Hilts Lake
Hilts Lake in Lincoln County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 14 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 64 ft. Surface area: 61 acres.
- Clarity
- 14 ft
- Max depth
- 64 ft
- Area
- 61 acres
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Lincoln County
Why Hilts Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when its monitoring record clears the evidence bar: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Hilts Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by WI DNR and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Hilts Lake is a 61-acre lake in Lincoln County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 64 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Public access is available with 4 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2025-08-31. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Hilts Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 14 ft. Trophic State Index: 39.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 14 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 39 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Hilts Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Hilts Lake in Lincoln 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 Hilts Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 64 ft |
| Surface Area | 61 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Harrison LakePublic
- Hilts LakePublic
- Pine LakePublic
- Squaw LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Hilts 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.
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. Monitored by volunteers since 2005. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.8 m/yr | 5 |
Graded lakes near Hilts Lake
Hilts Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Lincoln County
Frequently asked questions about Hilts Lake
What is the water quality grade for Hilts Lake?
- Hilts Lake in Lincoln County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 14 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 64 ft. Surface area: 61 acres.
Is Hilts Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Hilts Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Hilts Lake?
- Hilts Lake has a maximum depth of 64 feet. The lake covers 61 acres.
What fish are in Hilts Lake?
- Fish species found in Hilts Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike. Hilts Lake is located in Lincoln County, Wisconsin.
Are there boat ramps on Hilts Lake?
- Hilts Lake has 4 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Harrison Lake, Hilts Lake, Pine Lake, Squaw Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Hilts Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
8 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX8 samples · 2021–2025
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