Best Boating Lakes in Minnesota & Wisconsin

The best lakes for boating in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Public boat launches, 200+ acres of open water, and good water quality. Ranked by launch access, size, and grade.

100

Lakes

Minnesota

100

Wisconsin

Swimming Boating Kayaking Ice Fishing

Rank	Lake	County	State	Grade	Launches	Area	Depth
1	Lake	Columbia	WI	C	15	7.2K acres	24 ft
2	Lake Wisconsin Columbia Co.	Columbia	WI	C	15	7.2K acres	24 ft
3	Lake Wisconsin Palisade Street Bay	Sauk	WI	C	15	7.2K acres	24 ft
4	Lake Mendota	Dane	WI	B	10	9.8K acres	83 ft
5	Petenwell Flowage Lake	Juneau	WI	C	15	23.2K acres	44 ft
6	Green Lake	Green Lake	WI	B	8	7.9K acres	236 ft
7	Green Lake	Green Lake	WI	B	8	7.9K acres	236 ft
8	Shawano Lake	Shawano	WI	A	7	6.2K acres	39.5 ft
9	Geneva Lake	Walworth	WI	A	6	5.4K acres	135 ft
10	Lake Wisconsin Whalen'S Grade	Columbia	WI	D	15	7.2K acres	24 ft
11	Geneva Lake	Walworth	WI	A	6	5.4K acres	135 ft
12	Geneva Lake Site B	Walworth	WI	A	6	5.4K acres	135 ft
13	Green Lake	Green Lake	WI	B	8	7.9K acres	236 ft
14	Moon Bay Lake	Chippewa	WI	B	7	6.1K acres	64.4 ft
15	Green Lake East Basin	Green Lake	WI	B	8	7.9K acres	236 ft
16	Chippewa Flowage Lake	Sawyer	WI	B	6	14.6K acres	92 ft
17	Chippewa Flowage -Pokegema Lake	Sawyer	WI	B	6	14.6K acres	92 ft
18	Shell Lake	Washburn	WI	A	5	2.5K acres	36 ft
19	Pelican Lake	Oneida	WI	A	5	3.5K acres	39 ft
20	Lake Puckaway	Green Lake	WI	B	7	5.0K acres	—
21	Green Lake	Green Lake	WI	C	8	7.9K acres	236 ft
22	Chippewa Flowage -North of Cranberry Bars Lake	Sawyer	WI	B	6	14.6K acres	92 ft
23	Big Eau Pleine Southeast Point Lake	Marathon	WI	D	12	6.3K acres	46 ft
24	City Millpond	Green Lake	WI	C	8	7.9K acres	236 ft
25	High Falls Reservoir at	Marinette	WI	A	8	1.5K acres	54 ft
26	Chippewa Flowage -Winter Dam Lake	Sawyer	WI	B	6	14.6K acres	92 ft
27	Chippewa Flowage -Moore'S Bay Lake	Sawyer	WI	B	6	14.6K acres	92 ft
28	Lake Wissota	Chippewa	WI	C	7	6.1K acres	64.4 ft
29	Balsam Lake	Polk	WI	A	6	1.9K acres	37 ft
30	Turtle-Flambeau Flowage Lake	Iron	WI	B	5	12.9K acres	50 ft
31	Lake Noquebay	Marinette	WI	A	4	2.4K acres	51 ft
32	Balsam Lake Little Balsam Site	Polk	WI	B	6	1.9K acres	37 ft
33	Lake Poygan	Winnebago	WI	C	6	14.0K acres	11 ft
34	Lac Courte Oreilles Lake	Sawyer	WI	A	3	5.1K acres	90 ft
35	Round Lake	Sawyer	WI	A	3	3.3K acres	74 ft
36	Pewaukee Lake	Waukesha	WI	A	3	2.4K acres	45 ft
37	Pewaukee Lake	Waukesha	WI	A	3	2.4K acres	45 ft
38	Lake St. Croix	St. Croix	WI	B	4	7.7K acres	60 ft
39	Lake Kegonsa	Dane	WI	B	4	3.2K acres	32 ft
40	Lake Mohawksin	Lincoln	WI	B	6	1.5K acres	25 ft
41	Yellow Lake	Burnett	WI	A	3	2.3K acres	31 ft
42	White Potato Lake	Oconto	WI	A	6	1.0K acres	—
43	Lake Metonga	Forest	WI	A	3	2.0K acres	79 ft
44	Delavan Lake	Walworth	WI	B	4	1.9K acres	52 ft
45	Delavan Lake	Walworth	WI	B	4	1.9K acres	52 ft
46	St. Croix 8 Mi. Upstream of Point Douglas Dr Lake	Pierce	WI	C	4	7.7K acres	60 ft
47	Beaver Dam Lake	Barron	WI	A	5	1.2K acres	106 ft
48	Lake Waubesa	Dane	WI	B	4	2.1K acres	38 ft
49	Rhinelander Flowage Lake	Oneida	WI	B	5	1.4K acres	10 ft
50	Rock Lake	Jefferson	WI	A	4	1.4K acres	60 ft
51	Tomahawk Riverlake Nokomis	Oneida	WI	B	3	2.3K acres	33 ft
52	Bear Lake	Barron	WI	A	4	1.3K acres	87 ft
53	Minocqua Lake	Oneida	WI	A	4	1.3K acres	60 ft
54	Delavan Lake	Walworth	WI	B	4	1.9K acres	52 ft
55	Delavan Lake	Walworth	WI	B	4	1.9K acres	52 ft
56	Caldron Falls Reservoir	Marinette	WI	A	5	1.1K acres	40 ft
57	Grindstone Lake	Sawyer	WI	A	2	3.2K acres	60 ft
58	North Twin Lake	Vilas	WI	A	2	2.9K acres	60 ft
59	Lake Nokomis	Oneida	WI	B	3	2.3K acres	33 ft
60	Chequamegon Waters Flowage Lake	Taylor	WI	D	5	2.4K acres	22 ft
61	Delavan Lake	Walworth	WI	C	4	1.9K acres	52 ft
62	Pine Lake	Forest	WI	A	3	1.7K acres	15 ft
63	Lake Winneconne	Winnebago	WI	C	3	4.6K acres	9 ft
64	Lake Butte des Morts	Winnebago	WI	C	3	8.6K acres	9 ft
65	Lac Vieux Desert Lake	Vilas	WI	C	3	4.0K acres	38 ft
66	Buffalo Lake	Marquette	WI	D	5	2.2K acres	8 ft
67	Prairie Lake	Barron	WI	C	5	1.4K acres	16 ft
68	Tainter Lake	Dunn	WI	C	5	1.6K acres	37 ft
69	St. Croix Lake	St. Croix	WI	D	4	7.7K acres	60 ft
70	St. Croix Lake	St. Croix	WI	D	4	7.7K acres	60 ft
71	Rush Lake	Winnebago	WI	B	2	2.7K acres	—
72	Silver Creek Estuary Lake	Green Lake	WI	F	8	7.9K acres	236 ft
73	Red Cedar Lake	Barron	WI	A	2	1.9K acres	53 ft
74	Big Cedar Lake	Washington	WI	A	4	937 acres	105 ft
75	Long Lake	Chippewa	WI	A	4	936 acres	101 ft
76	Dairyland Reservoir	Rusk	WI	D	5	1.9K acres	70 ft
77	Rice Lake	Barron	WI	B	6	859 acres	19 ft
78	Thunder Lake	Oneida	WI	A	2	1.8K acres	9 ft
79	Big Cedar Lake-North Site-Near West Bend	Washington	WI	A	4	937 acres	105 ft
80	Big Cedar Lake-South Site-Near West Bend	Washington	WI	A	4	937 acres	105 ft
81	Big Cedar Lake	Washington	WI	A	4	937 acres	105 ft
82	Minong Flowage Lake	Washburn	WI	B	3	1.6K acres	21 ft
83	Bone Lake	Polk	WI	A	2	1.7K acres	43 ft
84	Lake Koshkonong	Jefferson	WI	D	4	10.6K acres	7 ft
85	Pepin Lake	Pepin	WI	F	6	24.6K acres	60 ft
86	Outlet To Lake Geneva	Walworth	WI	F	6	5.4K acres	135 ft
87	Lake Chetac North Basin	Sawyer	WI	C	2	2.4K acres	26 ft
88	Prairie Lake	Barron	WI	D	5	1.4K acres	16 ft
89	Prairie Lake	Barron	WI	D	5	1.4K acres	16 ft
90	Butternut Lake	Price	WI	B	4	983 acres	32 ft
91	Muskego Lake	Waukesha	WI	C	2	2.2K acres	23 ft
92	Big Cedar Lake Northern Basin Deep Site	Washington	WI	B	4	937 acres	105 ft
93	Lake Owen	Bayfield	WI	A	2	1.3K acres	95 ft
94	Butternut Lake	Forest	WI	A	2	1.2K acres	42 ft
95	Tiger Cat Flowage Lake	Sawyer	WI	A	3	819 acres	30 ft
96	Spirit River Flowage Lake	Lincoln	WI	C	4	1.2K acres	25 ft
97	Okauchee Lake	Waukesha	WI	A	2	1.2K acres	90 ft
98	Okauchee Lake-Site No. 4-at Okauchee	Waukesha	WI	A	2	1.2K acres	90 ft
99	Okauchee Lake-Site No. 3-at Okauchee	Waukesha	WI	A	2	1.2K acres	90 ft
100	Presque Isle Lake	Vilas	WI	A	2	1.2K acres	103 ft

Frequently Asked Questions

Which lakes are best for boating in Minnesota and Wisconsin?

The best boating lakes have multiple public boat launches, 200+ acres of open water for cruising, and good water quality. Larger lakes offer more room for waterskiing, tubing, and sailing without overcrowding.

Do I need a permit to boat on these lakes?

Minnesota and Wisconsin both require boat registration for motorized watercraft. Most public access sites are free, though some charge a daily launch fee. Check your state DNR for current requirements and any lake-specific restrictions.