Kangaroo Lake (WI): Motor and Boating Rules
Door County · near Baileys Harbor · managed by Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
- Gas outboard ZONED
- Electric trolling YES
- PWC / jet ski VERIFY
- Door County, WI
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Quick answer
Kangaroo Lake splits into zones with different motor rules. North of the causeway: motorboats propelled by internal combustion engines are prohibited and only electric motors are permitted (Town of Baileys Harbor Ordinance 7-96, effective 08/12/1996). South end: slow-no-wake in the marked area from DeWitt Point to near the south dock of The Rushes Resort (Town of Baileys Harbor Ordinance 1-2001, effective 06/01/2001).. Kangaroo Lake in WI is subject to motor and speed restrictions in designated zones under Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources regulations (verified July 26, 2026). The written boundaries control, not the buoys. Rules change and local ordinances may add restrictions — always confirm with Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources before you launch.
Rules at a glance
What this means in practice
Zoned lakes split the surface: part of Kangaroo Lake carries a restriction and part runs under standard rules. On this lake: North of the causeway: motorboats propelled by internal combustion engines are prohibited and only electric motors are permitted (Town of Baileys Harbor Ordinance 7-96, effective 08/12/1996). South end: slow-no-wake in the marked area from DeWitt Point to near the south dock of The Rushes Resort (Town of Baileys Harbor Ordinance 1-2001, effective 06/01/2001).. Buoys mark the lines in season, but buoys drift and get pulled — the written boundary wins.
Before you commit to a route on Kangaroo Lake, read the zone description in the official document linked under Sources, and treat unposted areas conservatively. Enforcement applies the written boundaries, not your GPS track.
Worth knowing about Kangaroo Lake: Both Town of Baileys Harbor ordinances are on file in the Wisconsin DNR local boating ordinance database for Door County. Gas motors remain legal on the main southern basin outside the marked slow-no-wake area..
Two more Wisconsin waters worth a look while you plan: Interfalls Lake (No motors, Douglas County) and Little Falls Lake (No motors, St. Croix County). For the complete picture, all verified Wisconsin lake motor rules sit on one sortable page.
Common mistakes on Zoned water
Anchoring on the line. Sitting astride a zone boundary invites questions even when you're technically legal. Fish clearly inside one zone or the other.
Extrapolating from last year. Zone boundaries get amended more often than whole-lake rules. Our verification date below tells you how fresh this summary is.
Before you launch — verify
- Official rules: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
- Unsure about a detail? Call the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources district office that covers Door County before towing your boat out.
- We last verified this page on .
Rules change and local ordinances may add restrictions — always confirm with Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources before you launch.
Frequently asked questions
Are gas motors allowed on Kangaroo Lake?
Only in designated zones. Parts of Kangaroo Lake restrict or ban gas motors — check the zone boundaries in the official source before you launch. Verified July 26, 2026.
Can I use an electric trolling motor on Kangaroo Lake?
Yes. Electric trolling motors are allowed on Kangaroo Lake. A transom-mount motor in the 30–55 lb thrust range with a deep-cycle battery is the typical setup for this class of water.
Are jet skis (PWC) allowed on Kangaroo Lake?
The official source we cite does not state a clear PWC rule for Kangaroo Lake. Confirm with Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources before bringing a jet ski.
Who enforces boating rules on Kangaroo Lake?
The rules summarized here come from Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (city / municipal government), with possible additional ordinances from Door County or local municipalities. Any peace officer can cite violations, so treat posted rules as enforceable regardless of who is watching.
Where do I verify the current rules for Kangaroo Lake?
The Sources section links the exact regulation we summarized, and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources publishes the live version. This page was last checked against it on July 26, 2026.