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. Smith 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smith Lake | 3.2 mi | Sawyer | A | 29 ft | 4 |
| Christner Lake | 5.6 mi | Sawyer | A | - | 2 |
| Windigo Lake | 5.8 mi | Sawyer | A | 51 ft | 5 |
| Grindstone Lake | 6.6 mi | Sawyer | A | 60 ft | 6 |
| Bean Lake | 6.6 mi | Washburn | A | 35 ft | 4 |
| Round Lake | 7.9 mi | Sawyer | A | 74 ft | 6 |
| Little Round Lake | 8.2 mi | Sawyer | A | 38 ft | 6 |
| Lac Courte Oreilles Lake | 8.4 mi | Sawyer | A | 90 ft | 6 |
| Bass Lake | 8.4 mi | Washburn | A | 35 ft | 4 |
| Osprey Lake | 9.3 mi | Sawyer | A | - | 0 |
| Little Lac Courte Lake | 9.7 mi | Sawyer | A | 46 ft | 6 |
| Lake Placid | 9.8 mi | Sawyer | A | 30 ft | 4 |
| Mcclaine Lake | 9.8 mi | Sawyer | A | - | 5 |
| Burns Lake | 10.3 mi | Sawyer | A | - | 4 |
| Billy Boy Flowage Lake | 10.4 mi | Sawyer | A | 46 ft | 6 |
| Clear Lake | 10.6 mi | Sawyer | A | 32 ft | 4 |
| Whitefish Lake | 10.6 mi | Sawyer | A | 105 ft | 7 |
| Lost Lake | 11.3 mi | Sawyer | A | - | 2 |
| Spring Lake | 11.4 mi | Washburn | A | 24 ft | 4 |
| Mud Lake | 11.4 mi | Sawyer | A | - | 4 |
| Tiger Cat Flowage Lake | 11.6 mi | Sawyer | A | 30 ft | 4 |
| Stone Lake | 12.5 mi | Washburn | A | 49 ft | 5 |
| Gull Lake | 12.9 mi | Washburn | A | 19 ft | 3 |
| Spider Lake | 13.9 mi | Sawyer | A | 64 ft | 5 |
| Ashegon Lake | 14.3 mi | Sawyer | A | 56 ft | 6 |
| Blueberry Lake | 14.5 mi | Sawyer | A | 29 ft | 5 |
| Slim Lake | 15.5 mi | Washburn | A | - | 0 |
| Sissabagama Lake | 15.5 mi | Sawyer | A | 48 ft | 6 |
| Silver Lake | 16.1 mi | Washburn | A | 28 ft | 4 |
| Little Sissabagama Lake | 16.9 mi | Sawyer | A | 75 ft | 5 |
| Cable Lake | 16.9 mi | Bayfield | A | - | 0 |
| Cranberry Lake | 17.6 mi | Bayfield | A | - | 5 |
| Lost Land Lake | 17.7 mi | Sawyer | A | 21 ft | 6 |
| Red Lake | 17.7 mi | Douglas | A | 37 ft | 4 |
| Lower Eau Claire Lake | 18.2 mi | Bayfield | A | 41 ft | 6 |
| Lake Wilipyro | 18.5 mi | Bayfield | A | 25 ft | 3 |
| Lower Eau Claire Lake | 18.8 mi | Bayfield | A | 41 ft | 6 |
| Samoset Lake | 18.9 mi | Bayfield | A | 40 ft | 3 |
| Teal Lake | 19 mi | Sawyer | A | 31 ft | 6 |
| Hammil Lake | 19.3 mi | Bayfield | A | 47 ft | 4 |
| Trego Lake | 19.8 mi | Washburn | A | 36 ft | 7 |
| Tahkodah Lake | 20.2 mi | Bayfield | A | - | 0 |
| Middle Eau Claire Lake | 20.2 mi | Bayfield | A | 66 ft | 6 |
| Big Bass Lake | 20.4 mi | Washburn | A | 27 ft | 4 |
| Upper Eau Claire Lake | 20.5 mi | Bayfield | A | 92 ft | 6 |
| Big Bass Lake | 20.5 mi | Washburn | A | 27 ft | 4 |
| Gilmore Lake | 20.9 mi | Washburn | A | 36 ft | 4 |
| Bony Lake | 20.9 mi | Bayfield | A | 55 ft | 6 |
| Twin Lake North | 21 mi | Bayfield | A | 25 ft | 3 |
| Spider Lake | 21.2 mi | Washburn | A | - | 0 |
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?
45 lakes near Hayward have documented fish species data. The best fishing lakes combine good water quality grades with diverse fish populations. 24 lakes within 50 miles have 5 or more documented fish species.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.