Wakesafe Map
While it is easy to see the appeal, not all lakes are a great fit for wake surfing.
Best practices informed by the peer-reviewed, independent studies from the University of Minnesota’s St. Anthony Falls Laboratory recommends that wake surfing be limited to areas at least 500 feet from shore or other boats, and operating in water at least 20 feet deep. This minimizes disturbance to shorelines, aquatic life, and other lake users. This differs from the current DNR recommendation of 200 feet.
This guidance can be difficult to visualize—most boaters do not know where the 500-foot boundary falls on their specific lake, and few can estimate water depth without specialized tools. Without a clear visual reference, even well-intentioned users may unknowingly operate in sensitive or unsafe areas.
Here is a map of recommended areas that are safe to wake surf. **As a note, this guideline only applies to an inboard boat in use and loaded for wake surfing. There are many ways to enjoy these boats in different ways that do not cause the same effects in use.