Razorback Lake
Vilas County, Wisconsin381 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Razorback Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- 35 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Razorback Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 15.2 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 35 ft. Surface area: 381 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Razorback Lake. DNR survey details →
Razorback Lake is a 381-acre lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 35 feet. The lake supports 6 documented fish species including Musky, Panfish, and Largemouth Bass. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2021-08-03. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Razorback Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water15.2 ft of visibility
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing6 species recorded
- Deep water35 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
No readingLimited data
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Razorback Lake 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 Razorback Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Razorback Lake, 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 15.2 ft down. TSI 38.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 15.2ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | No reading The nutrient that most limits algae growth in freshwater. More phosphorus, more algae potential. | |
| 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. | 38 | Oligotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. No reading is a swimming clearance.
Ask about Razorback Lake
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 Razorback Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was high (483,059 cells/mL) on May 23, 2026.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Razorback Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Razorback Lake’s water-quality measurements separately. 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. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2021).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
DNR Reports & Resources
Wisconsin DNR Fisheries scientists publish multi-year survey reports for Razorback 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).
- 2025Razorback Lake spring summary report, 2025Fisheries Survey · WI DNR · 2025 (PDF)
Lake Details
Max depth
35 ft
Surface area
381 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
2 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Shoreline
3.8 mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,650 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Razorback 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 Razorback Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Razorback Lake in Vilas 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 Razorback Lake
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Follow Razorback Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Razorback 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.
Nearby Lakes in Vilas County
Frequently asked questions about Razorback Lake
Where is Razorback Lake?
- Razorback Lake is a lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Razorback Lake?
- Razorback Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 15.2 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 35 ft. Surface area: 381 acres.
Is Razorback Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Razorback Lake?
- Razorback Lake has a maximum depth of 35 feet. The lake covers 381 acres.
What fish are in Razorback Lake?
- Fish species found in Razorback Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Razorback Lake is located in Vilas County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Razorback Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Razorback Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Razorback Lake’s water-quality measurements separately. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Does Razorback Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Razorback Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was high (483,059 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Wisconsin's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Razorback Lake?
- Razorback Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Razorback Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Razorback Lake?
- Razorback Lake 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 Razorback Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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Fish species and best lakes in Vilas County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its readings
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Where this data comes from
4 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX4 samples · 2020–2021
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
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