Oshkosh may seemingly be a world away from the Pacific Ocean's sun-kissed shores; however, the northeastern Wisconsin city has its share of family-friendly beaches. Its prime location along the western edge of Lake Winnebago makes the Oshkosh area a magnet for swimmers, boaters, parasailers and water-skiers. Lake Winnebago is Wisconsin’s largest inland lake, spanning nearly 132,000 acres and featuring more than 85 miles of shoreline. Enjoy this vast expanse of freshwater by visiting its most popular beaches.
Menominee Park Beach
- Oshkosh’s largest park stretches along 109 acres of premium Lake Winnebago shoreline. The sandy beach provides plenty of elbow room for you to work on your castle-building skills. There’s also ample space to play Frisbee and volleyball or fly a kite. Swimming is also an option. The lake’s calm and shallow waters appeal to beginners, while avid swimmers can complete laps to and from the shore. Pack a picnic or purchase snacks from the park’s cafe. A paved path connects the beach to an 8-acre zoo, children’s play area and mini amusement park. Baseball and soccer fields are located across the street from the beach. Restrooms, boat launches, a casting dock and a platform for taking photos of Lake Winnebago are also available on the park’s west side.
High Cliff State Park Beach
- Fifteen minutes northeast of downtown Oshkosh sits the tranquil home of High Cliff State Park. This natural gem is the only state-owned recreational area on Lake Winnebago. Extending more than 1,140 acres across Wisconsin’s pristine landscape, High Cliff includes a scenic beach in the lower part of the park. Swim, fish, stroll or sunbathe on the sand-and-grass shoreline. The lake’s bottom is rockier near the shore but mixes with mud and sand the farther out you swim. The beach also provides an ideal vantage point for photographing colorful lake sunsets. Public showers, a general store, concession areas and picnic tables are a short walk from the beach. Pitching a tent on the shoreline is not allowed, though you may spend the night at one of the park’s 112 wooded campsites. Reservations are recommended but not required.
Calumet County Park Beach
- Its sandy shoreline may be slim, but Calumet County Park still attracts thousands of beachgoers each year. Located on Lake Winnebago, roughly 35 minutes east of Oshkosh, the park comprises more than 200 acres and includes part of the historic Niagara Escarpment and Effigy Indian Mounds. The beach is adjacent to a large boat landing. This convenient placement makes it easy to segue from tame sand activities to high-octane water sports, such as tubing and parasailing. Lakefront campsites, which have sandy beach-like areas, are also available. Showers, restrooms, picnic tables and concession areas are accessible from the shoreline. After a day at the beach, you can navigate the biking trails that run parallel to the water.
Jefferson Park Beach
- This popular public park features a large sandy beach nestled on the northwest shore of Lake Winnebago, 10 minutes north of Oshkosh. Covering nearly 30 acres of scenic waterfront property, the park is a hot spot in the summer. Kids of all ages splash in the lake’s cool waters or create sculptures using the beach’s fine sand. Restrooms, picnic tables and boat-launching facilities are located near the sandy play area. The park also has an enclosed pavilion with kitchen equipment and open-air shelters that can accommodate family reunions, company get-togethers or birthday parties. Multiple sand volleyball courts are available, as well as baseball diamonds, horseshoe pits, a municipal pool and playground.
