Bear Lake
Bear Lake in Portage County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 13 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 28 ft. Surface area: 29 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Bear Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 13 ft
- Typical in August
- 71°F
- Max depth
- 28 ft
- Area
- 29 acres
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
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Why Bear 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 Bear Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. 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.
Bear Lake is a 29-acre lake in Portage County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 28 feet. 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 2026-06-18. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Watch Bear 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 Bear Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 13 ft. Trophic State Index: 40.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 13 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 40 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Bear Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Bear Lake in Portage 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 Bear Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Bear Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 74°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 79°F) and coldest in Feb (about 38°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 30 field readings (2025–2026) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Bear Lake water temperature breakdown →
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Bear 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 Bear Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 4 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 2014. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2026).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 28 ft |
| Surface Area | 29 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- Standing Rocks RoadPublic
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 Bear 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 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.228 m/yr | 4 |
Graded lakes near Bear Lake
Bear Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Portage County
Frequently asked questions about Bear Lake
Where is Bear Lake?
- Bear Lake is a lake in Portage 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 Bear Lake?
- Bear Lake in Portage County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 13 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 28 ft. Surface area: 29 acres.
Is Bear Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Bear Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Bear Lake?
- Bear Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August, from 30 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2025–2026). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Bear Lake?
- Bear Lake has a maximum depth of 28 feet. The lake covers 29 acres.
What fish are in Bear Lake?
- Fish species found in Bear Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass. Bear Lake is located in Portage County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Bear Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Bear 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 Bear Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 4 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Bear Lake?
- Bear Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Standing Rocks Road. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Bear Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
15 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX15 samples · 2021–2026
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