Pike Lake Beach
Hartford
Camp, Canoe, Hike, Kayak, and Swim
Pike Lake Beach is the public swimming beach in the Pike Lake Unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest, a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources property about 3 miles east of downtown Hartford in Washington County. The sand beach sits on the east shore of Pike Lake, a glacial kettle lake that the DNR's water records list at about 461 acres (the forest's own page gives 522). The lake fills a basin left by a melting ice block at the edge of the Green Bay glacier, and the wooded hills of the Kettle Moraine rise behind the picnic grounds.
The forest sits off State Highway 60 on Kettle Moraine Road, and the beach is part of the main day-use area. Parking lots sit along the road just inland from the sand, so the walk from car to water is a couple of minutes across lawn. Every vehicle that stops in the forest needs a Wisconsin state park admission pass. As of the rates effective August 19, 2025, a daily pass costs $13 for a car with Wisconsin plates, $16 with out-of-state plates and $3 for Wisconsin residents 65 and older; 12-month passes are $28 resident and $50 nonresident. Passes are sold online from the DNR and at the forest office, and the DNR adds a $5 charge if you use the park before paying. Walking or biking in is not charged. The forest is open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. all year.
The swim area is a section of shallow water marked by tall white buoys, and anglers are asked to stay outside it. Away from the beach the lake is generally shallow with one deep hole, reaching about 45 feet at its deepest, and the bottom elsewhere is a mix of muck, gravel and sand. There are no lifeguards, so children need an adult watching at all times. Water is warmest from late June through August; Pike Lake freezes over in winter. The DNR lends a beach wheelchair from the office at no charge.
Pike Lake is a busy boating lake with public landings on the far shore, and motorboats share the open water with swimmers in summer, so stay inside the buoys. The forest's boat launch is just south of the beach and a canoe and kayak launch is just north of it, and the DNR scheduled a universal kayak launch with a transfer bench for June 2025. Dogs are not allowed on the swimming beach. They have their own pet swim beach a short walk north, plus marked pet picnic tables. The DNR has tested the beach for E. coli and found it meeting state recreation standards, but any Wisconsin beach can post a short-term advisory after heavy rain, so check the signs at the sand. Walleye from the lake carry a mercury fish consumption advisory.
The beach backs onto a large picnic area with grills, tables, flush toilets, a shower building, a playground and two reservable shelters, plus a lakeside amphitheater. A crushed-stone bike trail starts at the picnic area and runs north to Hartford. Nine hiking trails cover the forest, including a segment of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail and the 1.1-mile climb from the beach lot to Powder Hill, a glacial kame with an observation tower that looks out over the lake. The forest also has a family campground for overnight stays.
More Information
Fishing | Kettle Moraine State Forest – Pike Lake Unit | Wisconsin DNR
Pike Lake was named for its excellent walleye pike fishing, but there are also several other types of game fish in the lake. Anglers can either fish from boats or shore, outside the marked swimming area (tall white buoys). Also, Pike Lake offers an accessible fishing pier.
https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/parks/pikelake/recreation/fishingHiking | Kettle Moraine State Forest – Pike Lake Unit | Wisconsin DNR
Nine different hiking trails provide a variety of topography and scenery. Summer is a great time to view wildflowers while walking the forest trails. Pets must be on a leash 8 feet or shorter at all times. View the Trail Map.
https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/parks/pikelake/recreation/hikingPets | Kettle Moraine State Forest – Pike Lake Unit | Wisconsin DNR
Pets are welcome at Pike Lake with a few simple rules. Pets must be on a leash no longer than 8 feet, under control and attended to at all times. Pets are allowed at the pet swimming beach, in designated pet picnic areas east of the gravel bike trail, and at specific tables with "Pets OK" white posts located at the parking lot. Pet owners must clean up after their pets. Please remember that pets are not allowed in any building, picnic shelter, at the beach, on the observation tower or on the Black Forest Nature Trail.
https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/parks/pikelake/recreation/petsPicnic Areas and Shelters | Kettle Moraine State Forest – Pike Lake Unit | Wisconsin DNR
The Pike Lake Unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest offers a large picnic area adjacent to Pike Lake. Several picnic tables and grills are available throughout the picnic area. A swimming beach, pet swim area and hiking trails can all be accessed from the picnic area.
https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/parks/pikelake/recreation/dayuseWater Detail - Pike Lake, Rubicon River Watershed (UR11)
Pike Lake, Rubicon River Watershed (UR11)
https://apps.dnr.wi.gov/water/waterDetail.aspx?key=18227Water Recreation | Kettle Moraine State Forest – Pike Lake Unit | Wisconsin DNR
The state forest offers a swimming beach. Lifeguards are not provided.
https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/parks/pikelake/recreation/waterBe courteous, informed, and prepared. Read trailhead guidelines, stay on the trail, and don't feed the wildlife.
