Baker Lake
Vilas County, Wisconsin37 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Baker Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- 21 ft max depth
- Public access
Baker Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 4.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 29.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 21 ft. Surface area: 37 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Baker Lake. DNR survey details →
Baker Lake is a 37-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 21 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 102 other monitored lakes in Vilas County, Baker Lake ranks #94 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-27. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Baker Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing3 species recorded
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyModerate algae
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Baker Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Baker Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Baker Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Murky, only visible to about 4.5 ft. Phosphorus 29.1 µg/L. TSI 54.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 4.5ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 29.1µg/L | Fair GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | No reading The green pigment in algae — a direct measure of how much algae is in the water. | |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 54 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Baker Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Baker Lake typically sits around 60°F at the surface in October. Summer average is about 74°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 79°F) and coldest in Jan (about 35°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (35°F) to its warmest (79°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 48 field readings (2024–2026) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Baker Lake water temperature breakdown →
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Baker Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Baker Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is declining. 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 2007. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
Max depth
21 ft
Surface area
37 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
1 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Shoreline
1 mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,677 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Baker LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Baker Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Baker 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 Baker Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Baker 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: Worsening
Based on 7 years of monitoring (2020–2026).
Water clarity
Worsening7 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+7.49 µg/L/yr7 years
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Baker Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Little Tamarack Flowage on the Little Tamarack Creek; earth-type dam, 10 ft tall.
- Surface area
- 200 ac
- Normal storage
- 2,000 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 2,490 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 25 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- Little Tamarack Flowage, Baker Spring Lake District
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID WI20051 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.96 km)
Nearby Lakes in Vilas County
Frequently asked questions about Baker Lake
Where is Baker Lake?
- Baker Lake is a lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Baker Lake?
- Baker Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 4.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 29.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 21 ft. Surface area: 37 acres.
Is Baker Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Baker Lake?
- Baker Lake typically sits around 60°F at the surface in October, from 48 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2026). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Baker Lake?
- Baker Lake has a maximum depth of 21 feet. The lake covers 37 acres.
What fish are in Baker Lake?
- Fish species found in Baker Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike. Baker Lake is located in Vilas County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Baker Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Baker Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Baker Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Baker Lake?
- Baker Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Baker Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Baker Lake?
- Baker Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Wisconsin's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Baker Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
152 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX152 samples · 2020–2026
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from 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