Boulder Lake vs Forest Lake
Water quality, depth, fish species, and recreation comparison.
Forest Lake reads lower on nutrients and algae than Boulder Lake. Both are in Vilas County, Wisconsin.
Both Boulder Lake and Forest Lake sit in Wisconsin. A same-state comparison strips out the state-level water-quality regime as a variable: any differences in the readings here are about the lakes themselves, not the agencies sampling them. These two sit close on their nutrient and algae readings, Boulder Lake versus Forest 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.
Boulder Lake
Murky, only visible to about 5.6 ft.
Forest Lake
Crystal clear, you can see 22.2 ft down.
Side-by-Side Metrics
| Metric | Boulder Lake | Forest Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | 5.6 ft | 22.2 ft Better |
| Phosphorus | 21.6 µg/L | 12.8 µg/L Better |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | No data |
| Maximum Depth | 23 ft | 60 ft Better |
| Surface Area | 516 acres | 468 acres |
| Public Access | Yes | Yes |
| Fish Species | 6 Better | 5 |
| Trophic State | eutrophic | oligotrophic |
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 Boulder Lake or Forest Lake against a different lake.
Verdict
Boulder Lake and Forest Lake read the same on nutrients and algae overall. The tiebreakers come down to clarity (Boulder Lake: 5.6 ft, Forest Lake: 22.2 ft) and what you want from the lake. Boulder Lake supports more documented fish species.
Stays via Stay22
Where to stay near Boulder Lake and Forest Lake
Compare cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals around Boulder Lake and Forest 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 Boulder Lake and Forest Lake
Prices for Nov 6–8, 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 Boulder Lake and Forest Lake?
Get lake water-quality updates plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Boulder Lake and Forest Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.