By Mike Koehler

For many tourists and locals alike, the most common view of Elkhart Lake is from the walkway and overlook near the Osthoff resort. The views are splendid, but for a different – more adventurous – view of Elkhart Lake consider a stand up paddleboard (SUP) excursion on the lake. This post takes you on a SUP tour of Elkhart Lake.

For starters, the best time to paddleboard on Elkhart Lake is mornings before 10am or after 7:30pm to sunset as slow-no-wake rules for boats are in effect during these time periods. Let’s face it, navigating wind created waves atop a paddleboard is tough enough, let alone wake from boats. 

Those with access to the resident beach are allowed to launch SUP’s adjacent to the beach, but for others the best option is to launch at the public boat launch located at County Road P west of Elkhart Lake on the western most portion of the lake and that is where this journey begins (Point 1).

You begin the journey through a narrow bay and will notice in front of you the signature buildings of Camp Brosius, a family camp that has been in existence for approximately 100 years.

Upon exiting the bay, navigate right and Elkhart Lake opens up before you and atop the paddleboard you will come to appreciate the crystal clear waters of Elkhart Lake. Although Elkhart Lake generally has a wooded shoreline, being on the water best allows you to see the many well kept homes, cottages, piers and boathouses that dot the shoreline (Point 2).

One of the best things about being on a paddleboard on Elkhart Lake is the flexibility it provides and the ability to jump in and create your own personal swimming area. Indeed, one of my favorite things to do while paddleboarding on Elkhart Lake is simply to rest my arms on the board, float in the water, and watch the world go by. (Point 3).

Being on the lake provides different vantage points seldom seen including this view across the lake to the Osthoff Resort in the background. (Point 4)

Although Elkhart Lake is one of the deepest lakes in the state (maximum depth approximately 120 feet), there are portions of the lake that are shallow including Turtle Bay where the water depth is approximately 2-4 feet. (Point 5). This tranquil bay provides a calm retreat from the wind and boats and offers a unique perspective “looking out” towards the lake proper.

As you navigate the perimeter of Elkhart Lake, you will also notice that its shoreline is diverse. Some portions of the lake are shallow 15-20 feet from the shore, whereas other portions of the lake are 7-10 feet deep just a few feet from the shoreline. One of the most dramatic “drop offs” in Elkhart Lake is near the point exciting Turtle Bay as the depth changes from approximately 1-2 feet to well over 10 feet in a matter of seconds (Point 6). 

Paddleboarding on Elkhart Lake is enjoyable generally from May – October. In the spring, the water tends to be the clearest and the lack of underwater vegetation during this period provides the best opportunity to view fish atop a paddleboard including Elkhart Lake’s resident giant muskies. During summer, the water of course is most enjoyable and provides ample opportunities to jump off your board and enjoy your own private swimming area. Thereafter, Fall brings color to the shoreline and creates beautiful reflections on the water.  No matter the season, a SUP tour of Elkhart Lake’s perimeter (generally a 1.5 to 2 hour trip) is an enjoyable excursion and a unique way to “Be a Resorter.”

By Señor Momento

Some visitors think Elkhart Lake is expensive and only for the affluent. Others think vacationing here is quaint, relaxing and a real deal! It all depends on how you perceive value. In my eyes, you don’t need a fancy automobile, car condominium or home on the lake to enjoy the Elkhart Lake I love so much. No matter who you are or how you look at it, a visit to Elkhart Lake’s Fireman’s Beach is a sweet deal.

Although I live here now and can take advantage of Elkhart Lake’s residents beach, I decided to show my granddaughter, Zoe, the beach of my youth and where I took her daddy and uncle to swim when they were little boys. Back when I was a child, occasionally someone would take us to Elkhart Lake to swim. The long, hot car ride from home to Elkhart Lake seemed to take forever — although it was only about 30 minutes.  Four friends and two moms packed in a sedan with no AC was not a fond memory; especially if you were the one stuck in the front between the moms. By the time my boys made the trip to Firemans Beach, at least we had air conditioning in the car — I think?

My fond memories of Firemans Beach have not changed much. The sandy area for digging rivers and building castles has been expanded. A sand volleyball court is quite the luxury as are the new restrooms. But it’s a joy to visit the same concession building which remains relatively unchanged over the past 60 years. Yikes! As a test of time, I gave Zoe just a $1 bill to see what she could find to fill her sweet tooth. Well, she didn’t need to spend it all to be satisfied. I love that little girl.

On the day of our visit, Bella Cain was working the concession stand for her family’s business. Happily she let Zoe examine the many containers of penny candy. There were bags of goodies for 50 cents and boxes for just 25 cents and, of course, there were ice cream treats and chips at family-friendly prices. At a gate admission of only $3/adult and $1/child, you can spend the entire day and evening on the shores of beautiful Elkhart Lake.

Today, with just a 2-mile trek to the beach, it’s a breeze to get there. And, sitting on the beach with a delightful breeze off the lake has become a family favorite.

By Elkhart Lake Improvement Association

The crystal-clear waters of Elkhart Lake is the most prized possession of the Village.  This speaks to the importance of lake stewardship or Best Practices when swimming and boating on Elkhart Lake. 

Elkhart Lake Improvement Association, also known as ELIA,  would like to share these very important tips for residents and visitors using the lake.

1.Clean Boats, Clean Waters – Following the Clean Boats, Clean Waters program guidelines to help prevent the introduction or limit the spread of aquatic invasive species.  Inspectors at the boat launch conduct boat and trailer inspections and educate boaters on how to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species.  Follow the Wisconsin transport laws for boaters and anglers:

                INSPECT your boat, trailer and equipment

                REMOVE any attached aquatic plant of animals (before launching, after loading and (before transporting on a public highway).

                DRAIN all water from boats, motors and all equipment

                NEVER MOVE live fish away from a waterbody

                DISPOSE of unwanted bait in the trash

                BUY minnows from a Wisconsin bait dealer.  Use leftover minnows only under certain conditions.

2. Keep trash from blowing overboard – Bring it back to port for proper disposal or even pick up trash you find in the lake.  Like the camping motto – “pack it in, pack it out.”

3. Follow “no WAKE” postings

4. Don’t Spill Fuel – Be careful when fueling your boat; catch any overflow with petroleum absorbent materials.

5. Fisherman – Never leave fishing line in the lake or tangles in trees or docks.

6. Use onshore restrooms

For more information on Keep Elkhart Lake Blue, visit https://keepelkhartblue.org/