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LakeQuality
A red sun low over Slim Lake through wildfire haze, its reflection a column of orange on the water

Updated August 2026

Best Wakesurf Lakes in the US

The top 200 of 1,367 rated lakes, ordered by the weakest-link score across measured depth and surface area. Deep and roomy wins — a lake that is huge but shallow bounces the wake off the bottom, and a deep pond has nowhere to hold the setback.
  • Top 200
  • Ranked on measured depth + area
  • 36 states
#LakeStateSuitabilityMax depthSurface area
1City MillpondWisconsinExcellent236 ft7,920 ac
2Silver Creek Estuary LakeWisconsinExcellent236 ft7,920 ac
3Ten Mile LakeMinnesotaExcellent208 ft5,080 ac
4Gunflint LakeMinnesotaExcellent200 ft4,009 ac
5Little Gunflint LakeMinnesotaExcellent200 ft4,009 ac
6Sand Point LakeMinnesotaExcellent184 ft8,527 ac
7Lac la Croix LakeMinnesotaExcellent168 ft29,597 ac
8Alvin LakeMinnesotaExcellent163 ft2,605 ac
9Carlos LakeMinnesotaExcellent163 ft2,605 ac
10Rainy LakeMinnesotaExcellent161 ft210,200 ac
11Kabekona Bay LakeMinnesotaExcellent150 ft103,444 ac
12Steamboat Bay LakeMinnesotaExcellent150 ft103,444 ac
13Snowbank LakeMinnesotaExcellent150 ft4,655 ac
14Whitefish LakeMinnesotaExcellent138 ft7,714 ac
15Geneva LakeWisconsinExcellent135 ft5,401 ac
16Outlet To Lake GenevaWisconsinExcellent135 ft5,401 ac
17Koronis LakeMinnesotaExcellent132 ft2,968 ac
18Burntside LakeMinnesotaExcellent126 ft7,314 ac
19Cass LakeMinnesotaExcellent120 ft15,958 ac
20Drewery LakeMinnesotaExcellent120 ft15,958 ac
21Minnetonka LakeMinnesotaExcellent113 ft14,206 ac
22Pokegama LakeMinnesotaExcellent112 ft6,721 ac
23Basswood LakeMinnesotaExcellent111 ft25,953 ac
24Sucker LakeMinnesotaExcellent111 ft25,953 ac
25Mason LakeMinnesotaExcellent108 ft5,615 ac
26West Battle LakeMinnesotaExcellent108 ft5,615 ac
27Ida LakeMinnesotaExcellent106 ft4,445 ac
28Miltona LakeMinnesotaExcellent105 ft5,731 ac
29North Long LakeMinnesotaExcellent97 ft6,190 ac
30Cass Lake Pike BayMinnesotaExcellent95 ft4,756 ac
31Chippewa Flowage -North of Cranberry Bars LakeWisconsinExcellent92 ft14,593 ac
32Lac Courte Oreilles LakeWisconsinExcellent90 ft5,139 ac
33Detroit LakeMinnesotaExcellent89 ft3,067 ac
34Fence Lake DeepWisconsinExcellent86 ft3,483 ac
35Big Sandy LakeMinnesotaExcellent84 ft6,125 ac
36Lake MendotaWisconsinExcellent83 ft9,781 ac
37Kabetogama LakeMinnesotaExcellent80 ft24,034 ac
38Gull LakeMinnesotaExcellent80 ft10,010 ac
39Crane LakeMinnesotaExcellent80 ft2,921 ac
40Lake St CroixMinnesotaExcellent78 ft8,393 ac
41Pool of Lake St CroixMinnesotaExcellent78 ft8,393 ac
42Brule LakeMinnesotaExcellent78 ft4,327 ac
43East Vermilion LakeMinnesotaExcellent76 ft39,272 ac
44West Vermilion LakeMinnesotaExcellent76 ft39,272 ac
45Bemidji LakeMinnesotaExcellent76 ft6,596 ac
46Big Pine LakeMinnesotaExcellent76 ft4,728 ac
47Bass LakeMinnesotaExcellent76 ft2,715 ac
48Big Cormorant LakeMinnesotaExcellent75 ft3,657 ac
49Edward LakeMinnesotaExcellent75 ft2,628 ac
50Osakis LakeMinnesotaExcellent73 ft6,389 ac
51Lake WinnibigoshishMinnesotaExcellent69.8 ft56,471 ac
52Tamarack Bay LakeMinnesotaExcellent69.8 ft56,471 ac
53Third River Flowage LakeMinnesotaExcellent69.8 ft56,471 ac
54Clitherall LakeMinnesotaExcellent69 ft2,540 ac
55Peterson LakeMinnesotaExcellent69 ft2,540 ac
56Dead LakeMinnesotaExcellent65 ft7,546 ac
57Plantagenet LakeMinnesotaExcellent65 ft2,531 ac
