North Spirit Lake
North Spirit Lake in Price County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 34.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 22 ft. Surface area: 224 acres.
Wisconsin DNR rates Walleye as abundant on North Spirit Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 5 ft
- Typical in August
- 76°F
- Max depth
- 22 ft
- Area
- 224 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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North Spirit Lake is a 224-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Price County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 22 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 5 documented fish species including Musky, Panfish, and Largemouth Bass. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 12 other monitored lakes in Price County, North Spirit Lake ranks #10 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-09. 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 5 ft. Phosphorus level: 34.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 55.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 34.6 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 55 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near North Spirit Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near North Spirit Lake in Price 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 North Spirit Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
North Spirit Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 76°F. Usually warmest in Jun (about 76°F) and coldest in May (about 62°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 9 field readings (2024–2026) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full North Spirit Lake water temperature breakdown →
Wisconsin DNR rates Walleye as abundant on North Spirit Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades North Spirit 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 1986. 3 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
DNR Reports & Resources
Wisconsin DNR Fisheries scientists publish multi-year survey reports for North Spirit Lake 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).
- 2024Spirit Lakes netting and shocking survey, 2024Netting Survey · WI DNR · 2024 (PDF)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 22 ft |
| Surface Area | 224 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- Stone 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 North Spirit 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 | +1.116 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -1.21 µg/L/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
North Spirit Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10008722 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #10 of 13 lakes in Price County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
North Spirit 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 Price County
Frequently asked questions about North Spirit Lake
Where is North Spirit Lake?
- North Spirit Lake is a lake in Price County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for North Spirit Lake?
- North Spirit Lake in Price County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 34.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 22 ft. Surface area: 224 acres.
Is North Spirit Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. North Spirit Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of North Spirit Lake?
- North Spirit Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August, from 9 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2026). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is North Spirit Lake?
- North Spirit Lake has a maximum depth of 22 feet. The lake covers 224 acres.
What fish are in North Spirit Lake?
- Fish species found in North Spirit Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. North Spirit Lake is located in Price County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at North Spirit Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR rates Walleye as abundant on North Spirit Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades North Spirit 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 North Spirit Lake?
- North Spirit Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Stone Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore North Spirit Lake 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 Price County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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State Parks Near North Spirit Lake
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Eutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Where this data comes from
74 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX74 samples · 2020–2026
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
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