RICE LAKE
About Rice Lake
Nestled in the Kettle Moraine Southern Forest, Rice Lake is adjacent to Whitewater Lake. The lake spans 167 acres with 3.3 miles of shoreline (Learn more facts & figures)
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Rice Lake offers plenty of watersports and recreation including:
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Fishing for Panfish, Largemouth Bass, & Northern Pike
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Boating, paddle boarding, kayaking, & swimming
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Nearby hiking, biking, horseback riding, cross country skiing, and snowmobiling trails
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A public boat launch, the Rice Lake Nature Trail, and a recreational area to the north, located within the Kettle Moraine State Forest
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The Rice Lake Dry Prairie State Natural Area towards the east
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The Dr. O.R. Memorial Picnic Area provides a picnic area
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After the closing of the dam that created Whitewater Lake in 1947, a second spring-fed lake was created on the other side of the dam. The state park expanded another 255 acres. The eastern and northern side of Rice Lake would be state owned, while the southern and western side of the lake would be privately owned and subdivided (Learn more about the History of Whitewater & Rice Lakes).
Lake Info
Beaches:
Boat Launches:
Size of Lake:
Max Depth:
Mean Depth:
Lakefront Properties:
0
1
167 acres
11+ feet
5.8 feet
55
About the Whitewater Area
Take a short drive to Downtown Whitewater for lodging, dining, shopping, and activities. Whitewater has excellent public schools, the nationally recognized University of Wisconsin - Whitewater, business and technology parks, a historic downtown, a growing retail environment, and a variety of community events. Whitewater is also an Ice Age Trail community.​
Whitewater provides an excellent quality of life. Studies show that many individuals prefer "micropolitan" areas or small towns on the fringe of larger cities. Whitewater is approximately 50 miles from Madison, 50 miles from Milwaukee, and 80 miles from Chicago.
Whitewater Lake attracts both full-time Wisconsin residents and many vacationers from the Chicago area and northern Illinois. In addition to Whitewater Lake, Whitewater is also home to Rice Lake, Cravath Lake, and Trippe Lake.