58Lake WissotaWisconsinExcellent64.4 ft6,148 ac
59Moon Bay LakeWisconsinExcellent64.4 ft6,148 ac
60Alexander LakeMinnesotaExcellent64 ft2,709 ac
61Insula LakeMinnesotaExcellent63 ft2,840 ac
62Pepin LakeWisconsinExcellent60 ft24,550 ac
63Pepin LakeMinnesotaExcellent60 ft12,299 ac
64Lake St CroixWisconsinExcellent60 ft7,696 ac
65Grindstone LakeWisconsinExcellent60 ft3,176 ac
66North Twin LakeWisconsinExcellent60 ft2,871 ac
67Lida LakeMinnesotaExcellent58 ft5,523 ac
68Pelican LakeMinnesotaExcellent55 ft3,962 ac
69Broadwater Bay LakeMinnesotaExcellent54 ft5,520 ac
70White Iron LakeMinnesotaExcellent47 ft3,237 ac
71Big Eau Pleine Southeast Point LakeWisconsinExcellent46 ft6,348 ac
72Boy LakeMinnesotaExcellent45 ft3,308 ac
73Petenwell Flowage LakeWisconsinExcellent44 ft23,173 ac
74Mille Lacs LakeMinnesotaExcellent42 ft128,250 ac
75Shawano LakeWisconsinExcellent39.5 ft6,215 ac
76Pelican LakeWisconsinExcellent39 ft3,545 ac
77Lac Vieux Desert LakeWisconsinExcellent38 ft4,017 ac
78Waconia LakeMinnesotaExcellent37 ft3,080 ac
79Shell LakeWisconsinExcellent36 ft2,513 ac
80Whiteface ReservoirMinnesotaExcellent35 ft4,567 ac
81Big LakeMinnesotaExcellent35 ft3,598 ac
82Jessie LakeMinnesotaExcellent35 ft3,598 ac
83Little Big LakeMinnesotaExcellent35 ft3,598 ac
84Bowstring LakeMinnesotaExcellent32 ft9,528 ac
85Minnewaska LakeMinnesotaExcellent32 ft8,050 ac
86Lake KegonsaWisconsinExcellent32 ft3,200 ac
87Kentucky LakeKentuckyExcellent—160,000 ac
88Flathead LakeMontanaExcellent—122,500 ac
89Eufaula LakeOklahomaExcellent—102,200 ac
90Lake GuntersvilleAlabamaExcellent—69,100 ac
91Lake BarkleyKentuckyExcellent—58,000 ac
92Lake MartinAlabamaExcellent—41,000 ac
93Elephant Butte ReservoirNew MexicoExcellent—36,000 ac
94Canyon Ferry LakeMontanaExcellent—35,000 ac
95Banks LakeWashingtonExcellent—26,886 ac
96West Point LakeGeorgiaExcellent—25,900 ac
97Lake MemphremagogVermontExcellent—25,800 ac
98Carlyle LakeIllinoisExcellent—24,580 ac
99Roosevelt LakeArizonaExcellent—21,500 ac
100Lake ConroeTexasExcellent—21,000 ac
101Smith Mountain LakeVirginiaExcellent—20,600 ac
102Lake GastonNorth CarolinaExcellent—20,000 ac
103Lake HavasuArizonaExcellent—19,300 ac
104Lake AudubonNorth DakotaExcellent—19,095 ac
105Torch LakeMichiganExcellent—18,770 ac
106Jamestown ReservoirNorth DakotaExcellent—17,427 ac
107Milford LakeKansasExcellent—15,700 ac
108High Rock LakeNorth CarolinaExcellent—15,180 ac
109Jordan LakeNorth CarolinaExcellent—13,900 ac
110Turtle Flambeau Flowage LakeWisconsinExcellent—13,798 ac
111Otter Tail LakeMinnesotaExcellent—13,725 ac
112Chautauqua LakeNew YorkExcellent—13,000 ac
113Lake AnnaVirginiaExcellent—13,000 ac
114Rathbun LakeIowaExcellent—11,013 ac
115Monroe LakeIndianaExcellent—10,750 ac
116Lake PleasantArizonaExcellent—10,000 ac
117Barren River LakeKentuckyExcellent—10,000 ac
118Higgins LakeMichiganExcellent—9,900 ac
119Lake DarlingNorth DakotaExcellent—9,655 ac
120Conchas ReservoirNew MexicoExcellent—9,600 ac
121Cheney LakeKansasExcellent—9,500 ac
122Wilson LakeKansasExcellent—9,000 ac
123Keyhole ReservoirWyomingExcellent—9,000 ac
124Cave Run LakeKentuckyExcellent—8,270 ac
125Canyon LakeTexasExcellent—8,230 ac
126Pomme de Terre LakeMissouriExcellent—7,821 ac
127Smithville Lake by DamMissouriExcellent—7,190 ac
128Clinton LakeKansasExcellent—7,000 ac
129Lake DubayWisconsinExcellent—6,800 ac
130Lake WallenpaupackPennsylvaniaExcellent—5,700 ac
131Lake AshtabulaNorth DakotaExcellent—5,470 ac
