High Lake
High Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 10 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 36 ft. Surface area: 741 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Musky as common on High Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 10 ft
- Typical in August
- 76°F
- Max depth
- 36 ft
- Area
- 741 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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High Lake is a 741-acre mesotrophic lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 36 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 6 documented fish species including Musky, Panfish, and Largemouth Bass. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings. Compared to the 102 other monitored lakes in Vilas County, High Lake ranks #19 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-27. 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)
Good clarity, visible to about 10 ft. Phosphorus level: 14.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 43.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 14.1 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 43 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near High Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near High 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 High Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
High Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 74°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 76°F) and coldest in May (about 55°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 28 field readings (2024–2026) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full High Lake water temperature breakdown →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for High Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was moderate (71,779 cells/mL) on June 6, 2026.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Wisconsin DNR lists Musky as common on High Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades High Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 7 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. Monitored by volunteers since 1990. 2 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 36 ft |
| Surface Area | 741 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- High LakePublic
- Jute LakePublic
- Big Gibson 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 High 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 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.268 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.58 µg/L/yr | 7 |
County Ranking
Ranked #19 of 103 lakes in Vilas County
Nearby Lakes in Vilas County
Frequently asked questions about High Lake
Where is High Lake?
- High 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 High Lake?
- High Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 10 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 36 ft. Surface area: 741 acres.
Is High Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. High Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of High Lake?
- High Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August, from 28 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2026). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is High Lake?
- High Lake has a maximum depth of 36 feet. The lake covers 741 acres.
What fish are in High Lake?
- Fish species found in High Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. High Lake is located in Vilas County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at High Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Musky as common on High Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades High Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Does High Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for High Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was moderate (71,779 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Wisconsin's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on High Lake?
- High Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include High Lake, Jute Lake, Big Gibson Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore High Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Wisconsin
Fish species and best lakes in Vilas County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Northwoods Wisconsin area
Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Wisconsin River Watershed, 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
Compare High Lake With Nearby Lakes
Where this data comes from
81 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX81 samples · 2020–2026
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