Pine Lake
Pine Lake in Forest County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 4.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 31.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 15 ft. Surface area: 1673 acres.
- Clarity
- 4.8 ft
- Max depth
- 15 ft
- Area
- 1,673 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Forest County
Pine Lake is a 1,673-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Forest County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 15 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2026. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. 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 22 other monitored lakes in Forest County, Pine Lake ranks #20 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-07-01. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Pine Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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 4.8 ft. Phosphorus level: 31.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 54.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 31.8 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 54 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Pine Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Pine Lake 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 Pine Lake
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 →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 15 ft |
| Surface Area | 1,673 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Hiles MillpondPublic
- Pine Lake - Coe's Rd.Public
- Pine Lake - Nicolet ForestPublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Pine 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. 3 stations on file (most recent sample 2020).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.88 µg/L/yr | 2 |
EPA Impairment Status
Pine 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 WI10006989 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #20 of 23 lakes in Forest County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Pine 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.
Nearby Lakes in Forest County
Frequently asked questions about Pine Lake
What is the water quality grade for Pine Lake?
- Pine Lake in Forest County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 4.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 31.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 15 ft. Surface area: 1673 acres.
Is Pine Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Pine Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Pine Lake?
- Pine Lake has a maximum depth of 15 feet. The lake covers 1673 acres.
What fish are in Pine Lake?
- Fish species found in Pine Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Pine Lake is located in Forest County, Wisconsin.
Are there boat ramps on Pine Lake?
- Pine Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Hiles Millpond, Pine Lake - Coe's Rd., Pine Lake - Nicolet Forest. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Pine Lake across LakeGrade
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
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Wisconsin's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Wisconsin
Eutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Compare Pine Lake With Nearby Lakes
Where this data comes from
9 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_WQX9 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