Bear Paw Lake
Bear Paw Lake in Oconto County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 16 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 20 ft. Surface area: 47 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Bear Paw Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 16 ft
- Typical in August
- 77°F
- Max depth
- 20 ft
- Area
- 47 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Bear Paw Lake is a 47-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Oconto County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 20 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2026. Overall water quality is improving 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 38 other monitored lakes in Oconto County, Bear Paw Lake ranks #22 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-04-29. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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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)
Crystal clear, you can see 16 ft down. Phosphorus level: 11.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 38.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 16 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 11.1 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 38 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Bear Paw Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Bear Paw Lake in Oconto 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 Paw Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Bear Paw Lake typically sits around 77°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 78°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 79°F) and coldest in Apr (about 67°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 11 field readings (2024–2026) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Bear Paw Lake water temperature breakdown →
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Bear Paw Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Bear Paw Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. 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. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 20 ft |
| Surface Area | 47 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Bear Paw LakePublic
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 Paw 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: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.107 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.59 µg/L/yr | 5 |
County Ranking
Ranked #22 of 39 lakes in Oconto County
Nearby Lakes in Oconto County
Frequently asked questions about Bear Paw Lake
Where is Bear Paw Lake?
- Bear Paw Lake is a lake in Oconto County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Bear Paw Lake?
- Bear Paw Lake in Oconto County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 16 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 20 ft. Surface area: 47 acres.
Is Bear Paw Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Bear Paw Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Bear Paw Lake?
- Bear Paw Lake typically sits around 77°F at the surface in August, from 11 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2026). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Bear Paw Lake?
- Bear Paw Lake has a maximum depth of 20 feet. The lake covers 47 acres.
What fish are in Bear Paw Lake?
- Fish species found in Bear Paw Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike. Bear Paw Lake is located in Oconto County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Bear Paw Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Bear Paw Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Bear Paw Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Bear Paw Lake?
- Bear Paw Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Bear Paw Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Bear Paw Lake across LakeQuality
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Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
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Where this data comes from
60 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX60 samples · 2020–2026
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