Lake Onalaska
Lake Onalaska is a 8,391-acre lake in La Crosse County, Wisconsin, up to 40 feet deep, with 322 waterfront parcels on its shore. Fish include panfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike and walleye. It has 7 public boat landings and public land or a park on the shore.
- Size: 8,391 acres
- Deepest point: 40 ft
- Average depth: 6 ft
- Fish: Panfish, Largemouth bass, Smallmouth bass, Northern pike, Walleye
- Public access: 7 public boat landings and public land or a park on the shore
- Boating: Full recreation: over 50 acres, so open to water-skiing and boating at speed under state law
- Local boating ordinances on record: slow-no-wake areas and a speed limit
- Drive time without traffic: Eau Claire 1 hr 35 min, Madison 2 hr 15 min, Twin Cities 2 hr 25 min, Waukesha 2 hr 55 min, Milwaukee 3 hr 10 min, Rockford 3 hr 10 min, Appleton 3 hr 15 min, Green Bay 3 hr 45 min, Chicago 4 hr 10 min
- Invasive species on record: Curly-Leaf Pondweed, Eurasian Water-Milfoil, Faucet Snail, Hybrid Eurasian / Northern Water-Milfoil, Purple Loosestrife, Water Hyacinth, Yellow Iris
- Waterfront parcels: 322 waterfront parcels
Questions about Lake Onalaska
How many waterfront properties are on Lake Onalaska?
322 waterfront parcels front Lake Onalaska in La Crosse County. That counts parcels on the water from county parcel maps, not homes for sale.
How big is Lake Onalaska?
Lake Onalaska covers 8,391 acres in La Crosse County, Wisconsin.
How deep is Lake Onalaska?
Lake Onalaska is 40 feet deep at its deepest point, and 6 feet deep on average.
What fish are in Lake Onalaska?
The Wisconsin DNR lists panfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike and walleye in Lake Onalaska.
Is there public access to Lake Onalaska?
Yes. Lake Onalaska has 7 public boat landings and public land or a park on the shore.
Can you water-ski or run a boat at speed on Lake Onalaska?
Lake Onalaska is over 50 acres, so Wisconsin's slow-no-wake rule for small lakes does not apply and boats may run at speed, staying slow within 100 feet of shore, docks and swimmers. Local ordinances on record include slow-no-wake areas and a speed limit; the ordinance itself says which part of the lake or the day each covers.
How long is the drive to Lake Onalaska?
By car, Lake Onalaska is about 1 hr 35 min from Eau Claire, 2 hr 15 min from Madison, 2 hr 25 min from the Twin Cities and 4 hr 10 min from Chicago. Those are typical times without traffic, to the nearest road at the lake.