Cranberry Lake
Cranberry Lake in Bayfield County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 18.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 12 ft. Surface area: 131 acres.
- Clarity
- 9 ft
- Max depth
- 12 ft
- Area
- 131 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Bayfield County
Cranberry Lake is a 131-acre mesotrophic lake in Bayfield County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 12 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2021. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including Musky, Panfish, and Largemouth Bass. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 23 other monitored lakes in Bayfield County, Cranberry Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2021-08-31. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Cranberry Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
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.
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 9 ft. Phosphorus level: 18.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 46.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 18.9 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 46 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Cranberry Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Cranberry Lake in Bayfield 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 Cranberry Lake
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 12 ft |
| Surface Area | 131 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Mooney Dam ParkPublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Cranberry Lake
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2021).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.559 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | -0.25 µg/L/yr | 6 |
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 24 lakes in Bayfield County
Nearby Lakes in Bayfield County
Frequently asked questions about Cranberry Lake
What is the water quality grade for Cranberry Lake?
- Cranberry Lake in Bayfield County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 18.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 12 ft. Surface area: 131 acres.
Is Cranberry Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Cranberry Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Cranberry Lake?
- Cranberry Lake has a maximum depth of 12 feet. The lake covers 131 acres.
What fish are in Cranberry Lake?
- Fish species found in Cranberry Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Cranberry Lake is located in Bayfield County, Wisconsin.
Are there boat ramps on Cranberry Lake?
- Cranberry Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Mooney Dam Park. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Cranberry Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Wisconsin
Fish species and best lakes in Bayfield County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Hayward Lakes area
Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its grade
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 B Lakes in Wisconsin
Mesotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Where this data comes from
12 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX12 samples · 2020–2021
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
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
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