Best Lakes Near Appleton, WI
50 lakes within 50 miles of Appleton ranked by water quality grade.
Within reasonable driving distance of Appleton sit 50 graded lakes — a lake-dense area that gives residents real choice on any given weekend. The average grade across the nearby set is A.
The lakes below are sorted by composite LakeGrade rubric score. If you have a specific activity in mind — swimming, kayaking, ice-fishing, family-fishing — the activity-specific sub-pages will filter further.
| Lake | Distance | County | Grade | Depth | Fish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oneida Lake | 17.7 mi | Outagamie | A | - | 0 |
| Heidmann Lake | 35.3 mi | Kewaunee | A | 34 ft | 2 |
| Pearl Lake | 36.8 mi | Waushara | A | 45 ft | 3 |
| Pine Lake | 36.9 mi | Waushara | A | 21 ft | 3 |
| Crystal Lake | 37.4 mi | Sheboygan | A | - | 0 |
| Napowan Lake | 37.4 mi | Waushara | A | 18 ft | 3 |
| Round Lake | 37.5 mi | Waupaca | A | 67 ft | 8 |
| Beasley Lake | 38.2 mi | Waupaca | A | 47 ft | 6 |
| Pope Lake | 38.8 mi | Waupaca | A | 40 ft | 5 |
| Fountain Lake | 42.2 mi | Portage | A | 23 ft | 2 |
| Brekke Lake | 42.2 mi | Waupaca | A | 25 ft | 4 |
| Cedar Springs Lake | 42.3 mi | Waushara | A | - | 0 |
| Unnamed Lake | 43.4 mi | Waushara | A | - | 0 |
| La Motte Lake | 44 mi | Menominee | A | 71 ft | 2 |
| Rinehart Lake | 45.7 mi | Portage | A | 27 ft | 3 |
| Mission Lake | 45.8 mi | Shawano | A | 44 ft | 2 |
| Witters Lake | 46.8 mi | Waushara | A | 17 ft | 3 |
| Ebert Lake | 47.3 mi | Portage | A | 30 ft | 3 |
| Lake Helen | 47.6 mi | Portage | A | 20 ft | 3 |
| Bear Lake | 28 mi | Waupaca | A | 62 ft | 3 |
| Pine Lake | 31.9 mi | Shawano | A | 35 ft | 5 |
| Round Lake | 32.4 mi | Shawano | A | 39 ft | 5 |
| Cedar Lake | 33.3 mi | Manitowoc | A | - | 0 |
| Mirror Lake | 33.6 mi | Waupaca | A | 43 ft | 4 |
| Shadow Lake | 33.7 mi | Waupaca | A | 41 ft | 4 |
| Tuma Lake | 33.7 mi | Manitowoc | A | 36 ft | 3 |
| Long Lake | 35 mi | Waushara | A | 71 ft | 4 |
| Elkhart Lake | 35.9 mi | Sheboygan | A | 119 ft | 7 |
| Taylor Lake | 36.3 mi | Waupaca | A | 58 ft | 6 |
| De Neveu Lake | 36.7 mi | Fond du Lac | A | 67 ft | 4 |
| Gilbert Lake | 37.5 mi | Waushara | A | 65 ft | 5 |
| Kusel Lake | 37.7 mi | Waushara | A | 29 ft | 4 |
| Columbia Lake | 37.8 mi | Waupaca | A | 72 ft | 7 |
| Stratton Lake | 38 mi | Waupaca | A | 42 ft | 4 |
| Long Lake | 38.1 mi | Waupaca | A | 76 ft | 7 |
| Little Elkhart Lake | 38.3 mi | Sheboygan | A | 25 ft | 3 |
| Marl Lake | 38.6 mi | Waupaca | A | 59 ft | 5 |
| Korth Lake | 39.1 mi | Shawano | A | 48 ft | 4 |
| Iola Lake | 39.3 mi | Waupaca | A | - | 3 |
| Silver Lake | 39.7 mi | Waushara | A | 50 ft | 4 |
| Lake Morris | 40.4 mi | Waushara | A | 40 ft | 3 |
| North Lake | 41.3 mi | Waupaca | A | 33 ft | 4 |
| Nutrient Sampling Point Lake | 41.5 mi | Waupaca | A | 33 ft | 4 |
| Porters Lake | 41.6 mi | Waushara | A | 16 ft | 3 |
| Little Hills Lake | 42.1 mi | Waushara | A | 20 ft | 5 |
| Finnegan Lake | 42.7 mi | Oconto | A | 38 ft | 3 |
| Silver Lake | 42.8 mi | Waushara | A | 56 ft | 4 |
| Kettle Moraine Lake | 43.3 mi | Fond du Lac | A | 30 ft | 4 |
| Legend Lake | 44.7 mi | Menominee | A | - | 0 |
| Malone Lake | 45.6 mi | Shawano | A | 31 ft | 3 |
Top-Rated Lakes Near Appleton
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many lakes are near Appleton?
There are 50 graded lakes within 50 miles of Appleton, Wisconsin. 50 of these have an A water quality grade (excellent).
What are the best lakes near Appleton for fishing?
44 lakes near Appleton have documented fish species data. The best fishing lakes combine good water quality grades with diverse fish populations. 12 lakes within 50 miles have 5 or more documented fish species.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.