Best Lakes for Boating Near La Crosse
Wisconsin
24 boating lakes within driving distance of La Crosse, Wisconsin, ranked by water quality and boating-specific filters. Filtered for at least 100 acres and public access. The largest lakes with boat-worthy water are listed first.
La Crosse sits in a lake-rich part of the upper Midwest: 24 graded lakes within reach, average grade D. Lake Tomah (D) leads the cluster.
Filtered for boating, the nearby-lake list narrows further. boating-specific signals — fish species, public access, depth profile, motor-boat congestion — interact with the letter grade in different ways depending on the use case.
| # | Lake | County | Grade | Distance | Clarity | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lake Tomah | Monroe | D | 37.8 mi | - | 19 ft |
| 2 | Winona Lake | Winona | F | 26 mi | 2.6 ft | 38 ft |
| 3 | Blue Lake | Houston | NR | 2.8 mi | - | - |
| 4 | Lake Onalaska | La Crosse | NR | 9.1 mi | - | - |
| 5 | Neshonoc Lake | La Crosse | NR | 11.3 mi | 0.4 ft | - |
| 6 | Neshonoc Lake | La Crosse | NR | 11.8 mi | - | - |
| 7 | Van Loon Lake | La Crosse | NR | 16.7 mi | - | - |
| 8 | Hayshore Lake | Houston | NR | 18.3 mi | - | - |
| 9 | Mud Lake | Houston | NR | 19 mi | - | - |
| 10 | Goose Lake | Houston | NR | 19.7 mi | - | - |
| 11 | Marinuka Lake | Trempealeau | NR | 20.6 mi | - | - |
| 12 | Duck Lake | Allamakee | NR | 22.2 mi | - | - |
| 13 | Big Lake | Allamakee | NR | 27.6 mi | - | - |
| 14 | Indian Channel | Winona | NR | 28.2 mi | - | - |
| 15 | Rileys Lake | Winona | NR | 30 mi | - | - |
| 16 | Lake Winneshiek | Crawford | NR | 32.9 mi | - | - |
| 17 | North Flowage | Monroe | NR | 36.5 mi | - | - |
| 18 | Wazee Lake | Jackson | NR | 42.4 mi | 30 ft | 350 ft |
| 19 | Mud Hen Lake | Allamakee | NR | 44.6 mi | - | - |
| 20 | West Newton Chute | Wabasha | NR | 46.6 mi | - | - |
| 21 | Monroe County Flowage | Monroe | NR | 47 mi | - | - |
| 22 | Marais Lake | Crawford | NR | 48.6 mi | - | - |
| 23 | Third Finger Lake | Wabasha | NR | 49.6 mi | - | - |
| 24 | Potter Flowage | Jackson | NR | 49.8 mi | - | - |
Other activities near La Crosse
Where to stay near La Crosse
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near La Crosse — book a place close to the best-rated lakes in the area.
Top-rated places to stay near La Crosse
Prices for Sep 18–20, 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 trip to La Crosse?
Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near La Crosse — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.