All About Lake Kegonsa State Park Dog Beach, Wisconsin

Enjoying a perfect beach day with furry friends is the most popular summer activity. Stoughton is home to many pet-friendly parks and beaches; the most famous is Lake Kegonsa State Park Dog Beach. It lays down a few rules and policies for the entry of pets. The laws of Wisconsin’s dog-friendly beach must be followed at all times. 

Kegonsa Park has a designated dog beach. It offers a controlled and safe environment for pets. This area lies towards the southern end. Visitors can easily access it from the main beach spot. Owners enjoy playing and swimming with their furry friends. There is a separate fenced area for small dogs. Water and waste stations are available for pets to drink from.

Lake Kegonsa State Park Beach Dog Rules, WI

• Lake Kegonsa State Park allows dogs in certain areas with a leash of 8 feet (maximum). 
• Pets are even allowed on the hiking trails of Lake Kegonsa State Park, except the trail towards White Oak. 
• Dogs are allowed on camping grounds. However, they are prohibited from buildings, playgrounds, and picnic areas. 
• Lake Kegonsa State Park’s separate dog beach area allows pets in the water. 
• Dogs must be on a leash while walking and strolling. Visitors are responsible for cleaning up after their pets. 
• Owners must always directly control and supervise their pets. Dogs are prohibited from disturbing other beachgoers and beach birds & animals. 

What to do at Lake Kegonsa State Park?

The park offers various recreational activities, such as swimming, picnics, river trails, camping, boating, hiking, and fishing.

Lake Kegonsa State Park Beach Dog Licensing, WI

Only licensed pets are allowed on beaches and parks in Stoughton. As per Wisconsin State laws, all dogs over 5 months old must be licensed. These licenses must be compulsorily renewed every year. Proof of rabies vaccination is mandatory for a dog’s registration. The license badge must always be attached to a dog’s collar. 

Registration helps properly identify pets and prevents dogs from becoming stray or homeless—charges for registration start from $10 to $20 (approx). Late license renewal attracts fines and penalties. Licensing costs decrease if the dog is spayed or neutered. Dogs are prohibited from running without a leash when outside the owner’s property.

How to reach Lake Kegonsa State Park Dog Beach, WI

• By Air: The nearest airports to Lake Kegonsa State Park Dog Beach are Madison (MSM) (approx 2 hours) and Chicago O’Hare (ORD) (approx 4 hours). 
• By Bus: Visitors take a bus from Milwaukee, WI, to Madison, WI. From here, they take a taxi or self-drive towards Lake Kegonsa State Park Dog Beach. The bus is available four times a day and takes about two hours (approx). 
• By Train: The nearest railway station to Lake Kegonsa State Park Beach is Stoughton Train Station. This journey of 6.7 miles takes about 15 minutes (approx). 

About Dog-Friendly Lake Kegonsa State Park Dog Beach – WI

Lake Kegonsa is a beautiful state park in Dane County. It features picnic areas, a swimming beach, boat launching places, and reservable shelters. The main highlights are the hiking trails and campgrounds. Additionally, visitors find wetlands, prairies, and forests here. The 3200-acre park offers many modern and traditional recreational activities. 

The lake is the lowest among Lake Yahara’s chain systems. Visitors enjoy mesmerizing views of glacier-hewn lakes. Fishing is the most popular activity here. Kegonsa State Park Friends Group helps visitors by organizing special functions and events. Purchasing an admission sticker for vehicles is mandatory. This state park is easily accessible via nearby attractions and beaches. 

• Parking: 4th and Main Municipal Parking and Capital City Trail Parking
• Nearby Visiting Places: Madison Museum of Contemporary Art and Little America Amusement Park
• Dog-Friendly Restaurants: Sunrise Family Restaurant and Settle Down Tavern
• Dog-Friendly Hotels: Days Inn by Wyndham Stoughton, WI, and Wyndham Garden Madison Fitchburg
• Dog Boarding: Quarry Kennels and Camp K9 Pet Resort & Day Camp
• Rental Providers: Olson Management and Crown Point Resort
• Events: Shakespeare in the Park with The Summit Players Theatre, “Much Ado About Nothing” — Free Theatre and Workshop, and Wisconsin DNR Career Fair – Lake Kegonsa State Park
• Things to do: Group camping, boating, hiking, seasonal camping, nature study, fishing, swimming, cross-country skiing, sledding, skating, etc
• Amenities: Showers, flush toilets, boat launching places, water fountains, vault toilets, concession stand, etc
• Beach Hours: All days of the week from 06:00 am to 11:00 pm

Lake Kegonsa State Park Beach Wildlife 

Lake Kegonsa State Park is abundant in prairies, forests, and wetlands. Thus, a huge variety of native wildlife species are found here. Glimpsing the park’s wildlife is a unique learning experience for visitors. The most common mammals sighted are cottontail rabbits, red foxes, raccoons, muskrats, etc. The park even features an area for enjoying bird watching.

