Clair Lake
Vilas County, Wisconsin · WBIC 1628450
Size
51 acres
Max depth
15 ft
DNR lake type
Simple, Cool, clear water color
Water clarity
5 ft
Moderate, measured Oct 2005
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 1982), so the shape is approximate and a landing can sit a little off the shore. Open the DNR lake map.
Water clarity
5 ft Secchi depthModerateOlder reading
Last measured Oct 14, 2005. 46 readings on record, 1995 to 2005.
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 Clair Lake - Deep Hole. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
Water temperature
A typical year Modeled estimate
- Ice goes outabout Apr 24 (Apr 15 to Apr 30)
- Surface reaches 48°Fabout Apr 29 (Apr 19 to May 8)
- Surface reaches 64°Fabout May 23 (May 13 to May 26)
- June surface70°F, usually 69 to 71°F
- July surface75°F, usually 74 to 77°F
- August surface72°F, usually 70 to 73°F
Forms a warm top layer around Jun 2, lasting about 58 days.
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
- 1Clair Lake AccessCarry-in access · Unimproved surface · Township
Directions
Wisconsin DNR public boat access sites. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
More lakes in Vilas County
- Joyce Lake0.5 miles away
- Emil Lake1.3 miles away
- Marshall Lake1.3 miles away
- Osceola Lake1.7 miles away
- Moccasin Lake1.7 miles away
- Camp Five Lake1.8 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.