Read More
- Plan Ahead and Prepare
- Travel & camp on durable surfaces
- Dispose of waste properly
- Leave what you find
- Minimize campfire impacts
- Respect wildlife
- Be considerate of other visitors
Directions
From Hartford
- Head north on Main St toward State House Square (0.3 mi)
- Turn left onto Chapel St N (312 ft)
- Continue straight to stay on Chapel St N (92 ft)
- Turn left onto the I-84 W ramp to Waterbury (0.2 mi)
- Merge onto I-84 (12.5 mi)
- Keep left to stay on I-84, follow signs for Waterbury (17.1 mi)
- Keep right to stay on I-84 (28.6 mi)
- Keep right to stay on I-84, follow signs for NewburghPassing through New YorkEntering Pennsylvania(125 mi)
- Keep right to stay on I-84 (0.7 mi)
- Merge onto I-380 N/
I-84 (3.3 mi) - Take the exit on the left onto I-81 S toward Wilkes-Barre (36.3 mi)
- Take exit 151B to merge onto I-80 W toward Bloomsburg (203 mi)
- Slight left (2.0 mi)
- Merge onto I-80 WEntering Ohio(71.4 mi)
- Take the exit to stay on I-80 WToll road(215 mi)
- Keep left to continue on I-90 WToll roadEntering Indiana(160 mi)
- Keep left to stay on I-90 WToll roadEntering Illinois(7.8 mi)
- Take the I-94 W/
I-90 W exit on the left toward Ryan Expy Toll road(0.3 mi) - Merge onto I-90Exp W/
I-94Exp W (4.8 mi) - Merge onto I-90 W/
I-94 W (10.7 mi) - Keep right to continue on I-94 W, follow signs for Edens Expwy/
Milwaukee (13.5 mi) - Take the I-94 W exit toward MilwaukeeToll road(0.5 mi)
- Continue onto I-94 WToll road(2.7 mi)
- Keep left to stay on I-94 WToll road(21.7 mi)
- Keep left to stay on I-94 WToll roadParts of this road may be closed at certain times or daysEntering Wisconsin(36.6 mi)
- Slight right onto I-41 (signs for I-43 S/
I-894/ Madison/ Fond du Lac) (6.2 mi) - Keep right to stay on I-41 (24.6 mi)
- Slight left onto I-41/
US-41 N (signs for Fond du Lac) (0.9 mi) - Take exit 60 for WI-145 (0.2 mi)
- At the traffic circle, take the 2nd exit onto US-45 ALT/
WI-145 N (0.1 mi) - At the traffic circle, take the 1st exit onto US-45 ALT (0.8 mi)
- Continue straight onto Pioneer Rd (2.5 mi)
- Turn right onto WI-164 N (1.0 mi)
- Turn left onto County Hwy E (3.0 mi)
- Turn right onto Kettle Moraine Rd/
Kettle Moraine Scenic Dr (0.9 mi) - Turn left (171 ft)
- Turn left (236 ft)
- Turn right (285 ft)
The sand beach and shoreline of Pike Lake in the Pike Lake Unit. courtesy of Yinan Chen↗ (Public Domain↗)
The lakeside picnic lawn beside the beach, with Pike Lake beyond. courtesy of Archbob↗ (CC0↗)
Pike Lake seen through the trees from the picnic grounds. courtesy of Yinan Chen↗ (Public Domain↗)
Open water looking across Pike Lake from the east shore. courtesy of Yinan Chen↗ (Public Domain↗)
Sunset over Pike Lake with a canoe out on the water. courtesy of Yinan Chen↗ (Public Domain↗)
Late afternoon sun over Pike Lake from the east shore. courtesy of Yinan Chen↗ (Public Domain↗)
Pike Lake frozen over at sunset in winter. courtesy of Jake Komp↗ (CC BY-SA 3.0↗)
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