Bardon Lake
Bardon Lake in Douglas County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 27 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Maximum depth: 102 ft. Surface area: 848 acres.
- Clarity
- 27 ft
- Max depth
- 102 ft
- Area
- 848 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Douglas County
Bardon Lake is a 848-acre mesotrophic lake in Douglas County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 102 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2025. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Smallmouth Bass. Public access is available. Compared to the 14 other monitored lakes in Douglas County, Bardon Lake ranks #13 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2025-09-10. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Crystal clear, you can see 27 ft down. Phosphorus level: 30 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 41.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 27 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 30 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 41 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Bardon Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Bardon Lake in Douglas 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.
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 102 ft |
| Surface Area | 848 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Whitefish LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Bardon 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.
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. Monitored by volunteers since 1998. 8 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +1.629 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +3.51 µg/L/yr | 5 |
County Ranking
Ranked #13 of 15 lakes in Douglas County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Bardon Lake holds Grade C. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Douglas County
Frequently asked questions about Bardon Lake
What is the water quality grade for Bardon Lake?
- Bardon Lake in Douglas County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 27 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Maximum depth: 102 ft. Surface area: 848 acres.
Is Bardon Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Bardon Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Bardon Lake?
- Bardon Lake has a maximum depth of 102 feet. The lake covers 848 acres.
What fish are in Bardon Lake?
- Fish species found in Bardon Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Bardon Lake is located in Douglas County, Wisconsin.
Are there boat ramps on Bardon Lake?
- Bardon Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Whitefish Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Bardon Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Wisconsin
Fish species and best lakes in Douglas County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the St. Croix Watershed, ranked by water quality
Lakes in the Lake Superior Basin (MN+WI), ranked by water quality
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Wisconsin's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Wisconsin
Mesotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Compare Bardon Lake With Nearby Lakes
Where this data comes from
6 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2023–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX6 samples · 2023–2025
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