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LakeQuality

30 kayaking lakes within driving distance of Hayward, Wisconsin, ranked by water quality and kayaking-specific filters. Filtered for favourable clarity and algae readings, public access, and ideal paddling size (30-3,000 acres).

Within reasonable driving distance of Hayward sit 30 measured lakes, a lake-dense area that gives residents real choice on any given weekend.

Filtered for kayaking, the nearby-lake list narrows further. kayaking-specific signals, fish species, public access, depth profile, motor-boat congestion, interact with the water-quality readings in different ways depending on the use case.

#LakeCountyDistanceClarityDepth
1Christner LakeSawyer5.6 mi12 ft16 ft
2Little Round LakeSawyer8.2 mi17.3 ft38 ft
3Indian LakeSawyer9.1 mi6.5 ft9 ft
4Osprey LakeSawyer9.3 mi16 ft32 ft
5Whitefish LakeSawyer10.6 mi13.5 ft105 ft
6Sand LakeSawyer11.3 mi10 ft50 ft
7Lost LakeSawyer11.3 mi10.6 ft13 ft
8Ashegon LakeSawyer14.3 mi10.5 ft56 ft
9Blueberry LakeSawyer14.5 mi14.8 ft29 ft
10Gaslyn LakeBurnett31.3 mi4.5 ft12 ft
11Big Sand LakeBurnett38.2 mi11 ft55 ft
12Nelson LakeSawyer5.7 mi5 ft-
13Windigo LakeSawyer5.8 mi11 ft51 ft
14Bean LakeWashburn6.6 mi10 ft35 ft
15Lake PlacidSawyer9.8 mi15 ft30 ft
16Burns LakeSawyer10.3 mi11.5 ft9 ft
17Billy Boy Flowage LakeSawyer10.4 mi-46 ft
18Clear LakeSawyer10.6 mi17.3 ft32 ft
19Mud LakeSawyer11.4 mi10 ft15 ft
20Tiger Cat Flowage LakeSawyer11.6 mi10.8 ft30 ft
21Callahan LakeSawyer11.7 mi10.6 ft18 ft
22Stone LakeWashburn12.5 mi23 ft49 ft
23Spider LakeSawyer13.9 mi10.5 ft64 ft
24Slim LakeWashburn15.3 mi15.7 ft42 ft
25Sissabagama LakeSawyer15.5 mi8 ft48 ft
26Little Sissabagama LakeSawyer16.9 mi12.2 ft75 ft
27Cranberry LakeBayfield17.6 mi9 ft12 ft
28Red LakeDouglas17.7 mi12 ft37 ft
29Lost Land LakeSawyer17.7 mi10 ft21 ft
30Lake WilipyroBayfield18.5 mi10.5 ft25 ft

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Where to stay near Hayward

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Top-rated places to stay near Hayward

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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.