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Door County Lakes

Find Tamer, Warmer Waters in Inland Lakes

The waters of Lake Michigan, Green Bay, and the Great Lakes are wonderful—but sometimes, you can’t beat the pace of a day spent on an inland lake. Kayak and swim in shallower, more serene waters, spend a lazy day fishing, or hang a hammock between two trees and simply take in the lake views. Or, if open water is calling your name, take to Lake Michigan or Green Bay for sailing, ferry rides, and high-speed water sports.

Check Out the Winter Guide for Vacation Inspiration

Largest Lakes in Door County

Kangaroo Lake
At 1,156 acres, Kangaroo Lake is Door County’s largest inland lake and is located in Baileys Harbor. With a maximum depth of 12 feet, it’s an ideal spot for swimming, boating, fishing, kayaking, and canoeing. If you're into fishing, you'll find this lake stocked with Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, and Walleye.

A causeway was built in the late 1800s and separates the lake into the developed southern portion and the undeveloped northern portion, which consists of extensive wetlands. The entire north end of Kangaroo Lake is ringed by floating sedge mats and surrounded by a lowland forest of white cedar, black ash, tamarack, black spruce, and balsam fir.

Clark Lake
This 865-acre lake is located north of Whitefish Dunes State Park near Jacksonport and is a popular fishing spot for Walleye, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, and Trout.

Clark Lake has one public boat launch, at the end of Town Line Road on the west side. It can be accessed from three public parks or natural areas: Logan Creek State Natural Area, Whitefish Dunes State Park, and Whitefish Dunes State Natural Area.

A person silhouetted standing by the lake at sunset

Mid-Sized Lakes in Door County

Lake Mackaysee
This 347-acre lake is located on the northeast side of Chambers Island. The lake has a maximum depth of 27 feet and a mean depth of 6 feet. Most of Chambers Island is privately owned, but there is a public boat launch at the East Dock on the island.

Lake Mackaysee is home to a number of fish, including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, and Northern Pike; it also contains two small islands of its own.

Europe Lake
This 297-acre lake is located near Gills Rock at the northeastern tip of the peninsula. Europe Lake can be accessed from a public boat landing at the end of Europe Lake Road or Newport State Park.

Europe Lake is mainly a lowland marsh. It's the easternmost lake in Wisconsin and a popular fishing spot for Panfish, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, and Walleye.

Woman in a hammock near the lake with someone paddle boarding in the background

Smaller Lakes in Door County

Lost Lake
The second smallest lake at only 92 acres, Lost Lake is located almost directly between Egg Harbor and Jacksonport, sitting southeast of the Egg Harbor Fun Park. It is part of a watershed with Logan Creek and Clark Lake. Lost Lake is landlocked and currently has no public access points.

Little Lake
The smallest lake in Door County at 65 acres, Little Lake is located within 250 feet of Lake Michigan on the northwest side of Washington Island. The area was once home to a village of Native Americans and has a burial ground. Artifacts as old as 3,000 years have been found in the area.

Little Lake was created thousands of years ago and is currently only 3 feet above Lake Michigan's water level.

Marinas & Boat Launches

Life's Better by the Lake

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Docked fishing boat
A hand holding a small lavender spring with the lake in the background
A branch of changing leaves over the lake
A woman striking a pose for the camera while on a boat
A group of people standing in the lake silhouetted by the sunset
Beached kayaks
Bright blue sky with clouds over the lake with sailboats out on the water
Sign post with many signs against a starry night sky
Docked sailboats in a marina against a starry night sky
Iced over pier railings with a sunset over the lake in the background
Point of view from a couple taking a selfie while kayaking
Kayaks beached on a stone beach
Silhouetted objects in the foreground with a sunset in the background
Clouds low in the sky over the lake horizon
An orange sunset over the lake
Aerial point of view looking down at tree tips and the waves crashing into the sandy beach
Golden hour sunset over the lake, beach, and tree line
Looking at a sailboat and kayaker peaking out from the trees on the lake
A big water crash onto rocks from the lake
From the point of view of people taking a selfie while having a good time sitting on a sailboat
Rocks creating a wall out into the lake
Two women taking a selfie while out on a jet ski
Sunny and cloudy sky with trees in the foreground
From the point of view looking out the front of a kayak toward the sunsetting
Trees lining the cliffs of a water inlet
A person taking a picture of the sunsetting over the lake
A solo kayaker in the lake
A parent with their child and dog in winter looking out at the lake
Sunsetting by trees and a bike silhouetted by the lake
A person sitting on a paddle board with the paddle raised and the sun setting in the background
A cloudy blue sky reflecting over the lake
A woman doing a headstand on a paddle board
Two kayaks on the rocks out of the lake
Close up of flowers with the lake in the background
A dock on Kangaroo Lake.

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