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Pewaukee Lake, Wisconsin, USA

Named from the Potawatomi word “Pee-wauk-ee-wee-nick” for “lake of shells,” Pewaukee Lake is a beautiful spring-fed lake. Just 20 miles from Milwaukee in Waukesha County, it is a great place to boat, swim and fish and an easy weekend getaway. In 1838 Asa Clark built a dam and sawmill on the Pewaukee River. The dam flooded a wetland and the existing Snail Lake joining the two bodies…
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    • All About Pewaukee Lake, WI

    Lake Locations: USA - US Midwest Region - Wisconsin - Southern Savanna Region, WI -

    Named from the Potawatomi word “Pee-wauk-ee-wee-nick” for “lake of shells,” Pewaukee Lake is a beautiful spring-fed lake. Just 20 miles from Milwaukee in Waukesha County, it is a great place to boat, swim and fish and an easy weekend getaway.

    In 1838 Asa Clark built a dam and sawmill on the Pewaukee River. The dam flooded a wetland and the existing Snail Lake joining the two bodies of water into Pewaukee Lake. Although the two bodies of water became one, they still maintain different climates and characteristics. The eastern basin of Pewaukee Lake is the flooded wetland with a maximum dept of only ten feet. The western basin is what was Snail Lake. With a maximum depth of 45 feet, it is much more like a deep water lake.

    The Village of Pewaukee rebuilt the Pewaukee Dam in 1976 for recreation, and there is plenty of it on Pewaukee Lake. The lake has been a popular resort destination since 1901, and the Pewaukee Lake Yacht Club has been active for 112 years. The Yacht Club is still active, and Pewaukee Lake is a very popular sailing lake. Boating opportunities don’t end there, however, there is power boating, jet skiing, and water skiing. The Pewaukee Lake Ski Club performs on the lake most summer weekends and their free shows are great entertainment for the entire family. A lot of the lake’s shore is still wooded and there are three islands – perfect to explore by canoe or kayak. With its sandy beach, Pewaukee Lake Front Beach is a great place to swim.

    Water quality on Pewaukee Lake used to tend toward eutrophic. With careful management the lake has come back to a mesotrophic state making it a great place for fish. Anglers will find abundant populations of bluegill, northern pike, walleye, and large mouth bass. There are also muskie and tiger muskie. After a day of fishing or boating, there are several restaurants and taverns with boat access. In the winter the ice fishing is exceptional and there is ice boating and snow mobiling on the lake.

    Accommodations around the lake range from cottages to resorts. The Village of Pewaukee Lake is large enough to have any amenities a visitor could want, but it retains its small town charm. Less than forty miles away, 32,000 acre Horicon Marsh is the largest freshwater cattail marsh in the United States. It has both a State and National Wildlife Refuge and is a fantastic place to hike, bike, hunt, fish, and bird watch.

    Just a few miles from Pewaukee Lake, the Kettle Moraine State Park is a great place to explore. The 20,000 acre park includes the 3,500 acre Scuppernong River Habitat Area. There are also three restored log cabins, and America’s largest outdoor museum of rural life. The state park has plenty of trails for hiking and biking and several camping areas.

    With its proximity to Milwaukee and all the amenities of the Village of Pewaukee Lake there is sure to be something to delight everyone. Add the abundant fishing, boating, and beautiful water and Pewaukee Lake is sure to become a favorite Wisconsin destination.

    Things to Do at Pewaukee Lake

    These are some activities in the Pewaukee Lake, WI area visitors can enjoy:

    • Vacation Rentals
    • Fishing
    • Ice Fishing
    • Boating
    • Sailing
    • Swimming
    • Beach
    • Canoeing
    • Kayaking
    • Jet Skiing
    • Water Skiing
    • Camping
    • Cabin Rentals
    • Hiking
    • Biking
    • Hunting
    • Wildlife Viewing
    • National Wildlife Refuge
    • State Park
    • Museum

    What Kind of Fish Are in Pewaukee Lake?

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

    • Bass
    • Bluegill
    • Largemouth Bass
    • Muskellunge
    • Northern Pike
    • Perch
    • Pike
    • Sunfish
    • Tiger Muskellunge
    • Walleye
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    Find Places to Stay at Pewaukee Lake

    If you’re considering a Pewaukee 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 Pewaukee Lake Vacation

    Our interactive Pewaukee 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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    Pewaukee Lake Statistics & Helpful Links

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    Lake Type: Natural Freshwater Lake, Dammed

    Water Level Control: Village of Pewaukee

    Surface Area: 2,493 acres

    Normal Elevation (Full Pond): 853 feet

    Average Depth: 15 feet

    Maximum Depth: 45 feet

    Water Volume: 15,000 acre-feet

    Completion Year: 1838

    Lake Area-Population: 8,170

    Drainage Area: 28 sq. miles

    Trophic State: Mesotrophic

    Pewaukee Lake Map
    Local Weather Forecast

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