Over 60 types of birds visit the park and nest here during the summer, and more than 25 species are seen during the winter. Amphibians and reptiles, such as snapping and painted turtles, red-bellied snakes, grey tree frogs, leopards, and hundreds of insect species, are also inhabitants of the park. Spiders like wolves and jumping spiders are also found. 

Lake Kegonsa State Park Beach Camping

Lake Kegonsa State Park Dog Beach has two different campsites: one for families and the other for groups (corporate and private). These campgrounds remain open from 1 May to 31 October. Many sites even feature electrical hookups. The wooded ground can accommodate pop-ups, recreational vehicles, tents, and trailers. There are also electric sites for specially abled campers. 

Throughout the campground, drinking water facilities are available. Visitors can also use flush toilets, vault toilets, and showers. Sanitary dump stations are available. The group campsites feature horseshoe pits and volleyball courts. Firewood is sold during the camping season, and moving firewood is prohibited at Kegonsa campgrounds. 

Lake Kegonsa State Park Beach Fishing

Kegonsa State Park is a beautiful lake spread over 3200 acres. The maximum depth here is 32 feet. This site is easily accessible via boats from any public beach. The place offers excellent fishing opportunities. Local vendors selling live bait are plentiful. Visitors also have multiple options for renting boats. Anglers must purchase a fishing license beforehand. 

Lake Kegonsa is renowned for panfish and walleye. During fishing season, visitors even catch northern pike and smallmouth bass. During summer, fish like crappies and bluegill are available. Recently, trolling crankbaits has become a popular tactic used by fishermen. Lake Kegonsa is also known for winter ice fishing. 

Lake Kegonsa State Park Trails, WI

Lake Kegonsa State Park is a popular hotspot among hikers. This state park features many well-maintained hiking trails. Popular trails at Kegonsa are White Oak Nature Trail (1.2 miles), Prairie Trail (1.3 miles), Bluebird Trail (0.3 miles), Oak Knoll Trail (0.8 miles), Lakeshore Trail (0.5 miles), and Wetland Boardwalk Trail (0.1 miles).

Each trail goes along the beautiful lake and has varied habitats. White Oak is mildly sloped and prohibits entry for pets. The prairie features a beautiful surface made of crushed limestone and spectacular summer plants.

Bluebird Trail leads visitors to an upper picnic spot. At the same time, Lakeshore takes them to the boat launcher. The Boardwalk Trail features ducks, geese, and other waterfowl. 

Lake Kegonsa State Park Dog Beach Rules and Regulations

• At Lake Kegonsa State Park Dog Beach, an admission sticker is required for vehicles to enter the beach. 
• The state park beach offers launch sites for boats, etc. However, all sites require purchasing permits before visiting. 
• A proper license for fishing and hunting must be purchased beforehand at Lake Kegonsa State Park Dog Beach.
• Lake Kegonsa prohibits gun hunting. The state park beach only allows trapping and archery. 
• Campsites at Lake Kegonsa Beach allow parking for only six cars at each site. Trailers, RVs, and pop-ups are prohibited on campsites. 
• Visitors must be respectful towards the beach and its wildlife. They are responsible for keeping it clean and beautiful. 
• All waste must be picked up and thrown away in appropriate dustbins throughout the state park beach. 

Conclusion

Lake Kegonsa State Park is Wisconsin’s renowned dog beach. It allows pets to enjoy themselves on both water and sand. This pet-friendly beach even allows visitors to hike with their pups. Many dog-friendly restaurants are easily accessible from Kegonsa Beach. The place is also close to multiple dog boarding, daycare centres & groomers.

Wisconsin Dog Beach articles:

• Dog-Friendly Crescent Beach, Algoma, Wisconsin
• Viking County Dog Park, WI
• Dog-Friendly Newport Beach State Park, WI