Ballard Lake vs Irving Lake
Water quality, depth, fish species, and recreation comparison.
Ballard Lake reads lower on nutrients and algae than Irving Lake. Both are in Vilas County, Wisconsin.
Ballard Lake and Irving Lake are both in Wisconsin — a same-state head-to-head where the comparison comes down to lake-specific differences in depth, watershed, and monitoring history rather than the broader state-level water-quality regime. These two sit close on their nutrient and algae readings, Ballard Lake versus Irving Lake. The deciding factors for a recreational visitor are likely physical (depth, access, fish species) rather than water-quality differences.
With readings this close, the choice between the two lakes turns on non-water-quality factors: depth, fish species, public access, distance from home. The per-lake pages below cover all of those.
Ballard Lake
Crystal clear, you can see 15 ft down.
Irving Lake
Good clarity, visible to about 11.3 ft.
Side-by-Side Metrics
| Metric | Ballard Lake | Irving Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | 15 ft Better | 11.3 ft |
| Phosphorus | 15.4 µg/L Better | 18.6 µg/L |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | No data |
| Maximum Depth | 25 ft Better | 8 ft |
| Surface Area | 503 acres | 419 acres |
| Public Access | Yes | Yes |
| Fish Species | 0 | 4 Better |
| Trophic State | mesotrophic | mesotrophic |
A green ✓ marks the better value for that metric (lower phosphorus / chlorophyll = cleaner; higher Secchi / depth / species count = better). Surface area and trophic state carry no tick — a bigger lake is not a better lake.
Swap a lake
Compare Ballard Lake or Irving Lake against a different lake.
Verdict
Ballard Lake and Irving Lake read the same on nutrients and algae overall. The tiebreakers come down to clarity (Ballard Lake: 15 ft, Irving Lake: 11.3 ft) and what you want from the lake. Ballard Lake has fewer fish species than Irving Lake.
Stays via Stay22
Where to stay near Ballard Lake and Irving Lake
Compare cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals around Ballard Lake and Irving Lake. Both lakes are pinned on the map, so you can see which stays sit nearer the one you pick. Switch to Satellite to see how close each is to the water.
Top-rated places to stay near Ballard Lake and Irving Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 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 Ballard Lake and Irving Lake?
Get lake water-quality updates plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Ballard Lake and Irving Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.