Best Lakes for Kayaking Near Rhinelander
Wisconsin
6 kayaking lakes within driving distance of Rhinelander, 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 6 graded lakes lies within reach of Rhinelander, averaging a grade of B. Maple Lake (A) is the cleanest of the set.
The kayaking-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 kayaking use case is less useful than a grade-decent lake that does.
| # | Lake | County | Grade | Distance | Clarity | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maple Lake | Oneida | A | 16.7 mi | 12.5 ft | - |
| 2 | Myrtle Lake | Vilas | A | 30.9 mi | 10.2 ft | - |
| 3 | Fishtrap Lake | Vilas | A | 35.6 mi | 12.2 ft | - |
| 4 | Little Rice Lake | Forest | B | 19.5 mi | - | - |
| 5 | Little Tamarack Flowage Lake | Vilas | B | 31.2 mi | 8.2 ft | - |
| 6 | Lily Lake | Forest | B | 31.4 mi | 11 ft | - |
Other activities near Rhinelander
Swimming near Rhinelander →Fishing near Rhinelander →Boating near Rhinelander →All lakes near Rhinelander →
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.