WisconsinNatural lakeDane County

Lake Mendota

Lake Mendota covers about 9,736 acres of the Yahara River in Wisconsin. Its shoreline falls inside Dane County. WI DNR / Dane County manages it. The gauge last read 849.89 ft.

Water level today: 849.89 ft · see the full record

Photo: Dori · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

CountiesDane County

Coordinates43.1067, -89.4247

Surface area9,736 acres

Max depth83 ft

RiverYahara River

Managed byWI DNR / Dane County

Swimming beaches on Lake Mendota

3 named swimming spots and shoreline access points, from USGS GNIS, Recreation.gov and the Forest Service. None is staffed by a lifeguard unless the operating agency posts one.

Lake Mendota

Warner Beach

Dane County; 2.7 mi from the lake center.

USGS GNISSwimming

Lake Mendota

Spring Harbor Beach

Dane County; 2.8 mi from the lake center.

USGS GNISSwimming

Lake Mendota

Marshall Beach

Dane County; 3.0 mi from the lake center.

USGS GNISSwimming

Lake Mendota on the map

Lake center, swimming spots and access points.

Get directions

Weather and water temperature

Air temperature and wind from Open-Meteo. Water temperature only when the lake has a public sensor.

Weather data by Open-Meteo

Water level today

Readings come from station 05428000 (LAKE MENDOTA AT MADISON, WI). The last value stored here, 849.89 ft, is from 2026-09-09. Beach width and ramp access both move with the pool, so the number above is worth a look first.

849.89 ft trend not available

Reading of Sep 9, 2026 · source: USGS

Full water level record for Lake Mendota

Is Lake Mendota good for swimming?

The center of the lake is at 43.1067, -89.4247. Maximum depth is around 83 feet. Surface elevation is about 850 feet.

If Lake Mendota is busy, the nearest alternatives here are Lake Monona (Wisconsin, 4 mi), Lake Waubesa (Wisconsin, 8 mi) and Lake Kegonsa (Wisconsin, 13 mi). In all, 34 lakes in Wisconsin are covered here.

The shoreline of Lake Mendota has 3 named swimming spots in the datasets we read. Warner Beach, Spring Harbor Beach and Marshall Beach are on the list. These come from USGS GNIS. Fees and opening dates are set by each park, not by the agency that runs the water.

No public sensor reports water temperature at Lake Mendota, so the panel shows air temperature and wind. Water quality is monitored unevenly on inland lakes, so posted notices are the most reliable guide. Most Wisconsin day-use areas open for the summer season and close outside it.

Questions about Lake Mendota

Can you swim in Lake Mendota?

Yes. This guide maps 3 named swimming spots around the lake, including Warner Beach and Spring Harbor Beach. None is staffed by a lifeguard unless the operating agency posts one.

How big is Lake Mendota?

About 9,736 acres. Maximum depth is around 83 feet.

What other lakes are near Lake Mendota?

The closest in this guide is Lake Monona, about 4 miles away in Wisconsin.