Stearns Lake
Vilas County, Wisconsin · WBIC 2323600
Size
217 acres
Max depth
16 ft
DNR lake type
Complex, Warm, clear water color
Water clarity
9 ft
Moderate, measured Aug 2024
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 1971), so the shape is approximate and a landing can sit a little off the shore. Open the DNR lake map.
Water clarity
9 ft Secchi depthModerate
Last measured Aug 20, 2024. 120 readings on record, 1995 to 2024.
Typical summer clarity (June to September): 10 ft, clear, from 32 readings (2012 to 2024).
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 STEARNS LAKE - DEEP HOLE. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
Water temperature
Last measured Aug 20, 2024, too long ago to show as the current temperature.
A typical year Modeled estimate
- Ice goes outabout Apr 22 (Apr 15 to Apr 29)
- Surface reaches 48°Fabout May 2 (Apr 22 to May 8)
- Surface reaches 64°Fabout May 30 (May 28 to Jun 5)
- June surface69°F, usually 67 to 71°F
- July surface74°F, usually 73 to 76°F
- August surface71°F, usually 69 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.
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
- 1White Sand Lake AccessBoat ramp · Gravel surface · Other
Directions
Wisconsin DNR public boat access sites. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
More lakes in Vilas County
- Moving Cloud Lake0.7 miles away
- Toulish Lake1.0 miles away
- Elsie Lake1.2 miles away
- Statenaker Lake1.3 miles away
- Bobidosh Lake1.5 miles away
- Plummer 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
- 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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