Ross Lake
Vilas County, Wisconsin · WBIC 1014300
Size
146 acres
Max depth
14 ft
DNR lake type
Simple, Cool, dark water color
Water clarity
7 ft
Moderate, measured Sep 1995
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
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
7 ft Secchi depthModerateOlder reading
Last measured Sep 13, 1995. 1 reading on record, 1995.
Only one reading is on record.
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 Ross Lake - Deep Hole. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
Water temperature
A typical year Modeled estimate
- Ice goes outabout Apr 22 (Apr 13 to Apr 27)
- Surface reaches 48°Fabout Apr 30 (Apr 19 to May 8)
- Surface reaches 64°Fabout May 26 (May 19 to May 31)
- June surface70°F, usually 67 to 71°F
- July surface74°F, usually 73 to 76°F
- August surface71°F, usually 70 to 73°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.
More lakes in Vilas County
- Oberlin Lake1.0 miles away
- Roach Lake1.0 miles away
- Erickson Lake1.2 miles away
- Smith Lake1.4 miles away
- Witches Lake1.4 miles away
- Klondike Lake1.6 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
- 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.
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