Pike Lake
Pike Lake in Marathon County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 29.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 34 ft. Surface area: 204 acres.
- Clarity
- 5 ft
- Typical in August
- 73°F
- Max depth
- 34 ft
- Area
- 204 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Marathon County
Pike Lake is a 204-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Marathon County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 34 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2026. The lake supports 4 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Public access is available with 5 public boat landings. Compared to the 3 other monitored lakes in Marathon County, Pike Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-04-07. Grade methodology: LakeGrade 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: 29.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 53.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 29.3 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 53 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Pike Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Pike Lake in Marathon 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 Pike Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Pike Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 76°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 78°F) and coldest in Apr (about 51°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 14 field readings (2024–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Pike Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 34 ft |
| Surface Area | 204 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Pike LakePublic
- Mission Lake County ParkPublic
- Bass LakePublic
- Rice LakePublic
- Lost LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Pike 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.
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2026).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
DNR Reports & Resources
Wisconsin DNR Fisheries scientists publish multi-year survey reports for Pike 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).
- —Pike Lake comprehensive survey 2021Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR (PDF)
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.054 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.1 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Pike Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Hatley Wastewater Treatment FacilityHatley · 4.9 mi away · NPDES WI0036803Recent violation
- Ostrowski Farms, Inc.Elderon, Town Of · 4.3 mi away · NPDES WI0062367
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 4 lakes in Marathon County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Pike Lake holds Grade C. 3 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 Marathon County
Frequently asked questions about Pike Lake
What is the water quality grade for Pike Lake?
- Pike Lake in Marathon County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 29.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 34 ft. Surface area: 204 acres.
Is Pike Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Pike Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Pike Lake?
- Pike Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August, from 14 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Pike Lake?
- Pike Lake has a maximum depth of 34 feet. The lake covers 204 acres.
What fish are in Pike Lake?
- Fish species found in Pike Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Pike Lake is located in Marathon County, Wisconsin.
Are there boat ramps on Pike Lake?
- Pike Lake has 5 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Pike Lake, Mission Lake County Park, Bass Lake, Rice Lake, among others. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Pike Lake 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 Marathon 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 Pike Lake
Other Grade C Lakes in Wisconsin
Eutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Where this data comes from
76 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_WQX76 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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
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