Had a great experience at morning mindfulness and meditation through Wingra boats. Super easy and quick check in process. Very helpful employees and all the equipment was great. Really enjoyed this experience, looking forward to doing it more this summer. Parking was easily accessible and free. read more

See all

My daughter and I visited for a few days and we wanted a great experience. We chose to rent a pedal boat. We could not have been happier with this. We don't live near a lake so this made it doubly terrific!! The staff (both named Lily) were so helpful, had so much patience for our questions (and non-boatiness) and had amazing attitudes that you could ONLY have a great time.? We had a great two hour period and it helped us bond and embrace nature. I could not have been happier with going to Wingra Boats and demand all of you to run to Wingra Boats! read more

One of my favorite spots for going paddle boarding in Madison! Wingra boats offers a variety of vessels (such as paddle boards, kayaks, canoes, peddle boats, etc.) for fun on the water. This spot is kinda slept on because a lot of people like going to Brittingham/other places in Madison, but it's such a fun, chill time on the water. Lake Wingra is more calm than Monona and usually this place has plenty of parking and equipment for some outdoor fun. The prices were pretty affordable with paddle boards renting out for around $16/hr. Overall, great place - will be returning! read more

Wingra Boats - Paddleboarding Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

See all

easy to book online and easy service to receive paddle boat. we paid $20 for one hour use all you have to do when you get there is sign a waiver and drop off your id. parking is a little busy because there are other things to do at the lake other than paddle boats. i recommend. read more

Wingra Boats - Paddleboarding Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

This was our second visit to Lake Wingra to rent a boat. On our first visit, we rented a rowboat to take our grandson fishing. On this visit, we rented a Swan peddle boat to take our younger grandkids for a slow ride. The kids loved it! And, as always, the Wingra Boats staff members were friendly, helpful, and attentive to what we needed. read more

Wingra Boats is a magical place, where friendly faces are happy to push you off on an adventure on a no-wake lake. The lake is rich in wildlife: many species of fish (Gar, Musky, Bass and a million little Bluegills!), birds (white Pelicans, Ducks, Geese, Sandhill Cranes, Blue and Green Herons, etc.). There is a sandy area across the lake where it is fun to swim and wade. There are only three houses on this lake; most of the lakeshore is park or part of the UW Arboretum. The culture at the boat house is customer-focused and friendly. Go on a relatively calm day and you will not regret it! Lake WIngra is a great swimming lake in the middle, so take out a paddle boat or standup paddleboard and take a swim. The lake is spring fed, but is shallow so warms up quickly in the summer. read more

Wingra Boats - Hanging out on a Standup Paddle Board (SUP) on Lake Wingra on a calm May morning - Paddleboarding Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Beautiful lake, friendly staff, and clean facilities with snacks for purchase. However, the row boats are a terrible value. The oars they give are of bad quality and the rings that hold the oars into the boat don't fit the size of the oars. This makes it extremely hard to paddle and renders the oars basically useless. When coming into the dock after a day on the lake with the row boat, we told the attendant of our problem with the boat and they replied, "yeah the oars are bad on the row boats and I don't know why anyone rents them." Wingra Boats owners, please do better. You have a beautiful facility and need higher quality row boats for rent. read more

The rental process was very easy and the staff were very helpful. Free lockers available at the docks for your stuff. Thanks for the great experience! read more

See all

This is our second year being members. Being retired has allowed us to enjoy kayaking all spring and summer long. The staff at Wingra is very accomodating. We enjoy the special events , such as the moonlight paddle. The members only pancake breakfast was a lot fun. read more

We had the best time! Definitely recommend for anyone. My cousin was in town and we took our kids paddle boating. Beautiful day on the lake and everyone had fun (6, 14, and "adults"). Calm enough and no motor boats so everyone felt safe no matter where we were on the lake. Staff is super friendly and helpful with recommendations and tips. read more

Wingra Boats - Wingra Boats - Fun for all! - Paddleboarding Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I've done kayaking and also stand up paddle boarding at Wingra Boats, and both have been great. They've got a large parking lot, or you can bike or walk on in. Recently did the stand up paddle board (SUP) and it was a really windy day, so it was a little bit difficult to start out with the wind at your face. If it's windy again, I might go to the kayak option, which was a nice quick way to get around this little lake. Views here are great, and there are lots of fish (Muskie, bass, gar) so bring a rod. Bring your ID and a credit card and that's all you need! I'd do SUP or kayaking here again in a heartbeat. read more

