In the city of Madison, you can enjoy public access to 12 beaches located in the city's parks; 10 of these beaches are staffed by lifeguards from June through Labor Day weekend. The beaches are distributed primarily between Lake Mendota and Lake Menona, with Vilas Beach as the sole beach on Lake Wingra. At larger regional beaches, lifeguards are on duty from late morning to early evening throughout the summer months, while smaller neighborhood beaches have lifeguard patrols only during the hottest parts of the day. Restrooms and parking are available at each beach, and bacteria levels are tested regularly. Swimming areas are roped off at all city beaches except Brittingham Beach, a neighborhood beach in Brittingham Park in Monona Bay.
Meaning "lake of many fishes" in the Winnebago dialect, Lake Kegonsa is one of southern Wisconsin's premier fishing lakes. The sandy beach is found in the day use area on the eastern shore of the 343-acre park in Williams Bay. The day use area has a boat launch, playgrounds and picnic shelters. Several nature trails wind through the park, accessing bird watching areas, Indian ceremonial mounds and park amenities. An 80-site campground sits tucked away from the lake, providing vault toilets and water fountains as well as a dump station.
The University of Wisconsin at Madison sits along the shores of Lake Mendota. Picnic Point, on the university grounds, is situated on a forested peninsula extending 1 mile into the lake. A wide, dirt path accessible by wheelchair leads to the Point, providing views of the state capitol and university campus. Enjoy one of the multiple picnic areas or swim off the sand beach. The pathway continues along the lake through 300 acres of nature preserve and connects you to the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, which winds more than 1,200 miles through Wisconsin.
Two Dane County parks -- Mendota County Park on Lake Mendota and Goodland County Park on Lake Waubesa -- maintain swimming beaches open to the public. Mendota County Park has a 30-site campground and five boat camping sites, with showers, restrooms and a dump station. A handicapped-accessible swimming ramp is provided in an unsupervised swimming area. Goodland County Park has 600 feet of shoreline along its 15 acres, with day use facilities that include an unsupervised swimming area, boat launch and picnic facilities.
Although it is fun for children to feed the lakes' ducks, the presence of waterfowl greatly increases bacteria counts and contributes to beach closings. While dogs are not allowed on any of Dane County's beaches, they can enjoy their own swimming beach at Lake Kegonsa State Park and may be off-leash when swimming in the water or jumping off the dog pier into the lake. Blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria, can be present at some beaches; you should avoid entering the water if it appears murky. Rinse your clothing, shoes, float tubes and other equipment that comes into contact with lake water, making sure to dry these items in order to kill invasive plant species before entering other lakes.
