Escanaba Lake
Escanaba Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 9.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 19 µg/L. Maximum depth: 26 ft. Surface area: 303 acres.
Wisconsin DNR rates Walleye as abundant on Escanaba Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 9.5 ft
- Max depth
- 26 ft
- Area
- 303 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Escanaba Lake is a 303-acre mesotrophic lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 26 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including Musky, Panfish, and Largemouth Bass. Public access is available. Compared to the 102 other monitored lakes in Vilas County, Escanaba Lake ranks #69 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2023-09-05. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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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 9.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 19 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 46.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 9.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 19 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 46 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Escanaba Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Escanaba 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 Escanaba Lake
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Wisconsin DNR rates Walleye as abundant on Escanaba Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Escanaba Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 3 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 2023).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 26 ft |
| Surface Area | 303 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Escanaba Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +5.315 m/yr | 3 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -4.1 µg/L/yr | 2 |
County Ranking
Ranked #69 of 103 lakes in Vilas County
Nearby Lakes in Vilas County
Frequently asked questions about Escanaba Lake
Where is Escanaba Lake?
- Escanaba Lake is a lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Escanaba Lake?
- Escanaba Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 9.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 19 µg/L. Maximum depth: 26 ft. Surface area: 303 acres.
Is Escanaba Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Escanaba Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Escanaba Lake?
- Escanaba Lake has a maximum depth of 26 feet. The lake covers 303 acres.
What fish are in Escanaba Lake?
- Fish species found in Escanaba Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Escanaba Lake is located in Vilas County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Escanaba Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR rates Walleye as abundant on Escanaba Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Escanaba Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 3 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Explore Escanaba Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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Fish species and best lakes in Vilas County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Where this data comes from
11 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX11 samples · 2021–2023
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