I love kayaking at Wingra Boats! I've been kayaking out here several times now. I try to get out here at least once a summer, if not more. The pricing is fair, the service is good, and the lake is the perfect size. It's relatively small, but that's really nice for the novice boater. Never have to worry about getting washed out too far or anything. Wingra Boats has several water vessels to choose from. Single kayaks, double kayaks, canoes, row boats, paddle boats, even stand-up paddle boards. Whatever you're looking for, they got it! Each type has an hourly fee. Your first hour is $XX and then they round to the half hour for time after. Every time I have been in, if I have been over just a little on time, they have rounded down. Very nice of them! I have taken my dog kayaking out here several times now as well. The first time I showed up with my dog I wasn't sure if they were even going to allow in a boat, but they sure did! They thought it was awesome. I always end up renting a double kayak. Doggo up front, me in the back. It works out super well - and he is not a small guy by any means. There are shallow areas around the lake that are great for hopping out the boats and splashing around in. Or if you're like me and have an animal with you, it's nice for them as well instead of swimming in the deeper waters. The lake also bumps up to the Arboretum, so you can hop out and explore over there too. Just make sure your boats don't float away! read more

Wingra Boats - Dog in a boat! - Paddleboarding Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

See all

What a beautiful lake this is. I had a lot of fun renting a kayak here and enjoying the sunshine with my girlfriend. Typically I canoe, but I haven't kayaked in so long so I thought that I might as well. Very laid back day on the lake. :) Thankfully it was sunny as well so we weren't too cold or anything. This was also my friends first experience kayaking so I'm glad she had fun. You can rent paddle boats, paddle boards, kayaks, canoes, and these mat things that kids can play on. I saw some kiddies out there on a mat and they looked like they were having fun. There is a lot of water plants in the lake however so your equipment does get stuck a lot in the weeds. read more

Wingra Boats - Paddleboarding Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I'm happy to highly recommend Wingra Boat rentals! It's been a lifesaver the past two summers during the pandemic...a perfect antidote for stress relief! They provide a safe, clean, fun experience for all ages and also dogs who love being on the water, or IN the water getting great exercise retrieving! The staff are very friendly, helpful, knowledgable and professional. The low turnover shows great management by Tyler. This lake is a special gem. read more

Wonderful experience out on the lake. Renting our paddle boat was super easy and quick online and checking in was super easy too! Had a lot of fun! Definitely recommended! read more

Went canoeing the other day and I can't wait to go again! Prices are super reasonable and the staff is friendly. They made the process easy and straightforward. The lake itself is beautiful! I loved being able to paddle under the bridges by the zoo to enjoy the scenery in the park. We were on the lake for 3 hours which was the perfect amount of time to explore and still take our time. read more

Had some extra time on work trip...so why not kayak on the lake! Rental was super easy, staff was very nice and efficient. Good quality equipment. If you are looking for something fun to do on nice day in Madison, check them out! read more

Awesome! We rented a paddle boat, we have never done that before it was fun and a great leg work out! I would recommend getting a coveted boat it's at more comfortable. Next time I wanna try the SUP (stand up paddle board) that looks fun! read more

Such a fun experience! They have lots of motorless boat options on a beautiful, small lake in the heart of Madison. They are handling the concerns with Covid professionally and are taking every precaution to ensure each trip is a safe one! Online reservations were a breeze, but plan ahead! read more

Clean equipment. Everything ready on time. Awesome, personalized service. Incredible competent and friendly staff. Highly recommend.

Good price.. Clean water... Nice staff... Our canoe tipped over and we were rescued by their Emergency Resonse boat team. haha. Even though i tipped it over on purpose in the middle of the lake, it was still very courteous of them to keep an eye out... I left my wallet, phone, and cash with the front desk, and I felt very comfortable leaving it with staff. Not something i'd leave just anywhere. Thanks everyone there! read more

A very special place! The staff sets the highest standard for service and friendliness. These purveyors of fun have invigorated this park and the lake in a most dramatic and appreciated manner. They also offer excellent pizza (from the nearby Roman Candle). Paddling is fun! Join the craze. read more

We rented a paddle boat and had a great time. The staff was helpful and friendly. I will certainly go again.

