Safest Lakes to Swim Near Milwaukee
Wisconsin
2 lakes within driving distance of Milwaukee, Wisconsin pass our swim-safety screen — grade A/B water, low algae, and public access. 0 have direct bacteria (E. coli) testing on record. Filtered for grade A or B water quality, low algae (chlorophyll-a under 15 µg/L), and public access. Always check local advisories on the day you swim.
Milwaukee is not lake-dense — only 2 graded lakes are within easy reach. The cleanest of those is Lake Beulah (A).
Filtered for swimming, the nearby-lake list narrows further. swimming-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 | Swim Safety | Distance | Clarity | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lake Beulah | Walworth | A | Low algae | 28.6 mi | 10 ft | 58 ft |
| 2 | Potter Lake | Walworth | B | Limited data | 27 mi | 4.3 ft | 26 ft |
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.