Lake Lucerne
Forest County, Wisconsin1,039 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Lake Lucerne. Here is what has been measured.
- Oligotrophic
- Rusty Crayfish
- 73 ft max depth
- Public access
Lake Lucerne in Forest County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 18.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 9.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 73 ft. Surface area: 1039 acres.
Wisconsin DNR rates Smallmouth Bass as abundant on Lake Lucerne. DNR survey details →
Lake Lucerne is a 1,039-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Forest County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 73 feet. 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 1 public boat landing. 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. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Lake Lucerne covers about 1,000 acres in Forest County. It has one public boat landing. If you are planning to stay, you can search lake houses and cabins around Lake Lucerne on Vrbo, or look for a hotel room near the lake on Booking.com or Expedia.
What Lake Lucerne is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water18.7 ft of visibility
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing6 species recorded
- Deep water73 ft surveyed max depth
- Big water1,039 acres
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 Lake Lucerne 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 Lake Lucerne
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Lake Lucerne, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Crystal clear, you can see 18.7 ft down. Phosphorus 9.3 µg/L. TSI 36.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 18.7ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 9.3µg/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. | 36 | Oligotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. No reading is a swimming clearance.
Ask about Lake Lucerne
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
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 ↗
Wisconsin DNR rates Smallmouth Bass as abundant on Lake Lucerne.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Lake Lucerne’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 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)
Lake Details
Max depth
73 ft
Surface area
1,039 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
12 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Shoreline
8.8 mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,634 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Lucerne 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 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
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Follow Lake Lucerne’s readings
Email me when new measurements post for this lake. Updates stay free.
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every 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.
Water Quality Trend: Improving
Based on 7 years of monitoring (2020–2026).
Water clarity
Stable7 years
Phosphorus
Improving-1.04 µg/L/yr5 years
Nearby Lakes in Forest County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Lucerne
Where is Lake Lucerne?
- Lake Lucerne is a lake in Forest County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Lake Lucerne?
- Lake Lucerne in Forest County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. 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?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
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.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Lake Lucerne?
- Wisconsin DNR rates Smallmouth Bass as abundant on Lake Lucerne. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Lake Lucerne’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 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 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lucerne Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Lake Lucerne?
- Lake Lucerne 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 Lake Lucerne 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 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 readings
Lakes in the Wolf River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Wisconsin's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
More lakes in Wisconsin
Other 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)
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
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