Capital Springs State Recreation Area
Capital Springs State Recreation Area is a state recreation area in Dane County. It was established in 2000. 8 graded lakes are within 15 miles of the park, including Lake Waubesa, Lake Kegonsa, Lake Wingra.
Capital Springs State Recreation Area is a Wisconsin State Recreation Area — a public-land designation focused on recreation rather than ecological preservation. an unrecorded acreage acres are protected. The park is paired with 8 graded lakes nearby — enough for a multi-lake visit. Average grade among them: D.
Reading the per-lake LakeGrade alongside the park designation gives a fuller picture than either alone: the park tells you what land is protected, the grade tells you what condition the water in that protected area is in.
Official Resources
Nearby Graded Lakes (within 15 mi)
Lakes closest to Capital Springs State Recreation Area, weighted by size. Click a lake for its full water quality grade, fish species, and depth.
| Lake | County | Grade | Surface Area | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Waubesa | Dane | D | 5.4K acres | 1.7 mi |
| Lake Kegonsa | Dane | C | 2.7K acres | 6.5 mi |
| Lake Wingra | Dane | C | 345 acres | 4.6 mi |
| Lake Monona | Dane | D | - | 2.3 mi |
| Lake Mendota | Dane | C | - | 6.3 mi |
| Odana Pond | Dane | F | - | 6.6 mi |
| Tiedman Pond | Dane | F | - | 9.5 mi |
| American Way Pond | Dane | D | - | 9.7 mi |
Other Parks in the Area
- Lake Kegonsa State Park— State Park, 6.5 mi
- Governor Nelson State Park— State Park, 8.8 mi
- New Glarus Woods State Park— State Park, 22.3 mi
- Aztalan State Park— State Park, 24.1 mi
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.