Best Lakes Near Hayward, WI
50 lakes within 50 miles of Hayward ranked by water quality grade.
Hayward sits in a lake-rich part of the upper Midwest: 50 graded lakes within reach, average grade A. Grindstone Lake (A) leads the cluster.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grindstone Lake | 6.6 mi | Sawyer | A | 60 ft | 6 |
| Round Lake | 7.9 mi | Sawyer | A | 74 ft | 6 |
| Little Round Lake | 8.2 mi | Sawyer | A | 38 ft | 6 |
| Osprey Lake | 9.3 mi | Sawyer | A | 32 ft | 6 |
| Lake Placid | 9.8 mi | Sawyer | A | 30 ft | 4 |
| Billy Boy Flowage Lake | 10.4 mi | Sawyer | A | 46 ft | 6 |
| Clear Lake | 10.6 mi | Sawyer | A | 32 ft | 4 |
| Spring Lake | 11.4 mi | Washburn | A | 24 ft | 4 |
| Stone Lake | 12.5 mi | Washburn | A | 49 ft | 5 |
| Blueberry Lake | 14.5 mi | Sawyer | A | 29 ft | 5 |
| Slim Lake | 15.3 mi | Washburn | A | 42 ft | 5 |
| Cable Lake | 16.9 mi | Bayfield | A | - | 0 |
| Lower Eau Claire Lake | 18.2 mi | Bayfield | A | 41 ft | 6 |
| Samoset Lake | 18.9 mi | Bayfield | A | 40 ft | 3 |
| Trego Lake | 19.8 mi | Washburn | A | 36 ft | 7 |
| Middle Eau Claire Lake | 20.2 mi | Bayfield | A | 66 ft | 6 |
| Big Bass Lake | 20.4 mi | Washburn | A | 27 ft | 4 |
| Big Bass Lake | 20.5 mi | Washburn | A | 27 ft | 4 |
| Upper Eau Claire Lake | 20.5 mi | Bayfield | A | 92 ft | 6 |
| Bony Lake | 20.9 mi | Bayfield | A | 55 ft | 6 |
| Leader Lake | 21.9 mi | Douglas | A | 56 ft | 4 |
| Lake Owen | 22 mi | Bayfield | A | 95 ft | 5 |
| Bond Lake | 22.1 mi | Douglas | A | 67 ft | 5 |
| Bardon Lake | 22.7 mi | Douglas | A | 102 ft | 5 |
| Whitefish Lake | 22.9 mi | Douglas | A | 102 ft | 5 |
| Crystal Lake | 23.1 mi | Bayfield | A | 29 ft | 5 |
| Whitefish Lake | 23.4 mi | Douglas | A | 102 ft | 5 |
| Middle Kimball Lake | 23.8 mi | Washburn | A | 77 ft | 3 |
| Loon Lake | 24 mi | Washburn | A | 63 ft | 2 |
| Namekagon Lake | 24.4 mi | Bayfield | A | 23 ft | 6 |
| Sand Bar Lake | 24.7 mi | Bayfield | A | 49 ft | 3 |
| Bass Lake | 25.6 mi | Washburn | A | 31 ft | 4 |
| Tozer Lake | 25.6 mi | Washburn | A | 53 ft | 4 |
| Island Lake | 26.1 mi | Bayfield | A | 51 ft | 4 |
| Middle Mckenzie Lake | 27.1 mi | Burnett | A | 45 ft | 5 |
| Cheney Lake | 27.5 mi | Douglas | A | 21 ft | 2 |
| Shell Lake | 27.7 mi | Washburn | A | 36 ft | 6 |
| Park Creek Pond | 28.3 mi | Douglas | A | 7 ft | 2 |
| Des Moines Lake | 31.2 mi | Burnett | A | 37 ft | 3 |
| Long Lake | 31.3 mi | Burnett | A | 41 ft | 4 |
| Sand Lake | 33.5 mi | Burnett | A | 73 ft | 4 |
| Tea Lake | 33.6 mi | Ashland | A | 48 ft | 4 |
| Eagle Lake | 34.1 mi | Bayfield | A | 52 ft | 6 |
| Sand Lake | 34.2 mi | Burnett | A | - | 0 |
| Twin Bear Lake | 34.7 mi | Bayfield | A | 59 ft | 6 |
| Hart Lake | 35.5 mi | Bayfield | A | 54 ft | 6 |
| Millicent Lake | 35.8 mi | Bayfield | A | - | 0 |
| Buskey Bay Lake | 36.2 mi | Bayfield | A | 51 ft | 6 |
| Gates Lake | 38.5 mi | Ashland | A | 17 ft | 2 |
| Viola Lake | 39.4 mi | Burnett | A | 34 ft | 4 |
Top-Rated Lakes Near Hayward
Lakes Near Other Cities
Frequently Asked Questions
How many lakes are near Hayward?
There are 50 graded lakes within 50 miles of Hayward, Wisconsin. 50 of these have an A water quality grade (excellent).
What are the best lakes near Hayward for fishing?
47 lakes near Hayward have documented fish species data. The best fishing lakes combine good water quality grades with diverse fish populations. 26 lakes within 50 miles have 5 or more documented fish species.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.