Lake Delton, Wisconsin: The Lake, the Public Beach and What's There

Lake Delton from the air, with homes and woods along the shore — Lake Delton from the air. Photo: Wikideas1, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

If you've driven the Wisconsin Dells Parkway, you've been in Lake Delton. The village sits just south of the city of Wisconsin Dells, and the two run together so closely that most visitors never notice the line. A lot of the Dells' big names are on this side, including Noah's Ark, Mt. Olympus and much of the Parkway strip.

The village is named for the lake itself, a winding, 267-acre lake on Dell Creek, ringed with resorts, homes and sandstone. This guide covers the lake (the beach, boating, rentals and fishing) and the best things to do around it.

Quick facts

The lake: about 267 acres on Dell Creek, built in 1927, with a maximum depth of about 16 feet
The village: incorporated in 1954, about 3,500 people, with the village office at 50 Wisconsin Dells Pkwy S
Public beach: Lake Delton Public Beach on Park Drive, open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., mid-May to mid-September, no lifeguard
Boat launch: E. Adams St and Canyon Rd, $8 a day or $50 a year, closed October through April
From our homes: about 15 to 20 minutes

The lake and its story

Lake Delton isn't a natural lake. Developers built it in 1926 and 1927 purely for recreation, buying up about 2,000 acres of land and damming Dell Creek. The lake filled in 1927, and the resorts followed.

Its most famous moment came on June 9, 2008. After days of heavy rain, the lake overflowed and cut a channel almost 400 feet wide through County Hwy A, and the whole lake drained into the Wisconsin River in a few hours. Three homes washed away. The dam itself held. The village rebuilt the road and the shoreline, closed the gates on April 3, 2009, and the lake was full again by the end of that month, just in time for summer.

Heads up for late fall: the village lowers the lake by 12 inches starting the week of November 23, 2026, so expect lower water and exposed shoreline into winter.

Lake Delton Public Beach

The village's swimming beach is Lake Delton Public Beach on Park Drive. It's open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., mid-May to mid-September, with parking, grills and public restrooms.

There's no lifeguard, so swim at your own risk and keep kids close.
No dogs and no glass on the beach. Pets aren't allowed in any of the village parks.
No boats are allowed in the beach swim area.

The village doesn't publish a beach fee, so check when you arrive.

Not to be confused with Newport Park (70 County Rd A), which has a sandy beach on the Wisconsin River, where Dell Creek flows out, not on the lake. It has shelters, a fishing pier and a boat launch, but the village warns about a strong undertow in the river, so it's not the place for little kids to swim.

For more places to swim, see our outdoor picks, and for a calmer state park beach, Mirror Lake and Devil's Lake are both close.

Boating on Lake Delton

The public boat launch is at E. Adams St and Canyon Rd. A launch pass is $8 a day or $50 for the year (good through December 31), and the launch is closed October through April. Parking is limited and only for vehicles with trailers. There are two launch lanes, two short loading slips and a wheelchair ramp.

Rules worth knowing, from the village code:

Slow, no wake from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. from the Friday before Memorial Day through the Tuesday after Labor Day, in two zones: the north end of the lake, and the Blass Lake and Dell Creek arm up to the Mirror Lake dam. It's not a whole-lake rule, so check the posted buoys.
Rental jet skis can't run from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.
No boats in the public beach swim area.

Rentals:

Dells Watersports (255 Wisconsin Dells Pkwy S), open May 1 to October 15, rents pontoons, ski boats, jet skis, tubes, paddleboards, kayaks and paddleboats.
Holiday Shores rents kayaks and paddleboards, about $20 for an hour, $30 for two and $40 for four.

A pontoon for an afternoon is one of the easiest group outings in the Dells, and it's a nice break from the Parkway traffic.

Fishing

The DNR lists northern pike, walleye, largemouth bass, channel catfish and panfish in Lake Delton. You can fish from a boat or from the Priegel Fishing Pier and Park. Anyone 16 or older needs a Wisconsin fishing license.

