Where is Elkhart Lake?

Elkhart Lake is a lake in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.

What is the water temperature of Elkhart Lake?

Elkhart Lake typically sits around 81°F at the surface in August, from 8 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.

How deep is Elkhart Lake?

Elkhart Lake has a maximum depth of 119 feet. The lake covers 292 acres.

Are there boat ramps on Elkhart Lake?

Elkhart Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Elkhart Lake. Public access is listed as yes.

Can I fish at Elkhart Lake?

Elkhart Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Wisconsin's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.

Elkhart Lake

Sheboygan County, Wisconsin292 acresView map Directions

Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Elkhart Lake. Here is what has been measured.

Clarity

10.5 ft

Typical for Wisconsin

Secchi · sampled 2026

Phosphorus

13.2 µg/L

Less phosphorus than most

Measured by Wisconsin DNR

Water temp

~81°F

Typical for Aug · EPA WQP

Max depth

119 ft

Bathymetric survey

Area

292 acres

Surface area

Type

Mesotrophic

Trophic class

Mesotrophic
Impaired · Mercury
2 aquatic invasives
119 ft max depth
Public access

See the measurements Directions Where to stay

Elkhart Lake in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 10.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 13.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 119 ft. Surface area: 292 acres.

Wisconsin DNR rates Smallmouth Bass as abundant on Elkhart Lake. DNR survey details →

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Elkhart Lake is a 292-acre mesotrophic lake in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 119 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 7 documented fish species including Musky, Panfish, and Largemouth Bass. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 5 other monitored lakes in Sheboygan County, Elkhart Lake ranks #5 for water quality.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-20. Methodology: how these readings are compared.

Elkhart Lake covers about 290 acres in Sheboygan County. It has one public boat landing. Vrbo is where to look for cabins and lake homes around Elkhart Lake, and Booking.com and Expedia search hotels near the lake for your dates.

What Elkhart Lake is good for

From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.

Clear water10.5 ft of visibility
Boat launch1 documented ramp
Fishing7 species recorded
Deep water119 ft surveyed max depth

Swimming conditions

Readings only

Low algae

Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.

Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Elkhart Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.

Whether Elkhart Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.

Compare swimming lakes near Oshkosh →

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Water quality measurements for Elkhart Lake

These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Elkhart Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.

Good clarity, visible to about 10.5 ft. Phosphorus 13.2 µg/L. TSI 42.

Water quality readings
Measure	Reading	Where it sits
Water clarity (Secchi depth)	10.5ft	Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer.
Total phosphorus	13.2µg/L	Good GoodFairPoor
Chlorophyll-a (algae)		No reading The green pigment in algae — a direct measure of how much algae is in the water.
Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a.	42	Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic

Moderate nutrients, good water quality

Ask about Elkhart Lake

Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.

Water Temperature

Elkhart Lake typically sits around 81°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 81°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 82°F) and coldest in May (about 60°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

60°

May

80°

Jun

82°

Jul

81°

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (60°F) to its warmest (82°F).

Typical surface water temperature by month, from 8 field readings (2024–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Elkhart Lake water temperature breakdown →

DNR fisheries survey

Wisconsin DNR rates Smallmouth Bass as abundant on Elkhart Lake.

A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Elkhart Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.

WI DNR Lake Profile

Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. Monitored by volunteers since 1992. 3 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).

DNR Assessment

Reported

Trophic State Index 42 (mesotrophic) · 5-year average

Fish Species (DNR-rated)

Smallmouth Bass(Abundant)Largemouth Bass(Common)Musky(Present)Panfish(Present)Northern Pike(Present)Trout(Present)Walleye(Present)

Contour map (PDF) →Full WI DNR LakePage →Water quality stations →

Lake Details

Max depth

119 ft

Surface area

292 acres

Public access

Yes

Listed by Wisconsin DNR

Lake Size & Watershed

Watershed (drainage) area

3 sq mi

HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS

Shoreline

3.7 mi

HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS

Elevation

906 ft

Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).

Recreation & Access

Boat Landings

Yes

Public Access

Elkhart LakePublic

Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps

Stays via Stay22

Stays near Elkhart Lake

Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Elkhart Lake in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.

Top-rated places to stay near Elkhart Lake

Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.

Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.

Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →

Follow Elkhart Lake’s readings

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Fish Species

Musky Panfish Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass Northern Pike Trout Walleye

Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.

Fishing Elkhart Lake

Invasive & Introduced Species

Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.

Curly-Leaf PondweedEurasian Water-MilfoilHybrid Eurasian / Northern Water-MilfoilZebra Mussel

Water Quality Trend: Improving

Based on 7 years of monitoring (2020–2026).

Water clarity
Stable
6 years
Phosphorus
Improving
-0.52 µg/L/yr7 years

See year-by-year chart →

EPA Impairment Status

Elkhart Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).

Causes of impairment

Mercury

Designated uses not supporting: Fish consumption.

Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10001225 · Official waterbody report

Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby

3 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Elkhart Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 2 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.

Kiel Wastewater Treatment Facility
Kiel · 2.1 mi away · NPDES WI0020141
Recent violation
J C Maurer & Sons Inc.
Russell, Town Of · 4 mi away · NPDES WI0064726
Recent violation
Drake Dairy Inc
Elkhart Lake · 3.5 mi away · NPDES WI0063827

Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.

Nearby Lakes in Sheboygan County

Crystal Lake—View →Crystal Lake20 ft clear · Oligotrophic—View →Sheboygan Lake—View →Little Elkhart Lake10 ft clear · Mesotrophic—View →Waldo Mill Pond—View →Lake Ellen9 ft clear · Mesotrophic—View →

Frequently asked questions about Elkhart Lake

Where is Elkhart Lake?: Elkhart Lake is a lake in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Elkhart Lake?: Elkhart Lake in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 10.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 13.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 119 ft. Surface area: 292 acres.
Is Elkhart Lake safe to swim in?: Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Elkhart Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Elkhart Lake?: Elkhart Lake typically sits around 81°F at the surface in August, from 8 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Elkhart Lake?: Elkhart Lake has a maximum depth of 119 feet. The lake covers 292 acres.
What fish are in Elkhart Lake?: Fish species found in Elkhart Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Trout, Walleye. Elkhart Lake is located in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Elkhart Lake?: Wisconsin DNR rates Smallmouth Bass as abundant on Elkhart Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Elkhart Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Elkhart Lake?: Elkhart Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Elkhart Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Elkhart Lake?: Elkhart Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Wisconsin's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.

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State Parks Near Elkhart Lake

Kohler-Andrae State Park

State Park · 18.8 mi

Other Lakes in Wisconsin

Shoe Lake

Manitowoc County · 7 ft

Cedar Lake

Manitowoc County · 10.2 ft

Wilke Lake

Manitowoc County · 7 ft

Horseshoe Lake

Manitowoc County · 6.5 ft

Wolf Lake

Fond du Lac County · 5 ft

Spring Lake

Manitowoc County · 8 ft

Mesotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin

Cedar Lake Wilke Lake Spring Lake Long Lake

Where this data comes from

47 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.

Collected and reported by

Wisconsin Department of Natural ResourcesWIDNR_WQX47 samples · 2020–2026

Analytical methods

Phosphorus by Colorimetry

Monitoring station identifiers (1)

WIDNR_WQX-603458

EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.