Elizabeth Lake, Illinois & Wisconsin, USA

Also known as:  Lake Elizabeth, Twin Lakes

Lake Elizabeth or Elizabeth Lake, as it is more commonly known, has been a vacation getaway for over 150 years. Located in the Northern Region of Illinois and the Lake Michigan Region of Wisconsin, Elizabeth Lake is one of a pair of lakes along the Illinois-Wisconsin border that are often referred to as Twin Lakes. The two glacial pothole lakes are separated by a narrow finger of…
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    • All About Elizabeth Lake, IL/WI

    Lake Locations: USA - US Midwest Region - Illinois - Northern Illinois - Wisconsin - Lake Michigan Region, WI -

    Lake Elizabeth or Elizabeth Lake, as it is more commonly known, has been a vacation getaway for over 150 years. Located in the Northern Region of Illinois and the Lake Michigan Region of Wisconsin, Elizabeth Lake is one of a pair of lakes along the Illinois-Wisconsin border that are often referred to as Twin Lakes. The two glacial pothole lakes are separated by a narrow finger of land with a short stretch of waterway connecting them. The twin lakes were named for the twin daughters of one of the earliest settles to the region: Elizabeth and Mary Ineson. It is unknown what the lakes were called earlier but the first large hotel — Akerman’s Resort — was built in 1835 before they were born.

    The area around Elizabeth Lake was popular with summer visitors from Milwaukee and Chicago. By the 1850s, ice was being harvested on Elizabeth Lake. More large hotels were built through 1920, when Wisconsin’s largest ballroom, known as the Twin Lakes Ball Room, was erected. The Village of Twin Lake was finally incorporated in 1937. The popularity of the lakes continued unabated through and beyond the era of the big resort hotel. Summer residences were built along the shores and generations of families returned each year to swim, fish and boat on the waters of Elizabeth Lake.

    Today, two-thirds of the residences are year-round homes, and some old hotel properties have given way to condos. Twin Lakes has matured into a pleasant but modern village complete with all the necessary city services. The people of Twin Lakes are committed to preserving both their lakes and their vibrant community. As evidence of the cross-boarder cooperation common in the area, the Wisconsin town of Twin Lakes owns access to the small Elizabeth Lake dam located in the Illinois town of Richmond. Intended only to maintain lake levels, the dam keeps levels within an 11-inch range year round.

    All types of water sports can be engaged in on Elizabeth Lake. The large lake lends itself to water skiing, tubing, sailing and jet skiing as well as canoeing, kayaking, pontooning, wake boarding and swimming.The south end of the lake is a strict no-wake zone to protect the excellent bog areas of Elizabeth Lake Nature Preserve.

    Known as an excellent fishing destination, the Elizabeth Lake fishery contains a variety of game fish. It is especially known for great catches of northern pike, bluegill and largemouth bass. Walleye, crappie and smallmouth bass are also caught. There is a public boat ramp on the west side of the lake and boat rentals are available nearby. Pontoon boats can also be rented by the day for a more leisurely cruise and are an excellent way to take children on their first fishing excursion. As a precautionary measure, those planning to eat their catch should check the Wisconsin Fish Consumption Guidelines.

    The lakeshore of Elizabeth Lake is quite heavily developed on the Wisconsin portion. Nearly all residential properties are located on the Wisconsin side of the state line; much of the Illinois side is State land in the form of Elizabeth Lake Nature Preserve. The Preserve is a diverse wetland composed of calcareous floating mat, marsh, pond, graminoid fen, graminoid bog, lake, low gradient creek, sedge meadow, and dry-mesic savanna. Graminoid bog is a rare natural community, considered to be the first stage in bog succession. Always floating above water and often in the vicinity of more open waters, this type of bog is dominated by sphagnum moss, sedges, and marsh shield fen. Access to the preserve is restricted to tours sponsored by the McHenry County Conservation District to protect the varied and rare plants, birds and butterflies. Endangered or rare cuckoo flowers, pugnose shiners, Iowa darters, sandhill cranes, and black terns can all be found within the nature preserve. Considered to be the highest quality lake in McHenry County IL, Elizabeth Lake has 29 species of native fish, at least 200 species of plant life, 55 species of birds, 15-20 butterfly species, and 20 state endangered or threatened species. Because the wake from high-speed boats can cause great damage to the floating bog, the no-wake areas are strictly enforced.

