Lake Owen
Lake Owen in Bayfield County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 24.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 12.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 95 ft. Surface area: 1250 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Lake Owen. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 24.6 ft
- Max depth
- 95 ft
- Area
- 1,250 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Public access
- Yes
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Lake Owen is a 1,250-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Bayfield County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 95 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2026. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Smallmouth Bass. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings. Compared to the 23 other monitored lakes in Bayfield County, Lake Owen ranks #16 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-23. 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)
Crystal clear, you can see 24.6 ft down. Phosphorus level: 12.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 36.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 24.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 12.5 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 Owen
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Owen in Bayfield 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 Owen
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Lake Owen.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Lake Owen B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry. 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. 9 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
DNR Reports & Resources
Wisconsin DNR Fisheries scientists publish multi-year survey reports for Lake Owen covering fish populations, stocking, water quality, and management. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- 2025Lake Owen spring shocking survey, 2025Spring Shocking Survey · WI DNR · 2025 (PDF)
- 2014Lake Owen comprehensive fisheries survey, 2014Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2014 (PDF)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 95 ft |
| Surface Area | 1,250 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Lake OwenPublic
- Owen LakePublic
- Bass LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Public campgrounds near Lake Owen
- Two Lakes4.0 km
Nearest public campgrounds in the USGS National Map inventory, within about 3 miles. An empty list means USGS records no campground that close, which is not the same as camping being unavailable. Where the source gives an official reservation link, it is used; the cabin and hotel search does not cover campsites. More camping lakes
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Lake Owen
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
County Ranking
Ranked #16 of 24 lakes in Bayfield County
Nearby Lakes in Bayfield County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Owen
Where is Lake Owen?
- Lake Owen is a lake in Bayfield County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Lake Owen?
- Lake Owen in Bayfield County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 24.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 12.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 95 ft. Surface area: 1250 acres.
Is Lake Owen safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Lake Owen has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Lake Owen?
- Lake Owen has a maximum depth of 95 feet. The lake covers 1250 acres.
What fish are in Lake Owen?
- Fish species found in Lake Owen include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Lake Owen is located in Bayfield County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Lake Owen?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Lake Owen. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Lake Owen B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Lake Owen?
- Lake Owen has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lake Owen, Owen Lake, Bass Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Are there campgrounds on Lake Owen?
- Lake Owen has 1 public campground from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including Two Lakes. This is a location join, not a booking. Cabins and hotels are listed separately; campsite reservations use the official link when the source provides one.
Explore Lake Owen across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Wisconsin
Fish species and best lakes in Bayfield County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its grade
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Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
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More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Wisconsin
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Where this data comes from
197 measurements from 4 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_WQX197 samples · 2020–2026
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (4)
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
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles