Lake Farm County Park, on the lake’s northwest corner, includes a fishing pier and boat launch access and has comfortable campgrounds. 

Along the southern end of the lake, Babcock County Park has another boat launch and a campground. The Waubesa Wetlands preserves some of the most pristine remaining wetlands in the region. Multiple springs introduce water to these wetlands, owned jointly by The Nature Conservancy, Dane County, and the state’s Department of Natural Resources. 

Fish found in the lake include abundant numbers of panfish and largemouth bass, along with walleye, catfish, and northern pike. The state’s record catch for a yellow bass that weighed 2 lbs. 12 oz. occurred here in 2013.

Related: 11 Fascinating State Parks near Madison

5. Lake Kegonsa

Lake Kegonsa sailing
Source: flickr/CC BY 2.0
  • Website: Lake Kegonsa
  • Distance from Madison: 15 miles (25 min)
  • Activities: Fishing, Swimming, Boating, Kayaking, Canoeing, Paddleboarding, Picnics, Camping, Hiking, Biking, Sailing, Water Skiing, Wakeboarding, Tubing, Cross-Country Skiing, Snowshoeing, Ice-Fishing

After the waters leave Lake Waubesa, they continue along another section of the Yahara and pass through the 185-acre Mud Lake before transitioning into 3,200-acre Lake Kegonsa. 

At the point where the water enters from the river into the lake, Fish Camp County Park provides an excellent place to launch into Lake Kegonsa. 

On the lake’s eastern shore, LaFollette County Park has a great reputation for shore fishing, along with picnic areas by the lock where the Yahara continues its southward journey toward the Rock River. 

Also in this area, the 342-acre Lake Kegonsa State Park is a destination for fishing, boating, hiking, and winter sledding in the woodlands, prairies, and marshlands. Fish found in this lake mirror those found in Lake Waubesa.

6. Indian Lake

Indian Lake in Wisconsin
Source: unsplash
  • Website: Indian Lake
  • Distance from Madison: 18 miles (30 min)
  • Activities: Fishing, Kayaking, Canoeing, Paddleboarding, Picnics, Camping, Hiking, Biking, Cross-Country Skiing, Snowshoeing

Approximately 18 miles northwest of downtown Madison, Indian Lake is a quiet location that offers a great escape from the urban environment. 

This 64-acre lake meets Halfway Prairie Creek at the bottom of a valley surrounded by forests and prairie land. 

The 791-acre Indian Lake County Park surrounds the lake, and offers a public boat landing in an area that is also part of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail. 

Year-round access allows for winter activities, such as cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Hand-paddled watercraft and electric motorboats are permitted on the lake. 

Immediately north of the park and lake, the 148-acre Halfway Prairie Wildlife Area offers another natural area for hiking and nature-watching. Those who fish in Indian Lake will find panfish and largemouth bass. 

7. Rice Lake

Grey kayak on a lake in Wisconsin
Source: dreamstime
  • Website: Rice Lake
  • Distance from Madison: 28 miles (30 min)
  • Activities: Fishing, Swimming, Kayaking, Canoeing, Paddleboarding, Picnics, Camping, Hiking, Biking, Cross-Country Skiing, Snowshoeing

Rice Lake is located 20 miles southeast of Madison. Some people may confuse this 117-acre body of water in Dane County with a different Rice Lake, which is an impoundment of the Red Cedar River in Barron County, 230 miles northwest of Madison. 

The shoreline around Rice Lake is mostly undeveloped, and an access point for small boats is available from a nearby road.

Along the east side of the lake, Silverwood County Park offers another way to get to the lake. This largely undeveloped park is a 294-acre tract donated by the Silverwood family two decades ago. Parts of the land continued to remain in agricultural production for more than a decade after the park’s acquisition. 

Those who fish in Rice Lake are likely to encounter crappie and panfish. A state record for a live release white crappie was caught there in January 2021. The fish measured 16 inches.

Related: 11 Fascinating State Parks near Madison

8. Rock Lake

  • Website: Rock Lake
  • Distance from Madison: 28 miles (40 min)
  • Activities: Fishing, Swimming, Boating, Kayaking, Canoeing, Paddleboarding, Picnics, Water Skiing, Wakeboarding, Tubing, Cross-Country Skiing, Snowshoeing, Ice-Fishing

A little more than 25 miles east of Madison, Rock Lake sits along 1,365 acres immediately west of the City of Lake Mills. This lake is famous for pyramid-like mounds that sit on the bottom. Built by the Mississippian civilization, these structures continue to evoke rumors.

Multiple sites offer recreational access to the lake and the fish commonly found within it. Common species include small and largemouth bass, walleye, and panfish, with northern pike occasionally spotted as well.

Korth Park sits on the lake’s western shoreline. Acquired in 2000 to maintain Rock Lake’s habitat and water quality, this site also preserves grass prairies and oak savannah once common to the area. 

Along the lake’s northern shore, Lower Rock Lake County Park is a Jefferson County park with a boat ramp, recreation sites, and a picnic area. 

Two city parks in Lake Mills also offer access.Tyranena Park sits at the northeastern corner of the lake and preserves a glacial recessional moraine. This 13.5-acre park with a playground and footpath is open year-round. 

A popular summer gathering place and swimming spot is Bartel’s Beach, with the lake on the west and Mill Pond on the east.

9. Lake Koshkonong

Boating in Wisconsin
Source: dreamstime
  • Website: Lake Koshkonong
  • Distance from Madison: 33 miles (40 min)
  • Activities: Fishing, Swimming, Boating, Kayaking, Canoeing, Paddleboarding, Picnics, Camping, Water Skiing, Wakeboarding, Tubing

Lake Koshkonong is a little more than 30 miles east-southeast of the capitol. This naturally occurring lake along the Rock River was expanded after the construction of the Indianford Dam a few miles downstream in 1932. It now comprises 10,595 acres and has a depth that reaches seven feet.

Fishing and other recreational activities were enhanced with the addition of the dam. Small in size, the three-acre Royce-Dallman Park along the southern shore offers a great location to launch canoes, kayaks, and small boats into Lake Koshkonong. 

Lakeland RV Campground on the southern shore offers beaches, a swimming pool, and a boat ramp. The campground staff organizes events for their guests, including live music, outdoor movies, and bingo.

The inflow from the Red River replenishes the shallow areas near the lake’s shoreline, offering places for panfish, muskellunge, catfish, walleye, bass, and pike to congregate. 

10. Yellowstone Lake

Yellowstone Lake State Park
Source: flickr/CC BY 2.0
  • Website: Yellowstone Lake
  • Distance from Madison: 46 miles (1 hr)
  • Activities: Fishing, Swimming, Boating, Kayaking, Canoeing, Paddleboarding, Picnics, Camping, Hiking, Biking, Water Skiing, Wakeboarding, Tubing, Cross-Country Skiing, Snowshoeing, Ice-Fishing

Surrounded by Yellowstone Lake State Park, Yellowstone Lake first took shape when crews impounded a section of a tributary of the Pecatonica River. 

This 455-acre lake sits within the park about 50 miles southwest of Madison. Campsites, horse trails, and hiking paths await visitors. 

The park offers outdoor activities throughout the year, spanning from summertime swimming to snowmobiling and ice fishing during the winter. 

Yellowstone Lake is a highly-respected fishing destination. Whether from a vessel or along the embankment, those who cast lines can try their luck at catching panfish, largemouth bass, muskellunge, trout, pike, and walleye.

Related: 11 Fascinating State Parks near Madison

11. Lake Wisconsin

Lake Wisconsin
Source: unsplash
  • Website: Lake Wisconsin
  • Distance from Madison: 30 miles (40 min)
  • Activities: Fishing, Swimming, Boating, Kayaking, Canoeing, Paddleboarding, Picnics, Camping, Hiking, Wakeboarding, Water Skiing, Tubing, Cross-Country Skiing, Snowshoeing, Ice-Fishing

Only 30 miles northeast of Madison, the river widens into an area with great fishing possibilities. Lake Wisconsin is a 7,197-acre reservoir near Merrimac and Moon Valley. 

This is a great summertime swimming area for people from throughout the state, with this reservoir also offering more than a dozen boat landings. 

Visitors to Lake Wisconsin will be amazed at the abundance of smallmouth and largemouth bass, bluegill, walleye, trout, panfish, and catfish. 

There are parks and recreational areas in close proximity to the lake as well, such as Camp Rest Park, just above the area where the lake assumes river form, or Lake Wisconsin Resort on the southern shore.

Although generally less crowded than many lakes in the Madison area during the summer, this is a great getaway destination for the day or a stopping place on a long journey. 

12. Devil’s Lake

Devil's Lake State Park
Source: unsplash
  • Website: Devil’s Lake
  • Distance from Madison: 39 miles (55 min)
  • Activities: Fishing, Swimming, Boating, Kayaking, Canoeing, Paddleboarding, Picnics, Camping, Hiking, Biking, Scuba Diving, Rock Climbing, Cross-Country Skiing, Snowshoeing, Ice-Fishing

A drive 40 miles northeast to Devil’s Lake offers wonderful recreational opportunities in a park with important geological formations. 

The 975-acre lake is the focal point of Devil’s Lake State Park, the largest and most frequently visited destination in the state park system. 

Since opening in 1911, the state has diligently maintained the natural aesthetic while expanding the outdoor activities to accommodate larger crowds that now surpass a million each year. 

Water-related activities include boating, kayaking, and canoeing. Boats may only have electric motors. The park has watercraft available for rental during the busy season. 

Two nice beaches at opposite ends of Devil’s Lake provide locations for swimming, each with a bathhouse for convenience. An activity here that is not found in many other Wisconsin parks is scuba diving. 

Whether diving underwater or casting a line, visitors to Devil’s Lake State Park will notice abundant populations of walleye, along with commonly-available populations of northern pike and largemouth bass. 

Lakeshore fishing spots are also available for those who prefer to fish from land. Those willing to visit during the chilly winter should plan on catching trout if they go ice fishing. 

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