132Rough River LakeKentuckyExcellent—5,100 ac
133Lake TilleryNorth CarolinaExcellent—5,000 ac
134Lake SammamishWashingtonExcellent—4,897 ac
135Pueblo ReservoirColoradoExcellent—4,600 ac
136Holcombe Flowage LakeWisconsinExcellent—4,300 ac
137Lake SpringfieldIllinoisExcellent—4,224 ac
138Billy Chinook ReservoirOregonExcellent—4,000 ac
139Pomona LakeKansasExcellent—4,000 ac
140Belews LakeNorth CarolinaExcellent—3,863 ac
141West Okoboji LakeIowaExcellent—3,847 ac
142Hyco LakeNorth CarolinaExcellent—3,750 ac
143Green Peter LakeOregonExcellent—3,720 ac
144Saratoga LakeNew YorkExcellent—3,700 ac
145Conesus LakeNew YorkExcellent—3,420 ac
146Decatur LakeIllinoisExcellent—3,335 ac
147Gile Flowage LakeWisconsinExcellent—3,317 ac
148Dillon ReservoirColoradoExcellent—3,300 ac
149Mountain Island LakeNorth CarolinaExcellent—3,281 ac
150Jordanelle ReservoirUtahExcellent—3,068 ac
151Lake AliceNorth DakotaExcellent—3,067 ac
152Lake WawaseeIndianaExcellent—3,060 ac
153Taylorsville LakeKentuckyExcellent—3,050 ac
154Prineville ReservoirOregonExcellent—3,000 ac
155Caesar Creek LakeOhioExcellent—2,830 ac
156Bartlett LakeArizonaExcellent—2,815 ac
157Pleasant Hill ReservoirOhioExcellent—2,600 ac
158Nelson LakeWisconsinExcellent—2,503 ac
159Kinkaid LakeIllinoisExcellent—2,500 ac
160Watap LakeMinnesotaGood210 ft1,993 ac
161Gabimichigami LakeMinnesotaGood209 ft1,186 ac
162Strup LakeMinnesotaGood195 ft1,689 ac
163Little Saganaga LakeMinnesotaGood150 ft1,627 ac
164South LakeMinnesotaGood140 ft1,145 ac
165Rose LakeMinnesotaGood137 ft1,200 ac
166Trout LakeMinnesotaGood135 ft1,862 ac
167Big Sand LakeMinnesotaGood135 ft1,639 ac
168Kabekona LakeMinnesotaGood133 ft2,433 ac
169Mountain LakeMinnesotaGood130 ft1,344 ac
170Rove LakeMinnesotaGood130 ft1,344 ac
171Roosevelt LakeMinnesotaGood129 ft1,511 ac
172Big Trout LakeMinnesotaGood128 ft1,366 ac
173White Earth LakeMinnesotaGood120 ft1,989 ac
174Ottertrack LakeMinnesotaGood116 ft1,134 ac
175Wabana LakeMinnesotaGood115 ft2,221 ac
176Greenwood LakeMinnesotaGood112 ft2,043 ac
177Washburn LakeMinnesotaGood111 ft1,590 ac
178Thomas LakeMinnesotaGood110 ft1,465 ac
179Little Mcdonald LakeMinnesotaGood109 ft1,316 ac
180South Center LakeMinnesotaGood109 ft910 ac
181Beaver Dam LakeWisconsinGood106 ft1,163 ac
182Cedar LakeMinnesotaGood105 ft1,726 ac
183Siseebakwet LakeMinnesotaGood105 ft1,210 ac
184East Loon LakeMinnesotaGood105 ft1,044 ac
185Big Cedar Lake-North Site-Near West BendWisconsinGood105 ft937 ac
186Presque Isle LakeWisconsinGood103 ft1,165 ac
187Little Trout LakeWisconsinGood98 ft1,007 ac
188West Sylvia LakeMinnesotaGood97 ft904 ac
189Stalker LakeMinnesotaGood95 ft1,357 ac
190Thunder LakeMinnesotaGood95 ft1,347 ac
191Lake OwenWisconsinGood95 ft1,250 ac
192Wabedo LakeMinnesotaGood95 ft1,226 ac
193Chippewa LakeMinnesotaGood95 ft1,186 ac
194Steamboat LakeMinnesotaGood93 ft1,756 ac
195Many Point LakeMinnesotaGood92 ft1,701 ac
196Upper Eau Claire LakeWisconsinGood92 ft1,024 ac
197Ocauchee LakeWisconsinGood90 ft1,210 ac
198Okauchee Lake SiteWisconsinGood90 ft1,210 ac
199Nagawicka LakeWisconsinGood90 ft981 ac
200Potato LakeMinnesotaGood87 ft2,096 ac

Suitability is not a safety clearance and not a wave-quality score. It says only that the water is deep enough and big enough to ride the way the sport’s own guidance recommends. Check the state rules and the local authority for the lake before you launch.

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