The nicest staff. Good selection of rentals, and really knowledgeable suggestions on what to use. Everyone around this place just seemed happy to be there! read more

Very fun place to find an activity for a date, a family event or for a solo adventure. They have kayaks, canoes, paddle boards, paddle boats, etc. There are plenty of life jackets in all sizes. The prices are reasonable, service is quick & the staff is helpful. Wingra lake is a nice spot to boat on as there are not a bunch of motor boats or speed boats to worry about. Plus, it's a small lake so the water is actually warm for swimming! It can be a bit weedy in places and the wind can take you drifting farther than you may intend but all-in-all it's a perfect adventure for a day. read more

These guys have found a way to keep their staff and patrons safe during Covid without sacrificing on summer fun. Process is clear, just follow the signs and info when you sign up online. Will be back many times this summer! read more

We've been going to Wingra Boats for a few years, when we visited our kids. But now we live in Madison and we are members. The young people who operate the Lake Wingra location are wonderful: energetic, helpful, courteous, and sometimes funny. Everyone has done a great job to keep things safe during the Covid-19 pandemic, allowing us to spent time outdoors, on the water, with confidence. read more

Wingra Boats are going the extra mile to keep us safe during Covid 19. They have stations so you don't encounter others too closely, have a place to wash your hands and disinfect each boat between uses. I really appreciate all these measures and highly recommend them for any lake activities. read more

We rented a tandem kayak for 2 hours using a Groupon. The staff was quick to help and knowledgeable. The kayak, life jackets and paddles were all in good shape. They have a good selection of other rentals include a swan paddle boat which looked like quite a bit of fun. They also offer food at the snack bar but I didn't get a chance to try any of it. Lake Wingra is a bit small so it is perfect for a novice or those who just like to paddle around in a relaxed manner. If you are looking for more of a challenge then this may not be what you want. There are plenty of other outdoor activities right here so it would be perfect for those who are looking to have a full day of activities: boating, swimming at the beach, walking around the zoo and using the new city bike rental kiosks. read more

Wingra is a beautiful smaller lake in the area and this company not only stocks an ample supply of kayaks, paddle boards, and other boats, their customer service was fantastic. $12/hour for a single kayak, $16/hour for a double. read more

I have a membership here, which allows you to take out a boat for as long as you want, so I end up coming here a lot. They have paddleboards, single and tandem kayaks, canoes, pedal boats, water mats. They even rent out pontoon boats! All of the watercraft is high-quality and well cared for. Friendly staff, too. If you have some time on your hands, come here! read more

Awesome experience! Very laid back and fun. The best part is that you can take the boats our for as long as you'd like and just pay hourly. The only bad thing is, that results in a wait till you may get your turn. Service was super nice, boats were kept up (used the paddle boat). Would come back if I was in Madison! read more

I had such a fun experience here! I paddle on the east coast, and was happy to find that while in Madison for work, my hotel came with free SUP or kayak rentals. There was a moment when I thought I just was not going to be able to make it happen, I wanted to nap or drink, but I mustered myself up and went out for a paddle. The staff was very lax, they had lockers for fifty centers, and you didn't need any gear at all. Now, I am an experienced SUPer, so I didn't require any instruction and I can't say if they give it, but there were MANY people out on the water and no one seamed to be struggling at all. The equipment was all well maintained and the body of water was calm. After an hour, I was a bit bored out there by myself, but it was perfect water to practice paddle strokes on. read more

How great to have an affordable boat rental right by our home. And you can rent a pontoon boat!! Great lake. Great boat house with snacks, bathrooms. Excellent sailing instruction. Fun place. read more

Don't take the paddle boats! My group consisted of two young kids, a teenager, 3 adults and 2 senior citizens. We rented two tandem kayaks, a stand up paddle board and 1 4-person paddleboat. The kayaks and the paddle board were great. Unfortunately, the lake was blooming with sea weed and grasses that got caught in the paddles under the paddle boat. We were literally caught in the middle of the lake which we only got to due to the winds that pushed us in that direction. No matter how many times we reached under the boat to pull out the tangle of weeds and grass, another two rotations of the paddles pulled in more muck and made it nearly impossible to move the boat back toward the dock. In fact, the wind kept us moving away! Our kayakers ended up pushing the boat while one of our boaters leaned over the edge of the boat to use his hands to paddle! We had not intended to take more than an hour on our boats, but it took nearly 60 minutes to get the paddle boat back! When we finally returned to the dock, one of the workers was quite rude when we explained our issue and didn't offer empathy or a solution. Another worker said that many paddle boaters have had a similar issue and acknowledged that the lake was really clogged with sea weed right now. When we paid up, they only charged us with one hour due to our difficulties so that was nice. However, we noticed that the other paddle boaters were having the same issues, including one of the adorable swan boats with a grandmother and her granddaughter who needed our kayakers to help her as well! With the lake in this condition, NO ONE should be out with paddle boats. I hope that the managers take this into consideration. read more

We had a great time just paddling around the lake and talking. There are a lot of weeds, so you have to be careful where you tip your boat over for a swim, but there are a lot of shallow areas that you can wade around to get a little cooled off. In 2012, a canoo costed $14/hr and a kayak is $12 for a single and $16 for a double read more