Beautiful Lakes Worth A Visit In Wisconsin

Wisconsin is blessed with an abundance of beautiful nature, including its many incredible lakes. From the great Lake Winnebago and Lake Michigan to its smaller, more unassuming spots, all are worth a visit. Culture Trip has sized up the best of the bunch. Did you know – Culture Trip now does bookable, small-group trips? Pick from authentic, immersive Epic Trips, compact and action-packed Mini Trips and sparkling, expansive Sailing Trips.

Lake Winnebago

This beauty is Wisconsin’s largest inland lake and among the best places in America to fish for sturgeon. At 137,700 acres (55,725ha), Lake Winnebago is large and home to boating, water sports, hiking, camping, picnicking and even an amusement park, so no matter your poison, you’ll find something that suits you here. With a public beach and many beautiful houses on the shore, it’s a sure-fire winner.

Petenwell Lake

Lake Michigan

You can’t write about lakes in Wisconsin without mentioning Lake Michigan. As one of the five Great Lakes and a major tourist attraction, it’s a massive landmark, with dozens of cities sitting along its shoreline and its endless horizons reminiscent of the sea. It’s famous for its beaches, with some of the most popular being North Beach, Schoolhouse Beach and Point Beach State Forest. Any manner of lakeside activity can be found here, from kitesurfing to diving.

Lake Wingra

Small but no less beautiful for it, Lake Wingra is located in Madison and is home to the University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum, which sits along its shoreline. An important fishing lake, it’s known for its muskellunge, panfish, northern pike and largemouth bass. With beaches, parks and even a zoo along the north side of Lake Wingra, it’s an ideal spot to kick back and relax while admiring the trees on the lake’s shoreline. There’s nothing like being near the water to put things in perspective.

Lake Chippewa

Great blue heron on the Chippewa Flowage in northern Wisconsin

Also known by the rather less glamorous name of the Chippewa Flowage, this lake is famous for its gorgeous natural scenery – which includes undeveloped islands along its shoreline – and is the third-largest lake in the state. It was first filled with water in 1924 and has since been pulling in the crowds. Along with walleye fishing, you can also go birdwatching, hiking, camping, canoeing and even cross-country skiing in winter.

Wazee Lake

Wazee Lake is the deepest lake in the state, as it was a former iron mine. It’s home to the Wazee Lake Recreation Area, which draws scuba divers from all over the US. Fishing is also popular, with everything from trout to catfish up for grabs here. As well as a beach, Wazee Lake is home to 12 campsites and innumerable Instagram-worthy spots. There are also 15mi (24km) of hiking trails and bike paths to keep yourself active.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.