WI · ranked by public data

Dane County, Wisconsin Lakes with the Most Public Access

7 Dane County lakes are at least 50 acres with a verified public access point, out of 54 documented lakes in the county. Updated July 2026.

112 sites
9,781 acres
Dane County, WI
Lake Mendota
enhancedDepth mapShore accessDNR impairmentWater data
43.11, -89.419,781 acres | 83 ft max12 public access pointsPanfish, Catfish
12 verified public access points · 9,781 acres, 83 ft max depth · DNR impairment listed
26 sites
3,200 acres
Dane County, WI
Lake Kegonsa
enhancedDepth mapShore accessDNR impairmentWater data
42.97, -89.253,200 acres | 32 ft max6 public access pointsPanfish, Largemouth Bass
6 verified public access points · 3,200 acres, 32 ft max depth · DNR impairment listed
35 sites
3,359 acres
Dane County, WI
Lake Monona
enhancedDepth mapDNR impairmentWater data
43.07, -89.363,359 acres | 74 ft max5 public access pointsPanfish, Largemouth Bass
5 verified public access points · 3,359 acres, 74 ft max depth · DNR impairment listed
44 sites
2,075 acres
Dane County, WI
Lake Waubesa
enhancedDepth mapDNR impairmentWater data
43.01, -89.322,075 acres | 38 ft max4 public access pointsLargemouth Bass, Panfish
4 verified public access points · 2,075 acres, 38 ft max depth · DNR impairment listed
51 site
336 acres
Dane County, WI
Lake Wingra
enhancedDepth mapDNR impairmentWater dataDNR forecast
43.05, -89.42336 acres | 14 ft max1 public access pointPanfish, Largemouth Bass
1 verified public access point · 336 acres, 14 ft max depth · DNR impairment listed
61 site
199 acres
Dane County, WI
Fish Lake
enhancedDepth mapDNR impairmentWater data
43.29, -89.65199 acres | 62 ft max1 public access pointLargemouth Bass, Northern Pike
1 verified public access point · 199 acres, 62 ft max depth · DNR impairment listed
71 site
64 acres
Dane County, WI
Indian Lake
enhancedDepth mapDNR impairmentWater data
43.19, -89.6364 acres | 8 ft max1 public access pointLargemouth Bass, Panfish
1 verified public access point · 64 acres, 8 ft max depth · DNR impairment listed

Methodology

How this list is built

Ranked by the number of verified public access points on each lake: boat launches, landings, parks, beaches, and marinas open to the public.
Shore fishing access is flagged where documented but does not add to the count.
Lakes under 50 acres — or without documented acreage — are excluded from rankings.
Access inventories favor well-documented water — a lake with unrecorded informal access will undercount.
Verify fees, seasons, and ramp conditions before you go; access details change.

FAQ

Dane County lake records

Which lake in Dane County has the most public access points?

Lake Mendota — Lake Mendota in Dane County has the most verified public access points of any Dane County lake we track, with 12.

Lakes with the most public access statewide Deepest lakes in Dane County Biggest lakes in Dane County Clearest lakes in Dane County All Dane County lakes

Source data: Wisconsin DNR lake and monitoring records as aggregated by LakeList. Figures reflect the most recent documented values, not new surveys — verify access and rules before you go. Lake outlines are shoreline shapes from LakeList and the USGS National Hydrography Dataset; they illustrate a lake's form and are not depth or navigation charts.

WI · ranked by public data

Dane County, Wisconsin Lakes with the Most Public Access

7 Dane County lakes are at least 50 acres with a verified public access point, out of 54 documented lakes in the county. Updated July 2026.

112 sites
9,781 acres
Dane County, WI
Lake Mendota
enhancedDepth mapShore accessDNR impairmentWater data
43.11, -89.419,781 acres | 83 ft max12 public access pointsPanfish, Catfish
12 verified public access points · 9,781 acres, 83 ft max depth · DNR impairment listed
26 sites
3,200 acres
Dane County, WI
Lake Kegonsa
enhancedDepth mapShore accessDNR impairmentWater data
42.97, -89.253,200 acres | 32 ft max6 public access pointsPanfish, Largemouth Bass
6 verified public access points · 3,200 acres, 32 ft max depth · DNR impairment listed
35 sites
3,359 acres
Dane County, WI
Lake Monona
enhancedDepth mapDNR impairmentWater data
43.07, -89.363,359 acres | 74 ft max5 public access pointsPanfish, Largemouth Bass
5 verified public access points · 3,359 acres, 74 ft max depth · DNR impairment listed
44 sites
2,075 acres
Dane County, WI
Lake Waubesa
enhancedDepth mapDNR impairmentWater data
43.01, -89.322,075 acres | 38 ft max4 public access pointsLargemouth Bass, Panfish
4 verified public access points · 2,075 acres, 38 ft max depth · DNR impairment listed
51 site
336 acres
Dane County, WI
Lake Wingra
enhancedDepth mapDNR impairmentWater dataDNR forecast
43.05, -89.42336 acres | 14 ft max1 public access pointPanfish, Largemouth Bass
1 verified public access point · 336 acres, 14 ft max depth · DNR impairment listed
61 site
199 acres
Dane County, WI
Fish Lake
enhancedDepth mapDNR impairmentWater data
43.29, -89.65199 acres | 62 ft max1 public access pointLargemouth Bass, Northern Pike
1 verified public access point · 199 acres, 62 ft max depth · DNR impairment listed
71 site
64 acres
Dane County, WI
Indian Lake
enhancedDepth mapDNR impairmentWater data
43.19, -89.6364 acres | 8 ft max1 public access pointLargemouth Bass, Panfish
1 verified public access point · 64 acres, 8 ft max depth · DNR impairment listed

Methodology

How this list is built

Ranked by the number of verified public access points on each lake: boat launches, landings, parks, beaches, and marinas open to the public.
Shore fishing access is flagged where documented but does not add to the count.
Lakes under 50 acres — or without documented acreage — are excluded from rankings.
Access inventories favor well-documented water — a lake with unrecorded informal access will undercount.
Verify fees, seasons, and ramp conditions before you go; access details change.

FAQ

Dane County lake records

Which lake in Dane County has the most public access points?

Lake Mendota — Lake Mendota in Dane County has the most verified public access points of any Dane County lake we track, with 12.

Lakes with the most public access statewide Deepest lakes in Dane County Biggest lakes in Dane County Clearest lakes in Dane County All Dane County lakes

Dane County, Wisconsin Lakes with the Most Public Access

Lake Mendota

Lake Kegonsa

Lake Monona

Lake Waubesa

Lake Wingra

Fish Lake

Indian Lake

How this list is built

Dane County lake records

Which lake in Dane County has the most public access points?

Dane County, Wisconsin Lakes with the Most Public Access

Lake Mendota

Lake Kegonsa

Lake Monona

Lake Waubesa

Lake Wingra

Fish Lake

Indian Lake

How this list is built

Dane County lake records

Which lake in Dane County has the most public access points?