Crystal Lake Park
Beaver Dam, Wisconsin · on Crystal Creek · Crystal Lake Park
Verified · 4 independent sources · top-verified
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- Free
- SEASON
- Best in summer
About Crystal Lake Park
Crystal Lake Park is a 43-acre city park in the Town of Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, about half a mile east of downtown off Highway 33. Its centerpiece is Crystal Lake, a small (~7-8 acre) spring-fed impoundment created by a 9-foot dam, a compact swimming hole with an official, free, lifeguarded public swimming beach operated by the City of Beaver Dam.
The park sits just outside the city of Beaver Dam and covers roughly 43 acres of mixed open and wooded land around the lake, with picnic shelters, sports fields, a playground, and an 18-hole disc golf course surrounding the water. Per Wisconsin DNR records, Crystal Lake itself is a man-made impoundment (about 8 acres, maximum depth 9 feet) fed in part by a natural spring that discharges roughly 60,000 gallons of water per hour into the beach area.
Swimming at Crystal Lake Park
Swimming takes place at a designated sandy beach on Crystal Lake, staffed by lifeguards during operating hours (1-5pm daily in the June 1-August 16 season, per the city's 2026 schedule). The lake is shallow relative to its 9-foot maximum depth and spring-fed, which locals and secondary sources describe as keeping the water clear and cool; it is set up as a family swim spot, with a rule requiring adult supervision for children 12 and under.
How to get to this swimming hole
Located at N7190 (N) Crystal Lake Road, Beaver Dam, WI 53916, about half a mile east of downtown Beaver Dam off Highway 33 East.
Parking: Multiple parking lots on site, per the city facility listing and a park-directory site.
The hike in
- Time on foot
- Under a couple of minutes' walk from the nearest parking lot to the beach.
No hike is needed to reach the swimming beach - it's a drive-up city park with on-site parking lots directly adjacent to the sand. Paved/well-maintained walking and running paths loop around the lake through the park for those who want to stroll after swimming, but they are recreational add-ons, not access routes to the water.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
Good for kids
Designated sandy swim beach with lifeguards on duty during the 1-5pm daily operating window (June 1-Aug 16 season); city rules require adult supervision for children 12 and under. Lake is shallow relative to its 9-ft max depth and spring-fed/cool. No cliffs, currents, or waterfall hazards reported; a playground sits adjacent to the beach for younger kids.
Parking
Lot
Multiple on-site parking lots serve the park/beach (confirmed by the city's own facility listing and a third-party park directory); no separate parking fee was mentioned in any source, but none explicitly states parking is free, so cost is left null. Beach admission itself is free.
Restrooms
Yes
Handicap-accessible restrooms are part of the on-site bathhouse at the beach, per the official City of Beaver Dam facility page.
Water clarity
Varies with season and flow
Sources conflict. The Wisconsin DNR's official water quality record rates the lake's general condition as only 'Fair' and specifically notes 'swimming conditions could be improved,' citing historical silt accumulation and drainage-related pollution issues. By contrast, some generic, template-style articles describe the water as 'crystal clear' and 'exceptionally transparent,' but those pieces read as boilerplate rather than first-hand reports, so their clarity claims are not treated as reliable. No first-hand visitor accounts of clarity were found despite multiple searches.
Hours
Beach/swim season runs June 1 - August 16 (2026 dates) with lifeguarded swimming daily 1-5pm; the surrounding park (trails, picnic areas, disc golf) is not stated to have separate restricted hours.
On the water
The official city facility page confirms a boat launch/fishing access point on site, supporting hand-launched small craft. Kayaking and canoeing are also specifically mentioned by name in two lower-confidence SEO aggregator articles (familydestinationsguide.com), but no official source lists a formal watercraft policy, motor restrictions, or no-wake rule for this small (~7-8 acre) spring-fed impoundment, so those fields are left null rather than assumed.
Backstory
Per Wisconsin DNR records, Crystal Lake is a small impoundment created by a 9-foot dam approximately one mile east of Beaver Dam; the lake and surrounding ~19 acres are owned and operated by the City of Beaver Dam specifically as a public swimming and recreation area.
Crystal Lake Park: FAQ
Does Crystal Lake Park charge a fee?
Free admission to the beach, per the City of Beaver Dam's official beach page.
Is Crystal Lake Park kid friendly?
Designated sandy swim beach with lifeguards on duty during the 1-5pm daily operating window (June 1-Aug 16 season); city rules require adult supervision for children 12 and under. Lake is shallow relative to its 9-ft max depth and spring-fed/cool. No cliffs, currents, or waterfall hazards reported; a playground sits adjacent to the beach for younger kids.
Do I need to hike to reach Crystal Lake Park?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Crystal Lake Park?
Multiple on-site parking lots serve the park/beach (confirmed by the city's own facility listing and a third-party park directory); no separate parking fee was mentioned in any source, but none explicitly states parking is free, so cost is left null. Beach admission itself is free.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Crystal Lake Park?
The official city facility page confirms a boat launch/fishing access point on site, supporting hand-launched small craft. Kayaking and canoeing are also specifically mentioned by name in two lower-confidence SEO aggregator articles (familydestinationsguide.com), but no official source lists a formal watercraft policy, motor restrictions, or no-wake rule for this small (~7-8 acre) spring-fed impoundment, so those fields are left null rather than assumed.
When is the best time to visit Crystal Lake Park?
Summer; the city operates the official swim season from June 1 through August 16 (2026 dates).
What are the rules at Crystal Lake Park?
Lifeguards on duty during posted operating hours (1-5pm daily, June 1-August 16, 2026 season); children age 12 and under must have adult supervision at all times; additional beach rules are published in a city PDF not retrieved for this dossier.
What water body is Crystal Lake Park on?
Crystal Lake Park is on Crystal Creek, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.
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