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Wisconsin›Clearest lakes›Forest County

WI · ranked by public data

The 14 Clearest Lakes in Forest County, Wisconsin

14 Forest County lakes are at least 50 acres with a current DNR water-clarity reading, out of 195 documented lakes in the county. Updated July 2026.

  1. 124 ft
    2,039 acres

    Forest County, WI

    Metonga Lake

    enhancedDepth mapStockedWater data
    45.54, -88.902,039 acres | 79 ft max3 public access pointsSmallmouth Bass, Walleye

    24 ft water clarity (Jul 2026) · 2,039 acres, 79 ft max depth · 3 public landings

  2. 217 ft
    163 acres

    Forest County, WI

    Arbutus Lake

    enhancedDepth mapWater data
    45.40, -88.86163 acres | 28 ft max1 public access pointLargemouth Bass, Panfish

    17 ft water clarity (Jun 2026) · 163 acres, 28 ft max depth · 1 public landing

  3. 315 ft
    1,246 acres

    Forest County, WI

    Butternut Lake

    enhancedDepth mapWater data
    45.91, -88.991,246 acres | 42 ft max2 public access pointsSmallmouth Bass, Walleye

    15 ft water clarity (Aug 2025) · 1,246 acres, 42 ft max depth · 2 public landings

  4. 413 ft
    317 acres

    Forest County, WI

    Silver Lake

    enhancedDepth mapWater data
    45.56, -88.71317 acres | 20 ft max1 public access pointPanfish, Largemouth Bass

    13 ft water clarity (Jul 2025) · 317 acres, 20 ft max depth · 1 public landing

  5. 513 ft
    75 acres

    Forest County, WI

    Crystal Lake

    enhancedDepth mapWater data
    45.38, -88.9375 acres | 36 ft max1 public access pointLargemouth Bass, Panfish

    13 ft water clarity (Jun 2026) · 75 acres, 36 ft max depth · 1 public landing

  6. 612 ft
    180 acres

    Forest County, WI

    Jungle Lake

    enhancedDepth mapStockedWater data
    45.46, -88.83180 acres | 14 ft max1 public access pointLargemouth Bass, Northern Pike

    12 ft water clarity (May 2026) · 180 acres, 14 ft max depth · 1 public landing

  7. 710 ft
    217 acres

    Forest County, WI

    Lily Lake

    enhancedDepth mapWater data
    45.43, -88.84217 acres | 24 ft max1 public access pointWalleye, Largemouth Bass

    10 ft water clarity (Jul 2026) · 217 acres, 24 ft max depth · 1 public landing

  8. 88 ft
    237 acres

    Forest County, WI

    Little Sand Lake

    enhancedDepth mapStockedDNR impairmentWater data
    45.47, -88.92237 acres | 20 ft max1 public access pointPanfish, Largemouth Bass

    8 ft water clarity (Aug 2021) · 237 acres, 20 ft max depth · 1 public landing · DNR impairment listed

  9. 98 ft
    69 acres

    Forest County, WI

    Round Lake

    enhancedDepth mapWater data
    45.49, -88.6869 acres | 10 ft max0 public access pointsNorthern Pike, Panfish

    8 ft water clarity (Sep 2019) · 69 acres, 10 ft max depth · No verified public access

  10. 107.5 ft
    355 acres

    Forest County, WI

    Crane Lake

    enhancedDepth mapStockedDNR impairmentWater data
    45.41, -88.89355 acres | 25 ft max1 public access pointPanfish, Largemouth Bass

    7.5 ft water clarity (May 2026) · 355 acres, 25 ft max depth · 1 public landing · DNR impairment listed

RankLakeCountyWater clarityAcresMax depthPublic access
11Bishop LakeForest5.5 ft28812 ft1 landing
12Van Zile LakeForest5 ft7817 ft1 landing
13Bear LakeForest4.5 ft6620 ft1 landing
14Pine LakeForest2.8 ft1,67315 ft4 landings

Methodology

How this list is built

  • Ranked by the most recent documented Secchi disk reading (feet of visibility) from DNR/CLMN monitoring.
  • Readings older than 10 years are excluded — a decades-old reading no longer says anything about today's water.
  • Lakes under 50 acres — or without documented acreage — are excluded from rankings.
  • Readings deeper than the lake's own documented maximum depth are treated as source-data errors and excluded.
  • Clarity swings with season and weather, so the reading date is shown for every lake.
  • Only monitored lakes can rank. A clear lake nobody measures cannot appear here — this list rewards documentation as much as clarity.

FAQ

Forest County lake records

What is the clearest lake in Forest County?

Metonga Lake — By most recent Secchi reading, Metonga Lake in Forest County is the clearest monitored lake in Forest County, with 24 feet of visibility.

Clearest lakes statewideDeepest lakes in Forest CountyBiggest lakes in Forest CountyLakes with the most public access in Forest CountyAll Forest County lakes

Source data: Wisconsin DNR lake and monitoring records as aggregated by LakeList. Figures reflect the most recent documented values, not new surveys, and conditions change — verify access and rules before you go.Lake outlines are shoreline shapes from LakeList and the USGS National Hydrography Dataset; they illustrate a lake's form and are not depth or navigation charts.