McDonald Lake
Vilas County, Wisconsin · WBIC 1003700
Size
39 acres
Max depth
30 ft
DNR lake type
Simple, Warm, dark water color
Water clarity
13 ft
Clear, measured Aug 2026
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 1970), so the shape is approximate and a landing can sit a little off the shore. Open the DNR lake map.
Water clarity
13 ft Secchi depthClear
Last measured Aug 17, 2026. 208 readings on record, 1986 to 2026.
Typical summer clarity (June to September): 9.5 ft, moderate, from 40 readings (2012 to 2026).
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 McDonald Lake - Deep Hole. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
Water temperature
Last measured Aug 17, 2026, too long ago to show as the current temperature.
A typical year Modeled estimate
- Ice goes outabout Apr 22 (Apr 14 to Apr 27)
- Surface reaches 48°Fabout Apr 30 (Apr 21 to May 8)
- Surface reaches 64°Fabout May 26 (May 21 to Jun 1)
- June surface68°F, usually 67 to 70°F
- July surface74°F, usually 73 to 75°F
- August surface71°F, usually 69 to 73°F
Forms a warm top layer around May 4, lasting about 146 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.
Measured: Wisconsin DNR via the Water Quality Portal (checked Oct 23, 2026). 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
- 1Wisconsin River - Hwy 70 AccessBoat ramp · State(dnr)
Directions
Wisconsin DNR public boat access sites. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
More lakes in Vilas County
- Bragonier Lake0.3 miles away
- Finley Lake1.0 miles away
- Alma Lake1.5 miles away
- Ewald Lake1.8 miles away
- Moon Lake1.9 miles away
- Chickaree 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
- 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
See data sources for what each source covers, and about for how the numbers are matched to lakes.
Something wrong on this page? Report a problem.