Horseshoe Lake
Horseshoe Lake in Washburn County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 13 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 12.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 21 ft. Surface area: 177 acres.
Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on Horseshoe Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 13 ft
- Typical in August
- 75°F
- Max depth
- 21 ft
- Area
- 177 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Horseshoe Lake is a 177-acre mesotrophic lake in Washburn County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 21 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 4 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 26 other monitored lakes in Washburn County, Horseshoe Lake ranks #10 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-07-01. 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 13 ft. Phosphorus level: 12.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 40.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 13 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 12.6 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 40 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Horseshoe Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Horseshoe Lake in Washburn 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 Horseshoe Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Horseshoe Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 76°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 78°F) and coldest in May (about 65°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 32 field readings (2024–2026) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Horseshoe Lake water temperature breakdown →
Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on Horseshoe Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Horseshoe 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 2014. 2 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 21 ft |
| Surface Area | 177 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Horseshoe LakePublic
- Sleepy Eye 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 Horseshoe 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 | → Stable | +0.241 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.49 µg/L/yr | 6 |
County Ranking
Ranked #10 of 27 lakes in Washburn County
Nearby Lakes in Washburn County
Frequently asked questions about Horseshoe Lake
Where is Horseshoe Lake?
- Horseshoe Lake is a lake in Washburn County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Horseshoe Lake?
- Horseshoe Lake in Washburn County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 13 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 12.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 21 ft. Surface area: 177 acres.
Is Horseshoe Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Horseshoe Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Horseshoe Lake?
- Horseshoe Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August, from 32 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2026). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Horseshoe Lake?
- Horseshoe Lake has a maximum depth of 21 feet. The lake covers 177 acres.
What fish are in Horseshoe Lake?
- Fish species found in Horseshoe Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Horseshoe Lake is located in Washburn County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Horseshoe Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on Horseshoe Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Horseshoe 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.
Are there boat ramps on Horseshoe Lake?
- Horseshoe Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Horseshoe Lake, Sleepy Eye Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
116 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_WQX116 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