Big Lake
Vilas County, Wisconsin · WBIC 2963800
Size
771 acres
Max depth
30 ft
DNR lake type
Complex, Cool, dark water color
Water clarity
12 ft
Clear, measured Oct 2014
A cool-water lake type: the DNR groups it with lakes that stay cooler 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 1981), so the shape is approximate and a landing can sit a little off the shore. Open the DNR lake map.
Water clarity
12 ft Secchi depthClearOlder reading
Last measured Oct 16, 2014. 192 readings on record, 1995 to 2014.
Typical summer clarity (June to September): 7.5 ft, moderate, from 31 readings (2012 to 2014).
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 BIG LAKE - DEEP HOLE. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
Water temperature
A typical year Modeled estimate
- Ice goes outabout Apr 26 (Apr 18 to May 2)
- Surface reaches 48°Fabout May 4 (Apr 26 to May 11)
- Surface reaches 64°Fabout Jun 1 (May 30 to Jun 7)
- June surface67°F, usually 65 to 69°F
- July surface73°F, usually 71 to 75°F
- August surface70°F, usually 69 to 72°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
- 1Big Lake RampBoat ramp · Gravel surface · Township
Directions
Wisconsin DNR public boat access sites. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
More lakes in Vilas County
- Gilbert Lake0.8 miles away
- West Bay Lake1.1 miles away
- Deadwood Lake1.4 miles away
- Dalzell Lake1.4 miles away
- Helen Lake1.8 miles away
- Benny Lake1.9 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
- 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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