Best Kayaking Lakes in Wisconsin, Clean Water + Public Access

Kayaking-friendly rankings prefer lakes with low motor-boat congestion, interesting shoreline, decent water clarity, and public access. Little Round Lake (A) tops the Wisconsin list.

Kayaking favors lakes with shoreline interest — bays, islands, undeveloped stretches — which tends to correlate with the larger, more remote Wisconsin lakes rather than the small, residential ones.

Rank	Lake	County	State	Grade	Clarity	Area	Depth
1	Little Round Lake	Sawyer	WI	A	17.3 ft	179 acres	38 ft
2	Osprey Lake	Sawyer	WI	A	16 ft	214 acres	32 ft
3	Blueberry Lake	Sawyer	WI	A	14.8 ft	292 acres	29 ft
4	Whitefish Lake	Sawyer	WI	A	13.5 ft	800 acres	105 ft
5	Sand Lake	Barron	WI	A	13 ft	-	~55 ft est.
6	Big Cedar Lake-North Site-Near West Bend	Washington	WI	A	11.8 ft	937 acres	105 ft
7	Big Sand Lake	Burnett	WI	A	11 ft	1,434 acres	55 ft
8	Lost Lake	Sawyer	WI	A	10.6 ft	51 acres	13 ft
9	Ashegon Lake	Sawyer	WI	A	10.5 ft	75 acres	56 ft
10	Sand Lake	Sawyer	WI	A	10 ft	949 acres	50 ft
11	Lake Beulah	Walworth	WI	A	10 ft	812 acres	58 ft
12	Powers Lake	Kenosha	WI	A	10 ft	451 acres	33 ft
13	Mole Lake	Forest	WI	A	8.5 ft	77 acres	17 ft
14	Durphee Lake	Sawyer	WI	A	8.1 ft	-	~47 ft est.
15	Big Lake	Shawano	WI	A	8 ft	-	~46 ft est.
16	Indian Lake	Sawyer	WI	A	6.5 ft	76 acres	9 ft
17	Gaslyn Lake	Burnett	WI	A	4.5 ft	161 acres	12 ft
18	Black Oak Lake	Vilas	WI	B	29 ft	564 acres	85 ft
19	Wheeler Lake	Oconto	WI	B	26 ft	281 acres	35 ft
20	Whitefish Lake	Douglas	WI	B	25 ft	848 acres	102 ft
21	Pine Lake	Waukesha	WI	B	25 ft	711 acres	85 ft
22	Lake Owen	Bayfield	WI	B	24.6 ft	1,250 acres	95 ft
23	Stone Lake	Washburn	WI	B	23 ft	490 acres	49 ft
24	Blue Lake	Oneida	WI	B	23 ft	441 acres	49 ft
25	Maiden Lake	Oconto	WI	B	23 ft	269 acres	52 ft
26	Lee Lake	Oneida	WI	B	22.5 ft	65 acres	44 ft
27	Forest Lake	Vilas	WI	B	22.2 ft	468 acres	60 ft
28	Boot Lake	Oconto	WI	B	21.5 ft	230 acres	38 ft
29	Long Lake	Burnett	WI	B	21.5 ft	222 acres	41 ft
30	Hasbrook Lake	Oneida	WI	B	21 ft	307 acres	50 ft
31	Carlin Lake	Vilas	WI	B	21 ft	155 acres	36 ft
32	Sea Lion Lake	Florence	WI	B	21 ft	114 acres	82 ft
33	Keyes Lake	Florence	WI	B	21 ft	-	~42 ft est.
34	Middle Mckenzie Lake	Burnett	WI	B	20 ft	527 acres	45 ft
35	Paya Lake	Oconto	WI	B	20 ft	105 acres	40 ft
36	Big Twin Lake	Langlade	WI	B	20 ft	66 acres	25 ft
37	Crystal Lake	Sheboygan	WI	B	20 ft	-	~60 ft est.
38	Two Sisters Lake	Oneida	WI	B	19.6 ft	-	~51 ft est.
39	Butternut Lake	Forest	WI	B	19.5 ft	1,246 acres	42 ft
40	Alva Lake	Oneida	WI	B	19.5 ft	199 acres	43 ft
41	Lake Buteau	Lincoln	WI	B	19.4 ft	51 acres	50 ft
42	Upper Kaubashine Lake	Oneida	WI	B	19 ft	181 acres	56 ft
43	Sand Bar Lake	Bayfield	WI	B	19 ft	127 acres	49 ft
44	Pearl Lake	Waushara	WI	B	19 ft	101 acres	45 ft
45	Des Moines Lake	Burnett	WI	B	18.9 ft	215 acres	37 ft
46	Lake Lucerne	Forest	WI	B	18.7 ft	1,039 acres	73 ft
47	Upper Eau Claire Lake	Bayfield	WI	B	18.7 ft	1,024 acres	92 ft
48	Big Portage Lake	Vilas	WI	B	18.5 ft	586 acres	40 ft
49	Middle Eau Claire Lake	Bayfield	WI	B	18.2 ft	880 acres	66 ft
50	Presque Isle Lake	Vilas	WI	B	18 ft	1,165 acres	103 ft

Get updates when Wisconsin kayaking lakes change

New clarity and algae readings can move a lake on this list. Unsubscribe anytime.

All-states list →Minnesota version →Illinois version →Michigan version →All Wisconsin lakes →

Where to stay near Wisconsin kayaking lakes

Find cabins, campgrounds, and rentals near Wisconsin's clearest paddling water — live availability and prices for your kayak trip.

Top-rated places to stay near Wisconsin paddling lakes

Prices for Sep 11–13, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.

Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.

Planning a trip to Wisconsin paddling lakes?

Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Wisconsin paddling lakes — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.