Elkhart Lake: Water, Nature and Motorsports

Elkhart Lake offers a variety of reasons to vacation by the water: the lake is 118 feet deep and covers 286 acres. There is also a public sandy beach, a boat launch and water sports. Other possible focuses include a section of the Ice Age Trail, insights into the history of the resort community and motorsports. Which of these appeals to you most can help you choose a vacation rental or vacation home for your stay in Elkhart Lake.

Lake, Beach and Water Sports

Fireman’s Park and Beach is the only public beach in Elkhart Lake with a sandy beach. Park amenities include a concession stand, picnic tables, grills, sand volleyball courts and clean restrooms. This makes it possible to combine a day at the beach with a range of activities: you can spend time by the water, plan a meal at a picnic table or use the volleyball courts.

There is a public boat launch on County Highway P, just south of County Highway JP. Elkhart Lake Watersports offers the public water-skiing and wakeboarding lessons, as well as water-ski and wakeboard boats. Other offerings include stand-up paddleboards, tubing, pontoon boat rentals, guided party boat rides and kayaks. The range spans everything from lessons and boat use to activities on the water that may suit different interests. If water sports are important to your trip, you can take these offerings into account when planning your stay.

Hiking and Creative Activities

The LaBudde Creek Segment of the Ice Age Trail is a 3.35-mile section of the Ice Age National Trail that passes through the Labudde Creek State Fishery Area in Elkhart Lake. Its stated length provides a concrete guide for planning your day. If you’d like to include a hike alongside time at the lake, you can consider this section as a separate activity.

The Art Room offers a different kind of group activity, with art classes, workshops, parties and customized art experiences for all ages. This may be especially appealing if you’d like to include a creative option alongside outdoor activities during your trip. You can plan around the event information for offerings that fit your stay.

History and Engines

The Elkhart Lake Historic Depot and Museum features original railroad station furnishings, newspaper clippings, photographs and memorabilia. These document the history of the resort community. The Elkhart Lake Depot is open seasonally from Memorial Day through Labor Day. This makes a visit to the depot a cultural and historical focus to consider separately from the days you set aside for the beach, water sports or trail.

Motorsports history is also present in Elkhart Lake: the Elkhart Lake Historic Race Circuit comprises two historic racetracks around Elkhart Lake. Throttlestop displays a changing collection of more than 200 classic motorcycles, 75 collector cars and a selection of engines. Road America is a year-round event venue with special activities for groups of all sizes. This gives travelers interested in motorsports several different points of interest, from historic racetracks to vehicle and engine exhibits.

Markets, Golf and Choosing Accommodation

During the summer months, the Elkhart Lake Farmers & Artisans Market is a Saturday morning tradition. It offers handmade goods and fresh produce. The market adds a local shopping opportunity to your outings; plan it as a separate activity if you’re in town on a Saturday morning.

Quit Qui Oc Golf Club is a 27-hole course on 250 acres in Elkhart Lake and welcomes adults and young people to play golf. The offerings vary considerably, so it’s best to choose a vacation rental or vacation home that suits the experiences you want to include in your trip, without assuming any particular location or amenities.

If you’d like to include other place names in your trip planning, you can also find town pages for Sheboygan Falls, Kohler, Sheboygan, Glenbeulah and Random Lake.

For the broader travel overview: Sheboygan County.