Lake Wazeecha Red Sand Beach
Lake Wazeecha, Wisconsin · on Wazeecha Lake · South Wood County Park
Verified · 4 independent sources · top-verified
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- No fee found
- SEASON
- Varies by conditions
About Lake Wazeecha Red Sand Beach
Red Sands Beach is one of two designated swimming beaches on Lake Wazeecha, a 148-acre lake inside Wood County's 332-acre South Wood County Park near Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. It is an officially managed county-park swim beach, a dependable swimming hole for anyone after a lake to swim in near Wisconsin Rapids, and notable enough that the county closes it each July for the Wisconsin State Water Ski Show Tournament held there.
The beach sits within South Wood County Park, a 332-acre county park built around Lake Wazeecha, with campground loops, picnic areas, a boat launch, and a paved multi-use trail ringing the lake.
Swimming at Lake Wazeecha Red Sand Beach
Red Sands Beach is a developed, sand-bottomed lake beach (distinct from the park's other beach, White Sands Swimming Beach) intended for general family lake swimming alongside the park's other water-sport uses (water skiing, tubing, paddle boarding, canoeing); no first-hand depth or water-clarity accounts were found.
How to get to this swimming hole
Located within South Wood County Park at 6411 South Park Road, Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54494, a short drive from Wisconsin Rapids and the community of Lake Wazeecha.
The hike in
A 4.1-mile paved, mostly-flat multi-use hiking/biking trail circles the entire park and Lake Wazeecha, but this is a recreational loop trail, not an access route to the beach -- the beach itself is drive-up with no hike required.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Red Sands Beach is a developed, sand-bottom designated swim beach (shallow lake entry typical of this beach type), but no lifeguard presence was confirmed on any official page, and Lake Wazeecha is a shared multi-use lake with a boat launch, water-skiing, and tubing, plus an annual water-ski show tournament -- so supervise kids closely, especially near the open-water swim area away from shore.
Parking
Available
No beach-specific parking fee or lot description was found on the county parks pages. Note: a separate boat-launch pass is required to launch a boat at the Lake Wazeecha landing ($7/day or $25/year), but this is a boat-launch fee, not a confirmed beach-parking fee.
Restrooms
Yes
South Wood County Park lists park-wide 'Restroom & Shower Facilities' with both flush and vault toilets; exact building location relative to Red Sands Beach specifically was not specified on the county site.
Hours
No daily operating hours were published; the county's parks department confirmed beaches for the season 'opened May 22, 2026,' and Red Sands Beach is closed each year for about a week in mid-July for the Wisconsin State Water Ski Show Tournament (closed July 11-19 in 2026).
On the water
Wood County operates a boat landing directly on Lake Wazeecha (one of three county landings, alongside Lake Dexter and Lake Nepco) with a boat wash-down station; a launch pass is required ($7/day or $25/year, valid at all three county landings, $50 fine if launching without one). The lake also hosts canoeing, tubing, paddleboarding, and water skiing per the county park overview, and is the annual host site of the Wisconsin State Water Ski Show Tournament each July, confirming motorized-boat use is permitted. No no-wake zone, electric-only restriction, or carry-in-only rule was found on official pages.
Backstory
The park/lake area is associated with the name 'Lake of the Land of the Pines,' reflecting local Native American heritage, per the county parks department page.
Lake Wazeecha Red Sand Beach: FAQ
Is Lake Wazeecha Red Sand Beach kid friendly?
Red Sands Beach is a developed, sand-bottom designated swim beach (shallow lake entry typical of this beach type), but no lifeguard presence was confirmed on any official page, and Lake Wazeecha is a shared multi-use lake with a boat launch, water-skiing, and tubing, plus an annual water-ski show tournament -- so supervise kids closely, especially near the open-water swim area away from shore.
Do I need to hike to reach Lake Wazeecha Red Sand Beach?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Lake Wazeecha Red Sand Beach?
No beach-specific parking fee or lot description was found on the county parks pages. Note: a separate boat-launch pass is required to launch a boat at the Lake Wazeecha landing ($7/day or $25/year), but this is a boat-launch fee, not a confirmed beach-parking fee.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Lake Wazeecha Red Sand Beach?
Wood County operates a boat landing directly on Lake Wazeecha (one of three county landings, alongside Lake Dexter and Lake Nepco) with a boat wash-down station; a launch pass is required ($7/day or $25/year, valid at all three county landings, $50 fine if launching without one). The lake also hosts canoeing, tubing, paddleboarding, and water skiing per the county park overview, and is the annual host site of the Wisconsin State Water Ski Show Tournament each July, confirming motorized-boat use is permitted. No no-wake zone, electric-only restriction, or carry-in-only rule was found on official pages.
What are the rules at Lake Wazeecha Red Sand Beach?
Park use is governed by Wood County Ordinance No. 600 (Parks); Red Sands Beach is closed to the public annually for about a week each July for the State Water Ski Show Tournament.
What water body is Lake Wazeecha Red Sand Beach on?
Lake Wazeecha Red Sand Beach is on Wazeecha Lake, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.
