US lakes & pondsUS lakes & pondsSurface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 143249640).
The red circle marks Lake Monona.
Towns and counties: U.S. Census Bureau boundaries overlaid on the USGS lake outline.
Official Wisconsin DNR pages. Rules and fees change; check before you go.
Built only from the data on this page: official access lists, OpenStreetMap beaches and trails, campground listings, state and USGS invasive-species records. We don't rate crowds or water quality.
Fish species listed by the Wisconsin DNR (with DNR abundance rating): Panfish (abundant), Largemouth Bass (common), Northern Pike (common), Walleye (common), Musky (present), Smallmouth Bass (present), Sturgeon (present), Catfish (present).
Maximum depth and Average depth not published.
DNR lake class: Complex - Two Story
Source: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Lake Page for Lake Monona (WBIC 804600); maximum depth and acreage from the DNR lake classification data. Acreage here can differ slightly from our mapped outline.
Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.
Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 143249640), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: Wisconsin DNR boat access sites and OpenStreetMap boat ramps (ODbL). Dashed trails: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.
OpenStreetMap shows about 7.4 mi of public hiking and walking trail within about 100 m (330 ft) of the Lake Monona shoreline, mostly along the south and west shores. About 0.4 mi of it is on islands, which you can reach only by boat.
No trailhead is mapped for these trails. The closest public access site is Olin-Turville Park Boat Ramp, right on a shoreline trail (Wisconsin DNR boat access data).
The dashed brown line on the lake map shows these trails. We include paths, footways and marked trails that OpenStreetMap doesn't mark as private, and leave out roads, sidewalks and snowmobile corridors. Mapped trails can still cross private land or close for the season, and not every trail is mapped, so follow posted signs.
Trails: © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License (ODbL). Map data as of Oct 9, 2026. Trail lengths count only the parts within about 100 m of the USGS NHD lake outline.
We found 10 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Lake Monona, 3 of them within 5 miles. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.
Electric hookups · RVs welcome · Dump station · Wi-Fi
Electric hookups · Showers
RVs welcome · Tent sites · Showers · Drinking water
Electric hookups · Showers
Electric hookups · Toilets
All campgrounds & RV parks in Wisconsin
Green tent icons on the lake map mark campgrounds near the shore, and the interactive map shows the closest 12. Amenities are listed only where a source records them; call or check the campground's website before you go, since seasons and rates change every year.
Campground data: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Pulled Oct 12, 2026.
Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (43.0675, -89.3645). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Lake Monona. No live water-temperature sensor is shown because we haven't found a public one for this lake.
Based on solunar theory, an estimate. Major periods (about 2 hours) center on when the moon is directly overhead or underfoot; minor periods (about 1 hour) center on moonrise and moonset. The 0–100 activity score rises during those periods and gets a boost near sunrise and sunset and around the new and full moon. Weather, water temperature and pressure often matter more. Sun and moon times are calculated in your browser from the lake's coordinates with standard astronomy formulas, shown in CT (America/Chicago), and accurate to within a few minutes.
7 public access sites listed, 7 with a boat ramp or trailer launch.
| Site | Town | Owner | Type | Parking | Fee | Uses | Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boat ramp | Madison | — | Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp | — | — | Boating | 43.0635, -89.3927 |
| Boat ramp | Madison | — | Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp | — | — | Boating | 43.0657, -89.3883 |
| Law Park Boat Landing | Madison | Madison Parks Dept. | Boat ramp · Concrete ramp | — | — | Boating Handicap accessible | 43.0754, -89.3751 |
| Olbrich Park Boat Ramp | Madison | Madison Parks Dept. | Boat ramp · Concrete Panels ramp | — | — | Boating Handicap accessible | 43.0903, -89.3342 |
| Olin-Turville Park Boat Ramp | Madison | Madison Parks Dept. | Boat ramp · Concrete ramp | — | — | Boating Handicap accessible | 43.0555, -89.3774 |
| Tonyawatha Park Boat Ramp | Madison | Monona Parks & Recreation Dept. | Boat ramp · Concrete ramp | — | — | Boating Handicap accessible | 43.0718, -89.3377 |
| Winnequah Trail Boat Ramp | Madison | Madison Parks Dept. | Boat ramp · Concrete ramp | — | — | Boating Handicap accessible | 43.0563, -89.3496 |
Wisconsin DNR boat access sites and OpenStreetMap boat ramps (ODbL)
Fees, hours and rules change; confirm with the site owner before you go.
On OpenStreetMap: 8 beaches and swimming spots on the shore of Lake Monona not marked private, residents-only or members-only.
| Beach | Type | Access | Directions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Olbrich Beach | Beach | Access not tagged; check posted rules | Get directions |
| Brittingham Beach | Beach | Access not tagged; check posted rules | Get directions |
| Schluter Beach | Beach | Access not tagged; check posted rules | Get directions |
| Bernie's Beach | Beach | Access not tagged; check posted rules | Get directions |
| Esther Beach | Beach | Access not tagged; check posted rules | Get directions |
| B.B. Clarke Beach | Beach | Access not tagged; check posted rules | Get directions |
| Olin Beach | Beach | Access not tagged; check posted rules | Get directions |
| Frost Woods Beach | Beach | Access not tagged; check posted rules | Get directions |
Beaches: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), within about 150 m (500 ft) of the lake outline. A mapped beach is not a guarantee that swimming is allowed, supervised or safe; some town beaches need a resident sticker even when the map doesn't say so. Check posted rules and water-quality advisories before you swim.
Reported on or near Lake Monona
USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database
USGS records matched to this water by location (within about 150 m of the outline) or by the place name in the record. A record shows a sighting was reported; it doesn't prove the species is still there. As of Oct 10, 2026.
Lake Monona covers about 3,360 acres in Madison and Monona, Wisconsin (Dane County).
Wisconsin DNR Lake Pages lists Walleye, Musky, Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Panfish, Catfish and Sturgeon.
Yes. 7 public trailer launches are listed: Law Park Boat Landing, Olbrich Park Boat Ramp and Tonyawatha Park Boat Ramp. Check posted fees and parking rules.
OpenStreetMap shows 8 public beach or swimming spots on the shore. None of our sources lists a lifeguard, so swim at your own risk and follow posted rules.
Yes. We list 10 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles, 3 of them within 5 miles.
Lake Monona touches Madison and Monona in Dane County, Wisconsin.
Know Lake Monona? Tell us about the launch, parking, where they're biting or anything a first-time visitor should know. Tips go privately to the LakeRipple editor; nothing is posted automatically. Helpful tips may be featured on this page (we'll use your first name only if you give one).
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