Spirit Lake
Taylor County, Wisconsin137 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Spirit Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
- 3 aquatic invasives
- 9 ft max depth
- Public access
Spirit Lake in Taylor County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 88.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 9 ft. Surface area: 137 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Spirit Lake. DNR survey details →
Spirit Lake is a 137-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Taylor County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 9 feet. Overall water quality is declining 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 3 other monitored lakes in Taylor County, Spirit Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-09. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Spirit Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing5 species recorded
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyRecreation use not supported
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Spirit Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Spirit 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 Spirit Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Spirit Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Very murky, less than 3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 88.1 µg/L. TSI 65.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 3ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 88.1µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| 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. | 65 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Spirit Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Spirit Lake typically sits around 75°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.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (62°F) to its warmest (76°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 8 field readings (2024–2026) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Spirit Lake water temperature breakdown →
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Spirit Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Spirit Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is declining. 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. 2 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
Max depth
9 ft
Surface area
137 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Recreation & Access
- Spirit 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 Spirit Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Spirit Lake in Taylor 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. The water-quality readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around Spirit Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Spirit Lake
Prices for Oct 16–18, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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 →
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing 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: Worsening
Based on 7 years of monitoring (2020–2026).
Water clarity
Worsening6 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+2.06 µg/L/yr6 years
EPA Impairment Status
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
Designated uses not supporting: Aquatic life, Recreation.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10008717 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Taylor County
Frequently asked questions about Spirit Lake
Where is Spirit Lake?
- Spirit Lake is a lake in Taylor County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Spirit Lake?
- Spirit Lake in Taylor County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 88.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 9 ft. Surface area: 137 acres.
Is Spirit Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Spirit Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Spirit Lake?
- Spirit Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August, from 8 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2026). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Spirit Lake?
- Spirit Lake has a maximum depth of 9 feet. The lake covers 137 acres.
What fish are in Spirit Lake?
- Fish species found in Spirit Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Spirit Lake is located in Taylor County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Spirit Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Spirit Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Spirit Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Spirit Lake?
- Spirit Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Spirit Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Spirit Lake?
- Spirit 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 Spirit Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
54 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_WQX54 samples · 2020–2026
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory