Adams Lake
Adams Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 100 ft visibility. Surface area: 9 acres.
Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on Adams Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 100 ft
- Area
- 9 acres
- Public access
- Yes
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Why Adams Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when the monitoring record supports a letter: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Adams Lake, no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by WI DNR and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Adams Lake is a 9-acre lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin. The lake supports 2 documented fish species including Panfish and Largemouth Bass. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2023-07-05. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Watch Adams Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Adams Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Crystal clear, you can see 100 ft down. Trophic State Index: 11.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 100 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 11 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Adams Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Adams Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.
Top-rated places to stay near Adams Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on Adams Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Adams Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages.
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 9 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
The available depth estimate for Adams Lake is shallower than its measured water clarity, which cannot be right, so no depth is shown.
Recreation & Access
- Lake of the HillsPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Adams Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
Graded lakes near Adams Lake
Adams Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Vilas County
Frequently asked questions about Adams Lake
Where is Adams Lake?
- Adams Lake is a lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — there is not enough recent sampling to assign a letter.
What is the water quality grade for Adams Lake?
- Adams Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 100 ft visibility. Surface area: 9 acres.
Is Adams Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Adams Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Adams Lake?
- The available depth estimate for Adams Lake is shallower than its measured water clarity, which cannot be right, so no depth is shown. The lake covers 9 acres.
What fish are in Adams Lake?
- Fish species found in Adams Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass. Adams Lake is located in Vilas County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Adams Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on Adams Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Adams Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Adams Lake?
- Adams Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lake of the Hills. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Adams Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
1 measurement from 1 monitoring station, 2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX1 sample · 2023
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory