Sugarbush Lake
Sugarbush Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 16 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11 µg/L. Maximum depth: 29 ft. Surface area: 141 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Musky as common on Sugarbush Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 16 ft
- Max depth
- 29 ft
- Area
- 141 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
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Sugarbush Lake is a 141-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 29 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2023. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 6 documented fish species including Musky, Panfish, and Largemouth Bass. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 102 other monitored lakes in Vilas County, Sugarbush Lake ranks #77 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2023-09-04. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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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)
Crystal clear, you can see 16 ft down. Phosphorus level: 11 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 38.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 16 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 11 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 38 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Sugarbush Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Sugarbush 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.
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Wisconsin DNR lists Musky as common on Sugarbush Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Sugarbush Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is stable. 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 2023).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 29 ft |
| Surface Area | 141 acres |
Recreation & Access
- Upper Sugarbush LakeSemi-private
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 Sugarbush 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: → Stable
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.8 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.52 µg/L/yr | 3 |
County Ranking
Ranked #77 of 103 lakes in Vilas County
Nearby Lakes in Vilas County
Frequently asked questions about Sugarbush Lake
Where is Sugarbush Lake?
- Sugarbush Lake is a lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Sugarbush Lake?
- Sugarbush Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 16 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11 µg/L. Maximum depth: 29 ft. Surface area: 141 acres.
Is Sugarbush Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Sugarbush Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Sugarbush Lake?
- Sugarbush Lake has a maximum depth of 29 feet. The lake covers 141 acres.
What fish are in Sugarbush Lake?
- Fish species found in Sugarbush Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Sugarbush Lake is located in Vilas County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Sugarbush Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Musky as common on Sugarbush Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Sugarbush Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Sugarbush Lake?
- Sugarbush Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Upper Sugarbush Lake.
Explore Sugarbush Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
5 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX5 samples · 2023
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
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