Cloud Lake
Cloud Lake in Forest County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Phosphorus: 13 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 25 ft. Surface area: 28 acres.
- Typical in August
- 64°F
- Max depth
- 25 ft
- Area
- 28 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Forest County
Cloud Lake is a 28-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Forest County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 25 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 2 documented fish species including Panfish and Largemouth Bass. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 22 other monitored lakes in Forest County, Cloud Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2025-11-20. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Cloud Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyBacteria A
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.
Based on E. coli testing, Cloud Lake never exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 0% of 16 samples across 5 seasons.
This is a historical summary of past testing, not a current condition — bacteria levels change quickly, especially after rain. Always check Wisconsin’s current beach and health-department advisories before swimming.
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
No clarity data. Phosphorus level: 13 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 1.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 37.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 13 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 1.2 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 37 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Cloud Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Cloud Lake in Forest 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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Water Temperature
Cloud Lake typically sits around 64°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 62°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 64°F) and coldest in Nov (about 40°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 110 field readings (2024–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Cloud Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 25 ft |
| Surface Area | 28 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- Deer LakePublic
- Cloud LakeSemi-private
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Cloud Lake
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. 1 station on file (most recent sample 1994).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.13 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.8 µg/L/yr | 6 |
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 23 lakes in Forest County
Nearby Lakes in Forest County
Frequently asked questions about Cloud Lake
What is the water quality grade for Cloud Lake?
- Cloud Lake in Forest County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Phosphorus: 13 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 25 ft. Surface area: 28 acres.
Is Cloud Lake safe to swim in?
- Based on E. coli testing, Cloud Lake never exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 0% of 16 samples across 5 seasons. That works out to a bacteria swim-safety grade of A — a historical summary of past testing, not a current reading. Cloud Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Bacteria levels can spike quickly after heavy rain, so always check Wisconsin's current beach and health-department advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Cloud Lake?
- Cloud Lake typically sits around 64°F at the surface in August, from 110 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Cloud Lake?
- Cloud Lake has a maximum depth of 25 feet. The lake covers 28 acres.
What fish are in Cloud Lake?
- Fish species found in Cloud Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass. Cloud Lake is located in Forest County, Wisconsin.
Are there boat ramps on Cloud Lake?
- Cloud Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Deer Lake, Cloud Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Cloud Lake across LakeGrade
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
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Where this data comes from
87 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Forest County Potawatomi Community (Tribal)
FCPOTAWATOMI_WQX87 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- 4500 P E ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry- Ascorbic Acid Method
- 4500 P F ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry Automated Ascorbic Acid Method
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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