Horse Lake
Polk County, Wisconsin · WBIC 2616200
The DNR lists this lake's watershed (Balsam Branch-Apple River) as suspect or infected with VHS, a fish virus. The listing covers the watershed, not a test of this lake. About VHS
Size
228 acres
Max depth
11 ft
DNR lake type
Simple, Warm, dark water color
Water clarity
4.2 ft
Low, measured May 2020
A warm-water lake type: the DNR groups it with lakes that warm up through summer. This describes the lake type in general, not this lake in particular.
Outline
Numbered dots are boat landings; tap one for directions. The list below has the same numbers. Drawn from the DNR's 24K hydrography (surveyed 1978), so the shape is approximate and a landing can sit a little off the shore. Open the DNR lake map.
Water clarity
4.2 ft Secchi depthLowOlder reading
Last measured May 18, 2020. 120 readings on record, 1996 to 2020.
Typical summer clarity (June to September): 2.3 ft, low, from 30 readings (2012 to 2019).
Nothing has been measured in the last 5 years, so this may not match the lake today.
Secchi depth is how far down a white disk stays visible. A bigger number means clearer water. Clear means a Secchi depth of 10 feet or more, moderate 5 to 10 feet, low under 5 feet.
Wisconsin DNR water monitoring (volunteer and staff), via the Water Quality Portal; station HORSE LAKE - NEAR CENTER. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
Water temperature
A typical year Modeled estimate
- Ice goes outabout Apr 10 (Apr 4 to Apr 22)
- Surface reaches 48°Fabout Apr 18 (Apr 10 to Apr 27)
- Surface reaches 64°Fabout May 12 (May 9 to May 20)
- June surface75°F, usually 73 to 75°F
- July surface80°F, usually 79 to 82°F
- August surface76°F, usually 74 to 78°F
Mixes regularly through the summer instead of forming a warm top layer.
A computer model of this lake's typical weather and water, built from 15 years, 2005 to 2019. Ranges show the middle half of years. The model was not calibrated against measured temperatures for this lake. It is an estimate, not a measurement.
Modeled: U.S. Geological Survey lake temperature data release (doi:10.5066/P9CA6XP8).
Today at the lake
Forecast: National Weather Service (no endorsement implied). Sunrise, sunset and moon phase are calculated. The moon phase can be a day off.
Boat landings
- 1Horse Lake AccessBoat ramp · Paved surface · Township
Directions
Wisconsin DNR public boat access sites. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
More lakes in Polk County
- Round Lake0.5 miles away
- Marlpit Spring1.2 miles away
- Lotus Lake1.6 miles away
- Mud Lake2.0 miles away
- Big Lake2.3 miles away
- Wind Lake2.8 miles away
Where this comes from
- Size, depth and lake typeWisconsin DNR lake classifications, checked Oct 23, 2026
- OutlineWisconsin DNR 24K hydrography, checked Oct 23, 2026
- Regulations linkWisconsin DNR fishing regulations (linked, not restated), checked Oct 23, 2026
- Boat landingsWisconsin DNR public boat access sites, checked Oct 23, 2026
- Water clarityWisconsin DNR water monitoring, via the Water Quality Portal, checked Oct 23, 2026
- Typical-year temperatureU.S. Geological Survey lake temperature model (modeled estimate), checked Oct 23, 2026
- VHS statusWisconsin DNR VHS status by watershed, checked Oct 24, 2026
- Depth map linkWisconsin DNR lake maps list, checked Oct 24, 2026
See data sources for what each source covers, and about for how the numbers are matched to lakes.
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