Silver Lake
Silver Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 12.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 17.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 19 ft. Surface area: 57 acres.
- Clarity
- 12.1 ft
- Max depth
- 19 ft
- Area
- 57 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Vilas County
Silver Lake is a 57-acre mesotrophic lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 19 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2022. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including Musky, Panfish, and Largemouth Bass. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 102 other monitored lakes in Vilas County, Silver Lake ranks #6 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2022-02-15. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Silver 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.
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
Good clarity, visible to about 12.1 ft. Phosphorus level: 17.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 43.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 12.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 17.8 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 43 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Silver Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Silver 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 Silver 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 | 19 ft |
| Surface Area | 57 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Yellow Birch LakePublic
- Silver LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Silver 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 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
EPA Impairment Status
Silver 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 WI10007716 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Silver Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Eagle River City OfEagle River · 0.7 mi away · NPDES WI0022004
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 #6 of 103 lakes in Vilas County
Nearby Lakes in Vilas County
Frequently asked questions about Silver Lake
What is the water quality grade for Silver Lake?
- Silver Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 12.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 17.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 19 ft. Surface area: 57 acres.
Is Silver Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Silver Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Silver Lake?
- Silver Lake has a maximum depth of 19 feet. The lake covers 57 acres.
What fish are in Silver Lake?
- Fish species found in Silver Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Silver Lake is located in Vilas County, Wisconsin.
Are there boat ramps on Silver Lake?
- Silver Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Yellow Birch Lake, Silver Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Silver Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Wisconsin
Fish species and best lakes in Vilas 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 Wisconsin River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Wisconsin's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Wisconsin
Mesotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Where this data comes from
20 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX20 samples · 2021–2022
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
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