High Lake
Vilas County, Wisconsin741 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for High Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- 2 aquatic invasives
- 36 ft max depth
- Public access
High Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. 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 →
High Lake is a 741-acre mesotrophic lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 36 feet. 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 1 public boat landing. 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. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What High Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water10 ft of visibility
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing6 species recorded
- Deep water36 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLow algae
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether High Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for High Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for High Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Good clarity, visible to about 10 ft. Phosphorus 14.1 µg/L. TSI 43.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 10ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 14.1µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | No reading The green pigment in algae — a direct measure of how much algae is in the water. | |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 43 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about High Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
High Lake typically sits around 64°F at the surface in October. 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.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (55°F) to its warmest (76°F).
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 water quality. LakeQuality shows High Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, 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
Max depth
36 ft
Surface area
741 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Recreation & Access
- High LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays 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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Follow High Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every 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 (2020–2026).
Water clarity
Improving7 years
Phosphorus
Improving-0.58 µg/L/yr7 years
Nearby Lakes in Vilas County
Frequently asked questions about High Lake
Where is High Lake?
- High Lake is a lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of High Lake?
- High Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. 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?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of High Lake?
- High Lake typically sits around 64°F at the surface in October, 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 water quality. LakeQuality shows High Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, 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 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include High Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at High Lake?
- High Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Wisconsin's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore High Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and the cleanest 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 readings
Lakes in the Wisconsin River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Wisconsin's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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Other 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)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from 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