We admit, the beaches in Wisconsin are not as famous as, say, those in Florida. People don’t usually think of sunscreen and swimsuits when they think of the Badger state. But in the midst of all that farmland, we’ve actually got some pretty nice places to swim in Wisconsin, believe it or not! They may only be temperate a few months of the year, but these hidden beaches in Wisconsin are loads of fun on a warm day.

1. North Beach (Racine)
Daniel Orth/Flickr
North Beach is a beautiful 50-acre lot with 2,500 feet of shoreline alongside Lake Michigan. There are volleyball courts, a playground, and during the summer, they offer live music. The City of Racine website has more information on events.
2. Kohler-Andrae State Park (Sheboygan)
LaziYogi/Flickr
This is actually two state parks, but since they are adjacent to one another, they are managed as one. There's 2.5 miles of shoreline alongside Lake Michigan and there's even campsites if you decide to spend the night by the shore! For more information, check out the Wisconsin DNR page.
3. School House Beach (Washington Island)
Gina Moskowitz/Flickr
School House Beach is one of just five sand-less beaches in the entire world. The shore is instead made up of limestone rocks. The beach gets its name from a school house that used to be nearby. The Door County website has a little more information.
4. Big Bay Beach (Madeline Island)
Aaron Carlson/Flickr
Big Bay Beach is located on the eastern side of Madeline Island, the largest in the Apostle Islands archipelago. The beach features four miles of shoreline along Lake Superior and even has a one mile boardwalk! The Wisconsin DNR page has more information.
5. Pettibone Beach (La Crosse)
jongela19/Flickr
Interestingly, Pettibone Beach was actually once part of Minnesota, but it's now considered La Crosse property. The beach is popular with fishermen and also has trails and volleyball courts. Check out the La Crosse website for rules and regulations.
6. Whitefish Dunes State Park (Sturgeon Bay)
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources/Flickr
At over 867 acres, Whitefish Dunes is one of the larger parks on this list. As the name suggests, it contains the famous sand dunes that reside along Lake Michigan's western coast. The area is popular with kayakers. Have a look at the Wisconsin DNR page for more information.

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7. Rock Island State Park (Washington)
Emily Mills/Flickr
Rock Island is interesting because no vehicles are allowed here! Visitors must access the park via ferry. The park is home to the Pottawatomie Lighthouse and many hiking trails. Check out the Have a look at the Wisconsin DNR page for more information.
8. Apostle Islands National Lakeshore (Ashland County/Bayfield County)
carol mitchell/Flickr
This one's kind of cheating, as there are actually 21 islands in this chain! The islands are all set within Lake Superior. Among them are nine lighthouses and many miles of shore. Camping, hiking, and scuba diving are all very popular in the islands. National Park Service page has information on closures.
9. Lake Geneva
Sean Benham/Flickr
Lake Geneva is perhaps best known for its many historic mansions. Wealthy Chicagoans were known to have homes there in the 19th century. The Visit Lake Geneva site has lots of beautiful photos.
10. Newport State Park (Ellison Bay)
Joshua Mayer/Flickr
Newport State Park is Wisconsin's only wilderness-designated state park. The park lies at the tip of Door Peninsula and contains 11 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline. The Wisconsin DNR website has more information.
11. Lion's Den Gorge (Grafton)
kenneth casper/Flickr
Lion's Den Gorge is a 73-acre park offering bluff lookouts over Lake Michigan. The park is sometimes closed for deer hunts, so make sure to check the county website before heading out.
12. Pallette Lake (Vilas County)
Joshua Mayer/Flickr
Pallette Lake is a 180-acre lake that's very popular for fishing. The Wisconsin DNR page has more information.
13. Altoona Beach (Eau Claire)
Jeremy Rauckman/Flickr
Altoona Beach is a small park offering canoeing, a boat landing, volleyball courts, and water skiing. Be aware, the beach does have an admission fee. Find out more information from the Wisconsin DNR.

Bet you didn’t know there were so many places to swim in Wisconsin!

What’s your favorite of all the beaches in Wisconsin? Tell us your experiences in the comments!

 

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More to Explore

Places To Swim In Wisconsin

Lisa Sammons | April 27, 2021

What are some other good places to swim in Wisconsin?

Who doesn’t love a good swimming hole? Check out this list of fantastic swimming holes that will make your summer fabulous. We’ve also got several quarry lakes you'll want to check out. It’s amazing to think that they all used to be rock quarries!

What are fun activities to do on the water in Wisconsin?

What about tubing? There's nothing more peaceful than floating lazily down a river, and you can do it without even leaving Wisconsin. Needless to say, we're loaded with great fishing spots also. And if you're simply into sight-seeing some beautiful lakes, there's plenty of those all over the place.

While I'm in the area, what are some good restaurants in Wisconsin?

If there's one thing we are passionate about, it's food! (well, and football) We've got plenty of well-known restaurants any new-comer would be wise to check out, but don't forget about the less famous ones! For something a little more off the beaten path, Wisconsin has plenty of wacky restaurants as well.

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Featured Addresses
100 Kewaunee St, Racine, WI 53402, USA
Kohler-Andrae State Park, 1020 Beach Park Ln, Sheboygan, WI 53081, USA
1860 School House Beach Rd, Washington, WI 54246, USA
2305 Town Park Circle, La Pointe, WI 54860, USA
Pettibone Beach, La Crosse, WI 54601, USA
Whitefish Dunes State Park, 3275 Clarks Lake Rd, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235, USA
Rock Island State Park Road, Rock Island State Park Rd, Washington, WI, USA
Apostle Islands, Wisconsin, USA
Lake Geneva, WI 53147, USA
Newport State Park, 475 County Rd NP, Ellison Bay, WI 54210, USA
Lion's Den Gorge Nature Preserve, 511 High Bluff Dr, Grafton, WI 53024, USA
Pallette Lake, Wisconsin 54512, USA
Altoona Lake, Seymour, WI 54703, USA