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Madison Lake, Minnesota, USA

Madison Lake is a natural, freshwater lake situated in Minnesota’s Blue Earth County. It is a rather large lake, with a surface area of 1,113 acres and a maximum depth of 59 feet. Madison Lake features 9.8 miles of immaculate shoreline for fishing, swimming and sunbathing. One of the most popular walleye lakes in the state, Madison Lake is also abundant in black crappie, northern pike, bluegill,…
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    • All About Madison Lake, MN

    Lake Locations: USA - US Midwest Region - Minnesota - Southern Minnesota -

    Madison Lake is a natural, freshwater lake situated in Minnesota’s Blue Earth County. It is a rather large lake, with a surface area of 1,113 acres and a maximum depth of 59 feet. Madison Lake features 9.8 miles of immaculate shoreline for fishing, swimming and sunbathing.

    One of the most popular walleye lakes in the state, Madison Lake is also abundant in black crappie, northern pike, bluegill, white crappie and yellow perch. In addition, determined anglers can find gizzard shad and small numbers of largemouth bass. Facilities include a boat landing and fishing dock. Canoeing, paddle boating and sailing are other exciting diversions to try at Madison Lake.

    The municipality surrounding Madison Lake is known as the City of Madison. Three city parks – Lindberg, Northshore and Fasnacht Parks – offer T-ball and soccer fields for public use. Bray Park similarly provides 100 acres of land on the southern shore of Madison Lake, with picnic tables, fire rings, playgrounds and campsites equipped with electrical hookups. A .7-mile interpretive trail combined with a 1.4-mile path creates a fantastic outdoor setting for leisurely hiking. Children and adults of all ages can’t help but adore the park’s 70-foot swinging bridge.

    Just north of Madison Lake, Duck Lake Park features volleyball, canoeing and paddle boating. Fishing among Duck Lake’s 288-acre surface area yields catches of crappie, northern pike, walleye, sunfish and bass. Roughly 3.5 miles west of Madison Lake, Eagle Lake Park is a choice place to trawl for bullhead.

    Hiking enthusiasts will love Madison Lake for its proximity to the Sakatah Singing Hills Trail. This 39-mile path is every bit as beautiful as its name suggests, as it passes by the sparkling waters belonging to Madison, Ballantyne and Duck Lakes. The trail is also ideal for in-line skating and horseback riding throughout the summer, and during the winter it freezes into a hot spot for cross country skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling. The Cannon River broadens to naturally create Lake Sakatah, another body of water that can be found along the Sakatah Singing Hills Trail.

    The Rapidan Dam Park in Blue Earth County is a fantastic day trip from Madison Lake. Composed of 32 acres, the preserve runs along the dreamy banks of the Blue Earth River. While canoeing is the most well known activity here, night fishing is also worthwhile. Furthermore, the Red Jacket Trail passes through Rapidan Dam Park as it stretches from the Minnesota River all the way to Mankato’s Rasmussen Park. It is named after a Seneca Indian chief who lived in the area from 1758 to 1830. This 13-mile scenic path parallels a dramatic ravine, and was formerly a railroad track.

    Thirteen ice skating rinks can be found within Madison Lake’s vicinity, mostly in the city of Mankato. Also nearby you’ll find the Seven Mile Creek Trail, perfect for leisurely hiking; and Minneopa State Park, home to the largest waterfall in the area.

    Madison Lake and its surrounding city have a well-recorded history. Originally, Native Americans had named the territory “Waukensika,” but this was changed when government officials revised three lakes’ titles to honor the country’s most memorable presidents: Madison, Jefferson and Washington.

    Many notable historical figures have frequented Madison Lake, including Charles Lindbergh in 1923 with his WWI surplus aircraft, “Jenny.” In 1911, President Taft also traveled through for political reasons.

    Ample real estate and vacation rentals are available at Madison Lake, including spectacular cabins with stunning lakeside views. Local homeowners agree that this area is a fantastic place to live. Madison Lake offers nature at its very best, while boasting a convenient location just minutes away from all that the big city has to offer.

    Things to Do at Madison Lake

    These are some activities in the Madison Lake, MN area visitors can enjoy:

    • Vacation Rentals
    • Fishing
    • Boating
    • Sailing
    • Swimming
    • Canoeing
    • Camping
    • Picnicking
    • Cabin Rentals
    • Hiking
    • Ice Skating
    • Cross-Country Skiing
    • Snowmobiling
    • Horseback Riding
    • Waterfall
    • Birding
    • State Park
    • City Park
    • Playground

    What Kind of Fish Are in Madison Lake?

    Madison Lake has been known to have the following fish species:

    • Bass
    • Black Bass
    • Black Crappie
    • Bluegill
    • Crappie
    • Gizzard Shad
    • Largemouth Bass
    • Northern Pike
    • Perch
    • Pike
    • Shad
    • Sunfish
    • Walleye
    • White Crappie
    • Yellow Perch
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    Find Places to Stay at Madison Lake

    If you’re considering a Madison Lake lake house rental or hotel, we’ve made it super easy to find the best rates and compare vacation accommodations at a glance. Save time using this interactive map below.

    Note: These are affiliate links and we may earn a small commission if you click and make a purchase. Read our full disclosure policy here.

    More Sites to Book a Madison Lake Vacation

    Our interactive Madison Lake lodging map above is an easy tool for comparing VRBO rental homes and nearby hotels with Booking.com, but there could be times when you need to expand your search for different types of accommodations. Here are some other lake lodging partners we recommend:

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    Madison Lake Statistics & Helpful Links

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    Lake Type: Natural Freshwater Lake, Not Dammed

    Surface Area: 1,113 acres

    Shoreline Length: 10 miles

    Normal Elevation (Full Pond): 1,024 feet

    Average Depth: 11 feet

    Maximum Depth: 59 feet

    Drainage Area: 5,547 sq. miles

    Trophic State: Eutrophic

    Madison Lake Map
    Lake Water Level
    Local Weather Forecast

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