Spirit Lake
Spirit Lake in Taylor County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). 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 →
- Clarity
- 3 ft
- Typical in August
- 75°F
- Max depth
- 9 ft
- Area
- 137 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Spirit Lake →
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Spirit Lake is a 137-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Taylor County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 9 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2026. 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. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyElevated nutrients
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.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Very murky, less than 3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 88.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 65.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 88.1 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 65 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay 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 grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Spirit Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Spirit 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 →
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.
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 a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Spirit Lake D from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, 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
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 9 ft |
| Surface Area | 137 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- Spirit LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded 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: ↓ Declining
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.169 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +2.06 µg/L/yr | 6 |
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
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10008717 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 4 lakes in Taylor County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Spirit Lake holds Grade D. 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 Taylor County
Frequently asked questions about Spirit Lake
Where is Spirit Lake?
- Spirit Lake is a lake in Taylor County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Spirit Lake?
- Spirit Lake in Taylor County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). 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?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Spirit Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
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 a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Spirit Lake D from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, 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.
Explore Spirit Lake across LakeQuality
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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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)
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