Anvil Lake
Anvil Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 12 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 32 ft. Surface area: 377 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Walleye as common on Anvil Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 12 ft
- Typical in August
- 71°F
- Max depth
- 32 ft
- Area
- 377 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
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Anvil Lake is a 377-acre mesotrophic lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 32 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2025. Water clarity is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 4 documented fish species including Panfish, Smallmouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 102 other monitored lakes in Vilas County, Anvil Lake ranks #53 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2025-08-18. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Anvil Lake Water Quality Report Card (2026)
A printable one-page report card for Anvil Lake: grade, clarity, phosphorus, algae, multi-year trend, depth, and fish — with sources.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
Good clarity, visible to about 12 ft. Phosphorus level: 11.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 41.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 12 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 11.8 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 41 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Anvil Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Anvil 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 Anvil Lake
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Current Conditions
USGS snapshot Jul 6, 2026, 4:30 AM from gauge 05390500 (Anvil Lake Near Eagle River, WI). Station page ↗ — a live reading replaces this snapshot when the gauge responds. Missing live data is not an all-clear.
Water Temperature
Anvil Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 70°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 72°F) and coldest in Jun (about 68°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 13 field readings (2024–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Anvil Lake water temperature breakdown →
Wisconsin DNR lists Walleye as common on Anvil Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Anvil Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is stable. 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. Monitored by volunteers since 1986. 5 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 32 ft |
| Surface Area | 377 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Anvil LakePublic
- Anvil LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Public campgrounds near Anvil Lake
- Anvil Lake0.5 km
Nearest public campgrounds in the USGS National Map inventory, within about 3 miles. An empty list means USGS records no campground that close, which is not the same as camping being unavailable. Where the source gives an official reservation link, it is used; the cabin and hotel search does not cover campsites. More camping lakes
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Anvil 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.
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.6 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.42 µg/L/yr | 6 |
County Ranking
Ranked #53 of 103 lakes in Vilas County
Nearby Lakes in Vilas County
Frequently asked questions about Anvil Lake
Where is Anvil Lake?
- Anvil Lake is a lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Anvil Lake?
- Anvil Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 12 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 32 ft. Surface area: 377 acres.
Is Anvil Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Anvil Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Anvil Lake?
- Anvil Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August, from 13 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Anvil Lake?
- Anvil Lake has a maximum depth of 32 feet. The lake covers 377 acres.
What fish are in Anvil Lake?
- Fish species found in Anvil Lake include Panfish, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Anvil Lake is located in Vilas County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Anvil Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Walleye as common on Anvil Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Anvil Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
What is the water level at Anvil Lake?
- The USGS snapshot on this page for Anvil Lake is 1692.74 ft of water-surface elevation, recorded Jul 6, 2026, 4:30 AM at gauge 05390500. Current Conditions hydrates a live NWIS reading from that same station when the gauge responds. A missed live fetch is not an all-clear.
Are there boat ramps on Anvil Lake?
- Anvil Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Anvil Lake, Anvil Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Are there campgrounds on Anvil Lake?
- Anvil Lake has 1 public campground from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including Anvil Lake. This is a location join, not a booking. Cabins and hotels are listed separately; campsite reservations use the official link when the source provides one.
Explore Anvil Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Wisconsin
Fish species and best lakes in Vilas County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Wisconsin River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Wisconsin
Mesotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Where this data comes from
36 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX36 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles