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Rock Dam Lake

Foster, Wisconsin — Clark County.

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96Surface acres
1Public access sites

Surface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 69577958).

Location & fast facts

Where Rock Dam Lake is in Wisconsin

The red circle marks Rock Dam Lake.

Fast facts

About Rock Dam Lake

  • County: Clark
  • Town: Foster
  • Mapped as: Lake or pond (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Distance: about 187 mi from Milwaukee and 62 mi from Wausau, straight-line (not driving distance)

Towns and counties: U.S. Census Bureau boundaries overlaid on the USGS lake outline.

Fishing in Wisconsin

Official Wisconsin DNR pages. Rules and fees change; check before you go.

Good for & watch for

Good for

  • Boating. 1 public trailer launch listed (see access)
  • Fishing. Largemouth Bass and Panfish
  • Swimming. 1 public beach or swim spot on the map (details)
  • Camping. 2 campgrounds within 15 mi (list)

Watch for

  • Boat traffic. A public trailer launch means motorboats share the water; expect more traffic on summer weekends.
  • No lifeguard listed. None of our sources lists a staffed lifeguard. Swim at your own risk and watch children closely.
  • Cold water. Water stays cold well into late spring and turns cold again in fall. Wear a life jacket when paddling in the shoulder seasons.

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.

Official lake data (Wisconsin DNR)

10 ftMaximum depth
118Acres (state figure)

Fish species listed by the Wisconsin DNR (with DNR abundance rating): Panfish (present), Largemouth Bass (present).

Average depth not published.

DNR lake class: Simple - Riverine

Source: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Lake Page for Rock Dam Lake (WBIC 2139000); maximum depth and acreage from the DNR lake classification data. Acreage here can differ slightly from our mapped outline.

Lake map

Rock Dam Lake shoreline, boat launches & beaches

Rock Dam County Park Boat Ramp (Boat launch)1Rock Dam Beach (Beach)2¼ mileN

Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.

Boat launchBeach
  1. 1Rock Dam County Park Boat Ramp
    Boat launch · Foster
  2. 2Rock Dam Beach
    Beach

Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 69577958), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: Wisconsin DNR boat access sites. Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.

Campgrounds near Rock Dam Lake

We found 2 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Rock Dam Lake. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.

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.

Conditions right now

Air temperature & conditions (nearest NWS station)Loading…
Fetching the latest National Weather Service observation…

Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (44.7281, -90.8427). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Rock Dam Lake. No live water-temperature sensor is shown because we haven't found a public one for this lake.

Sun, moon & best fishing times

Sun & moon at Rock Dam Lake

Best fishing times

Major periodMinor periodDaylight

    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.

    Boat launches & access sites

    1 public access site listed, 1 with a boat ramp or trailer launch.

    SiteTownOwnerTypeParkingFeeUsesMap
    Rock Dam County Park Boat RampFosterClark County Forestry & ParksBoat ramp · Concrete Panels ramp——Boating
    Handicap accessible
    44.7315, -90.8471

    Wisconsin DNR boat access sites

    Fees, hours and rules change; confirm with the site owner before you go.

    Public beaches

    On OpenStreetMap: 1 beach or swimming spot on the shore of Rock Dam Lake not marked private, residents-only or members-only.

    BeachTypeAccessDirections
    Rock Dam BeachBeachAccess not tagged; check posted rulesGet 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.

    Contact & official info

    Questions about Rock Dam Lake

    How big is Rock Dam Lake?

    Rock Dam Lake covers about 96 acres in Foster, Wisconsin (Clark County).

    How deep is Rock Dam Lake?

    The maximum recorded depth is 10 feet, according to the Wisconsin DNR Lake Pages.

    What fish are in Rock Dam Lake?

    Wisconsin DNR Lake Pages lists Largemouth Bass and Panfish.

    Is there a public boat launch on Rock Dam Lake?

    Yes. 1 public trailer launch is listed: Rock Dam County Park Boat Ramp. Check posted fees and parking rules.

    Can you swim in Rock Dam Lake?

    OpenStreetMap shows 1 public beach or swimming spot on the shore. None of our sources lists a lifeguard, so swim at your own risk and follow posted rules.

    Are there campgrounds near Rock Dam Lake?

    Yes. We list 2 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles.

    What towns are on Rock Dam Lake?

    Rock Dam Lake touches Foster in Clark County, Wisconsin.

    Share a tip or fishing report

    Know Rock Dam Lake? 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).

    Lakes & ponds nearby

    Straight-line distance between lake centers. All Wisconsin lakes & ponds · All waters in Foster