Horsehead Lake
Horsehead Lake in Oneida County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 6.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 29.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 11 ft. Surface area: 377 acres.
Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on Horsehead Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 6.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 69°F
- Max depth
- 11 ft
- Area
- 377 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Horsehead Lake is a 377-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Oneida County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 11 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2026. 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 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 66 other monitored lakes in Oneida County, Horsehead Lake ranks #63 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-22. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Murky, only visible to about 6.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 29.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 52.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 29.9 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 52 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Horsehead Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Horsehead Lake in Oneida 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 Horsehead Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Horsehead Lake typically sits around 69°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 76°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 81°F) and coldest in May (about 56°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 19 field readings (2024–2026) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Horsehead Lake water temperature breakdown →
Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on Horsehead Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Horsehead Lake C 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 1988. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 11 ft |
| Surface Area | 377 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Horsehead 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 Horsehead 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 | +0.375 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -4.4 µg/L/yr | 7 |
County Ranking
Ranked #63 of 67 lakes in Oneida County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Horsehead Lake holds Grade C. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Oneida County
Frequently asked questions about Horsehead Lake
Where is Horsehead Lake?
- Horsehead Lake is a lake in Oneida County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Horsehead Lake?
- Horsehead Lake in Oneida County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 6.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 29.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 11 ft. Surface area: 377 acres.
Is Horsehead Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Horsehead Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Horsehead Lake?
- Horsehead Lake typically sits around 69°F at the surface in August, from 19 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2026). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Horsehead Lake?
- Horsehead Lake has a maximum depth of 11 feet. The lake covers 377 acres.
What fish are in Horsehead Lake?
- Fish species found in Horsehead Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike. Horsehead Lake is located in Oneida County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Horsehead Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on Horsehead Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Horsehead Lake C 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.
Are there boat ramps on Horsehead Lake?
- Horsehead Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Horsehead Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Horsehead Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
49 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX49 samples · 2020–2026
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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