Safest Lakes to Swim Near Rhinelander
Wisconsin
30 lakes within driving distance of Rhinelander, Wisconsin pass our swim-safety screen — grade A/B water, low algae, and public access. 0 have direct bacteria (E. coli) testing on record. Filtered for grade A or B water quality, low algae (chlorophyll-a under 15 µg/L), and public access. Always check local advisories on the day you swim.
Rhinelander sits in a lake-rich part of the upper Midwest: 30 graded lakes within reach, average grade A. Mildred Lake (A) leads the cluster.
The swimming-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 swimming use case is less useful than a grade-decent lake that does.
| # | Lake | County | Grade | Swim Safety | Distance | Clarity | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mildred Lake | Oneida | A | Low algae | 6.1 mi | 18.5 ft | 45 ft |
| 2 | Squash Lake | Oneida | A | Low algae | 7.5 mi | 17.4 ft | 74 ft |
| 3 | Alva Lake | Oneida | A | Low algae | 10 mi | 19.5 ft | 43 ft |
| 4 | Two Sisters Lake | Oneida | A | Low algae | 10.8 mi | 19.6 ft | - |
| 5 | Sugar Camp Lake | Oneida | A | Low algae | 12.5 mi | 16.5 ft | - |
| 6 | Wind Pudding Lake | Oneida | A | Limited data | 13.4 mi | 19.5 ft | 35 ft |
| 7 | Mary Lake | Lincoln | A | Limited data | 13.8 mi | 21 ft | 42 ft |
| 8 | Hodstradt Lake | Oneida | A | Limited data | 13.8 mi | 17.8 ft | 36 ft |
| 9 | Lake Buteau | Lincoln | A | Low algae | 13.9 mi | 19.4 ft | 50 ft |
| 10 | Clara Lake-Deep Hole | Lincoln | A | Limited data | 14.2 mi | 23.8 ft | 50 ft |
| 11 | Dorothy Lake | Oneida | A | Limited data | 15.1 mi | 17 ft | 35 ft |
| 12 | Hasbrook Lake | Oneida | A | Low algae | 16.1 mi | 21 ft | 50 ft |
| 13 | Bird Lake | Oneida | A | Limited data | 16.4 mi | 17 ft | 40 ft |
| 14 | Clear Lake | Lincoln | A | Low algae | 16.6 mi | 18 ft | 45 ft |
| 15 | Clearwater Lake | Oneida | A | Low algae | 17.9 mi | 16.8 ft | 48 ft |
| 16 | Lee Lake | Oneida | A | Low algae | 18.1 mi | 22.5 ft | 44 ft |
| 17 | Buffalo Lake | Oneida | A | Limited data | 18.3 mi | 15 ft | 27 ft |
| 18 | Clear Lake | Oneida | A | Limited data | 18.7 mi | - | 95 ft |
| 19 | Upper Kaubashine Lake | Oneida | A | Low algae | 19.1 mi | 19 ft | 56 ft |
| 20 | Hemlock Lake | Oneida | A | Limited data | 20.2 mi | 15 ft | 25 ft |
| 21 | Sunset Lake | Vilas | A | Low algae | 20.2 mi | 17.5 ft | 30 ft |
| 22 | Bolger Lake | Oneida | A | Limited data | 20.5 mi | 14.9 ft | 45 ft |
| 23 | Perch Lake | Oneida | A | Low algae | 20.8 mi | 15 ft | 56 ft |
| 24 | Blue Lake | Oneida | A | Low algae | 21.6 mi | 23 ft | 49 ft |
| 25 | Greater Bass Lake | Langlade | A | Limited data | 22.2 mi | - | 25 ft |
| 26 | Tambling Lake | Vilas | A | Limited data | 23.6 mi | - | 11 ft |
| 27 | Adams Lake | Vilas | A | Limited data | 24.1 mi | 100 ft | - |
| 28 | Perch Lake | Langlade | A | Low algae | 24.4 mi | 17.3 ft | 21 ft |
| 29 | Roach Lake | Vilas | A | Limited data | 24.5 mi | 24 ft | 48 ft |
| 30 | Mercer Lake | Oneida | A | Limited data | 25.1 mi | - | 23 ft |
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.