Lake Lucerne
Lake Lucerne in Forest County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 18.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 9.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 73 ft. Surface area: 1039 acres.
- Clarity
- 18.7 ft
- Max depth
- 73 ft
- Area
- 1,039 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Forest County
Lake Lucerne is a 1,039-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Forest County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 73 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 Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Smallmouth Bass. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 22 other monitored lakes in Forest County, Lake Lucerne ranks #7 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-07-12. Grade methodology: LakeGrade 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)
Crystal clear, you can see 18.7 ft down. Phosphorus level: 9.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 36.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 18.7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 9.3 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 36 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Lake Lucerne
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Lucerne in Forest 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 Lake Lucerne
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Lake Lucerne — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was high (346,737 cells/mL) on May 30, 2026.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 73 ft |
| Surface Area | 1,039 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Lucerne LakePublic
- Bradley LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Lake Lucerne
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 1986. 3 stations on file (most recent sample 2026).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
DNR Reports & Resources
Wisconsin DNR Fisheries scientists publish multi-year survey reports for Lake Lucerne covering fish populations, stocking, water quality, and management. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- 2018Lake Lucerne fisheries summary, 2018Fisheries Survey · WI DNR · 2018 (PDF)
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.058 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -1.04 µg/L/yr | 5 |
County Ranking
Ranked #7 of 23 lakes in Forest County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Lake Lucerne holds Grade B. 2 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Forest County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Lucerne
What is the water quality grade for Lake Lucerne?
- Lake Lucerne in Forest County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 18.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 9.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 73 ft. Surface area: 1039 acres.
Is Lake Lucerne safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Lake Lucerne has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Lake Lucerne?
- Lake Lucerne has a maximum depth of 73 feet. The lake covers 1039 acres.
What fish are in Lake Lucerne?
- Fish species found in Lake Lucerne include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Trout, Walleye. Lake Lucerne is located in Forest County, Wisconsin.
Does Lake Lucerne have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Lake Lucerne (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was high (346,737 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Wisconsin's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Lake Lucerne?
- Lake Lucerne has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lucerne Lake, Bradley Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Lake Lucerne across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Wisconsin
Fish species and best lakes in Forest 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 Wolf River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Wisconsin's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Wisconsin
Oligotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Compare Lake Lucerne With Nearby Lakes
Where this data comes from
158 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_WQX158 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