Sunset Lake
Portage County, Wisconsin63 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Sunset Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- Curly-Leaf Pondweed
- 55 ft max depth
- Public access
Sunset Lake in Portage County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 13.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 13.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 55 ft. Surface area: 63 acres.
Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on Sunset Lake. DNR survey details →
Sunset Lake is a 63-acre mesotrophic lake in Portage County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 55 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Trout. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 13 other monitored lakes in Portage County, Sunset Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-05-11. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Sunset Lake covers about 63 acres in Portage County. It has one public boat landing. If you are planning to stay, you can search lake houses and cabins around Sunset Lake on Vrbo, or look for a hotel room near the lake on Booking.com or Expedia.
What Sunset Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water13.3 ft of visibility
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing3 species recorded
- Deep water55 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLow algae
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. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Sunset 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 Sunset Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Sunset Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Good clarity, visible to about 13.3 ft. Phosphorus 13.1 µg/L. TSI 41.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 13.3ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 13.1µg/L | Good 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. | 41 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Sunset Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Sunset Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in October. Summer average is about 76°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 77°F) and coldest in Apr (about 53°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (53°F) to its warmest (77°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 50 field readings (2024–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Sunset Lake water temperature breakdown →
Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on Sunset Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Sunset Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 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 1998. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
DNR Reports & Resources
Wisconsin DNR Fisheries scientists publish multi-year survey reports for Sunset 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).
- 2024Sunset Lake spring shocking, 2024Spring Shocking Survey · WI DNR · 2024 (PDF)
Lake Details
Max depth
55 ft
Surface area
63 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
3 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Shoreline
1.2 mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,112 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Sunset Lake ParkPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Sunset Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Sunset Lake in Portage 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 Sunset 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 →
Follow Sunset Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Sunset 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 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Worsening6 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+6.47 µg/L/yr4 years
Nearby Lakes in Portage County
Frequently asked questions about Sunset Lake
Where is Sunset Lake?
- Sunset Lake is a lake in Portage County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Sunset Lake?
- Sunset Lake in Portage County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 13.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 13.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 55 ft. Surface area: 63 acres.
Is Sunset Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Sunset Lake?
- Sunset Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in October, from 50 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Sunset Lake?
- Sunset Lake has a maximum depth of 55 feet. The lake covers 63 acres.
What fish are in Sunset Lake?
- Fish species found in Sunset Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Trout. Sunset Lake is located in Portage County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Sunset Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on Sunset Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Sunset Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Sunset Lake?
- Sunset Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Sunset Lake Park. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Sunset Lake?
- Sunset 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 Sunset Lake across LakeQuality
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Fish species and best lakes in Portage County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its readings
Wisconsin's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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Mesotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Where this data comes from
59 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_WQX59 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
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