Best Lakes for Kayaking Near Eau Claire
Wisconsin
8 kayaking lakes within driving distance of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, ranked by water quality and kayaking-specific filters. Filtered for grade A, B, or C water quality, public access, and ideal paddling size (30-3,000 acres).
A moderate cluster of 8 graded lakes lies within reach of Eau Claire, averaging a grade of B. Long Lake (B) is the cleanest of the set.
Filtered for kayaking, the nearby-lake list narrows further. kayaking-specific signals — fish species, public access, depth profile, motor-boat congestion — interact with the letter grade in different ways depending on the use case.
| # | Lake | County | Grade | Distance | Clarity | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Long Lake | Chippewa | B | 30.5 mi | 13.1 ft | 101 ft |
| 2 | Round Lake | Chippewa | B | 30.7 mi | 8.4 ft | 18 ft |
| 3 | Axhandle Lake | Chippewa | B | 32.3 mi | 10.2 ft | 72.5 ft |
| 4 | Bass Lake | Barron | B | 33.8 mi | 10 ft | 14 ft |
| 5 | Clear Lake | Rusk | B | 33.8 mi | 13.7 ft | 74 ft |
| 6 | Island Lake | Rusk | B | 35.6 mi | 7.7 ft | 54 ft |
| 7 | Loon Lake | Chippewa | C | 30.3 mi | 4.9 ft | 9 ft |
| 8 | Nugget Lake | Pierce | C | 36.5 mi | 7.5 ft | - |
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.