    Off-lake activities are plentiful around Elizabeth Lake and the Village of Twin Lakes. Wednesdays and Saturdays the Aquanuts, a troupe of local water-skiers, put on a free show on Lake Mary. The Country Thunder Music Festival is held here annually, with several days of camping and nationally-known music stars. Several excellent golf courses are located nearby. Five village parks provide a basketball court, baseball diamond, playground equipment, sledding, tennis courts, skateboarding, walking trails, boat launch and restrooms. The village holds regular festival events and parades centered around holidays for the enjoyment of residents and visitors alike.

    In winter, ice fishing and snowmobiling are popular activities. Local clubs maintain groomed trails for snowmobiling and cross-country skiing. Several eating establishments around the lakes soon make visitors feel like ‘regulars’, as do the local pubs. Less than 15 miles northeast of Twin Lakes, Bong State Recreation Area offers hiking trails, fishing, hunting and interpretive guides. South of Elizabeth Lake, the 26-mile Prairie Trail can be accessed at Richmond, IL. The trail is popular for mountain biking and hiking. Twenty-five miles east, Kenosha sports a greyhound racetrack, Lake Michigan beach, museums, parks and a community college. Downtown Chicago is only 70 miles away, making Elizabeth Lake an idea spot for a weekend getaway.

    Vacation rentals abound around the Twin Lakes. From cottages and cabins to large residential homes, hotels, bed-and-breakfasts, condos and campgrounds, the ideal lodgings for your visit can be easily found here. Real estate is always available, often lakefront or with lake views. So, pack up the kids, the boat and maybe even the cousins; Elizabeth Lake is waiting for your visit. Come up to Twin Lakes and see what you’ve been missing.

    Things to Do at Elizabeth Lake

    These are some activities in the Elizabeth Lake, IL/WI area visitors can enjoy:

    • Vacation Rentals
    • Fishing
    • Ice Fishing
    • Boating
    • Sailing
    • Swimming
    • Beach
    • Canoeing
    • Kayaking
    • Jet Skiing
    • Water Skiing
    • Wakeboarding
    • Tubing
    • Golf
    • Tennis
    • Camping
    • Campground
    • Cabin Rentals
    • Hiking
    • Biking
    • Cross-Country Skiing
    • Snowmobiling
    • Hunting
    • Birding
    • Museum
    • Playground

    What Kind of Fish Are in Elizabeth Lake?

    Elizabeth Lake has been known to have the following fish species:

    • Bass
    • Black Bass
    • Bluegill
    • Carp
    • Crappie
    • Darter
    • Largemouth Bass
    • Northern Pike
    • Perch
    • Pike
    • Smallmouth Bass
    • Sunfish
    • Walleye
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    Find Places to Stay at Elizabeth Lake

    If you’re considering a Elizabeth Lake lake house rental or hotel, we’ve made it super easy to find the best rates and compare vacation accommodations at a glance. Save time using this interactive map below.

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    More Sites to Book a Elizabeth Lake Vacation

    Our interactive Elizabeth Lake lodging map above is an easy tool for comparing VRBO rental homes and nearby hotels with Booking.com, but there could be times when you need to expand your search for different types of accommodations. Here are some other lake lodging partners we recommend:

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    Elizabeth Lake Statistics & Helpful Links

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    Lake Type: Natural Freshwater Lake, Dammed

    Water Level Control: Twin Lakes Sewer Dept

    Surface Area: 638 acres

    Shoreline Length: 6 miles

    Normal Elevation (Full Pond): 793 feet

    Minimum Elevation (Min Pond): 793 feet

    Maximum Elevation (Max Pond): 794 feet

    Average Depth: 17 feet

    Maximum Depth: 32 feet

    Water Volume: 6,900 acre-feet

    Trophic State: Mesotrophic

    Elizabeth Lake Map
    Lake Water Level
    Local Weather Forecast

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