Big Hurst Lake
Big Hurst Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 24 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 44 ft. Surface area: 47 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as present on Big Hurst Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 24 ft
- Max depth
- 44 ft
- Area
- 47 acres
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
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Why Big Hurst 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 Big Hurst 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.
Big Hurst Lake is a 47-acre lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 44 feet. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Walleye. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2025-10-07. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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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 Big Hurst Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Crystal clear, you can see 24 ft down. Trophic State Index: 31.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 24 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 31 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Big Hurst Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Big Hurst 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 Big Hurst Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as present on Big Hurst 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 Big Hurst Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 3 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 1994. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 44 ft |
| Surface Area | 47 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- Van Vliet 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 Big Hurst Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.25 m/yr | 3 |
Graded lakes near Big Hurst Lake
Big Hurst Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Vilas County
Frequently asked questions about Big Hurst Lake
Where is Big Hurst Lake?
- Big Hurst Lake is a lake in Vilas 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 Big Hurst Lake?
- Big Hurst Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 24 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 44 ft. Surface area: 47 acres.
Is Big Hurst Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Big Hurst Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Big Hurst Lake?
- Big Hurst Lake has a maximum depth of 44 feet. The lake covers 47 acres.
What fish are in Big Hurst Lake?
- Fish species found in Big Hurst Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Walleye. Big Hurst Lake is located in Vilas County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Big Hurst Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as present on Big Hurst 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 Big Hurst Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 3 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Big Hurst Lake?
- Big Hurst Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Van Vliet Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Big Hurst Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
23 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX23 samples · 2022–2025
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