The Original Wisconsin Ducks on the lake

The Original Wisconsin Ducks have been splashing into Lake Delton since 1946. The one-hour tour, half on land and half on water, runs through the woods and into both the Wisconsin River and Lake Delton. They run mid-March to mid-November, no reservations needed, from 1890 Wisconsin Dells Pkwy. See our boat tours guide for how the Ducks compare with the river tours.

Things to do around Lake Delton

These are the ones we've done ourselves:

Lost Canyon Tours (720 Canyon Rd): a horse-drawn wagon ride through a narrow sandstone canyon on the south shore of the lake. One of our favorite things we've done in the Dells. Read our Lost Canyon review.
Wilderness Resort and Aquavia Lumina: waterparks all year, and a magical one-mile night walk through a canyon. Read our Wilderness review and Aquavia Lumina review.
Land of Natura: a floating inflatable waterpark on a natural lake, our son's favorite summer day. Read our Land of Natura review.
Moosejaw Pizza & Dells Brewing Co. (110 Wisconsin Dells Pkwy S): a giant lodge-style brewpub that works for a big group. Read our Moosejaw review.

A horse team pulling a wagon into Lost Canyon — Heading into Lost Canyon, on the south shore of the lake.

Also in and around the village, from research:

Noah's Ark and Mt. Olympus on the Parkway. See our Noah's Ark guide and Mt. Olympus guide.
Canyon Creek Horseback Riding Stable (60 Hillman Rd): guided one-hour trail rides. See every horseback riding option.
Crystal Grand Music Theatre: big-name concerts and comedy.
Wild Rock Golf Club and Spring Brook Golf Course for a round near the lake. See golf in Wisconsin Dells.

The Wisconsin Dells Parkway in Lake Delton from the air — The Parkway through Lake Delton. Photo: Wikideas1, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

What happened to Tommy Bartlett?

For decades, the Tommy Bartlett Show was the lake's big summer act, a water-ski and thrill show that started in 1952. It closed for good in September 2020 after losses during the pandemic. In May 2025, Ripley's bought the 37-acre lakefront property, and the Exploratory science center there stays open year-round. As of fall 2026, there's no announced return of the ski show.

Where to eat around the lake

On our list in the Lake Delton area: Bobber's Island Grill (we've been) at 750 Wisconsin Dells Pkwy S, Ravina Bay Bar & Grill and The Green Owl on E. Durkee St, Daylene's Supper Club on County Rd A, and Field's and Sarento's at the Wilderness. Note that Ishnala, the famous supper club in the pines, is on Mirror Lake, not Lake Delton. See all our restaurant picks and filter by the Lake Delton area.

FAQ

Is Lake Delton the same as Wisconsin Dells?

No. Lake Delton is a separate village just south of the city of Wisconsin Dells, but they run together. Much of the Wisconsin Dells Parkway, including Noah's Ark and Mt. Olympus, is in Lake Delton.

Is there a public beach on Lake Delton?

Yes. Lake Delton Public Beach on Park Drive is open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., mid-May to mid-September, with parking, grills and restrooms. There's no lifeguard, and dogs and glass aren't allowed.

Can you swim in Lake Delton?

Yes, at the public beach on Park Drive. There's no lifeguard, so swim at your own risk. Newport Park's beach is on the Wisconsin River, where the village warns of a strong undertow.

Where can you rent a boat on Lake Delton?

Dells Watersports on the Parkway rents pontoons, ski boats, jet skis, kayaks and paddleboards from May 1 to October 15, and Holiday Shores rents kayaks and paddleboards.

Where is the Lake Delton boat launch?

At E. Adams St and Canyon Rd. It's $8 a day or $50 a year, and it's closed October through April.

What happened to Lake Delton in 2008?

On June 9, 2008, heavy rain overflowed the lake and cut a channel through County Hwy A, and the lake drained into the Wisconsin River in a few hours. Three homes washed away. The lake was refilled by the end of April 2009.

How deep is Lake Delton?

The DNR lists a maximum depth of about 16 feet.

More guides

Photo credits

Photos not listed here are ours. Aerial photos of the lake and the Parkway: Wikideas1, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Lake, beach, launch and boating details are from the Village of Lake Delton and the Wisconsin DNR, checked October 2026. Check before you go, since they change.