Safest Lakes to Swim Near Appleton
Wisconsin
2 lakes within driving distance of Appleton, Wisconsin pass our swim-safety screen — grade A/B water, low algae, and public access. 0 have direct bacteria (E. coli) testing on record. Filtered for grade A or B water quality, low algae (chlorophyll-a under 15 µg/L), and public access. Always check local advisories on the day you swim.
Appleton is not lake-dense — only 2 graded lakes are within easy reach. The cleanest of those is Oneida Lake (A).
The swimming-specific ranking layered on top of the LakeGrade rubric is what produces the list below: a grade-good lake that does not also support the swimming use case is less useful than a grade-decent lake that does.
| # | Lake | County | Grade | Swim Safety | Distance | Clarity | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oneida Lake | Outagamie | A | Low algae | 17.7 mi | - | - |
| 2 | Bear Lake | Waupaca | A | Low algae | 28 mi | 11 ft | 62 ft |
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.