Best Lakes Near Wausau, WI, 50 Lakes Within 50 Miles

50 lakes within 50 miles of Wausau have nutrient and algae readings on record. Sams Lake in Shawano County leads the set on measured water quality, with about 11 ft of clarity. 40 of the 50 have a recorded public access point.

Within reasonable driving distance of Wausau sit 50 measured lakes, a lake-dense area that gives residents real choice on any given weekend.

The lakes below are sorted on measured water quality. If you have a specific activity in mind, swimming, kayaking, ice-fishing, family-fishing, the activity-specific sub-pages will filter further.

Lakes Within 50 mi

With Clarity Readings

With Fish Data

Public Access

Lake	Distance	County	Clarity	Depth	Fish
Sams Lake	41.9 mi	Shawano	11 ft	13 ft	2
Big Lake	42.3 mi	Shawano	8 ft	-	0
Mission Lake	42.7 mi	Shawano	17.5 ft	44 ft	2
Bealeau Lake	42.7 mi	Shawano	11.5 ft	24 ft	4
Koonz Lake	42.9 mi	Shawano	10.8 ft	40 ft	4
Malone Lake	43.9 mi	Shawano	13.5 ft	31 ft	3
Mole Lake	48 mi	Forest	8.5 ft	17 ft	4
Lake Pesobic	17.6 mi	Lincoln	7 ft	11 ft	4
Big Bass Lake	19 mi	Marathon	6 ft	13 ft	3
Glisezinski Lake	22.2 mi	Portage	9 ft	11 ft	3
Tree Lake	26.4 mi	Portage	7.4 ft	33 ft	3
Collins Lake	28.6 mi	Portage	6.5 ft	56 ft	4
Unknown Lake	29 mi	Shawano	5 ft	-	0
Moose Lake	29.5 mi	Langlade	10 ft	20 ft	4
Lake Helen	30.4 mi	Portage	8 ft	20 ft	3
Horseshoe Lake	31.9 mi	Langlade	8 ft	29 ft	2
Bass Lake	33.2 mi	Lincoln	12.5 ft	40 ft	4
Long Lake	33.3 mi	Lincoln	14.5 ft	64 ft	4
Seven Island Lake	33.3 mi	Lincoln	14 ft	31 ft	5
Pickerel Lake	33.5 mi	Lincoln	—	14 ft	3
Sunset Lake	33.5 mi	Portage	13.3 ft	55 ft	3
Springville Pond	33.9 mi	Portage	9 ft	10 ft	3
Lake Buteau	34.1 mi	Lincoln	19.4 ft	50 ft	3
Onland Lake	34.9 mi	Portage	10.5 ft	28 ft	3
Rinehart Lake	35.2 mi	Portage	19 ft	27 ft	3
Nutrient Sampling Point Lake	36.1 mi	Waupaca	14.5 ft	33 ft	4
North Lake	36.3 mi	Waupaca	12.5 ft	33 ft	4
Lake Emily	36.7 mi	Portage	11 ft	35 ft	5
Hatch Lake	38.9 mi	Waupaca	8.4 ft	12 ft	3
Halfmoon Lake	39.1 mi	Lincoln	7.1 ft	14 ft	3
Iola Lake	39.3 mi	Waupaca	10 ft	9 ft	3
Clear Lake	40 mi	Lincoln	18 ft	45 ft	4
Perch Lake	40.5 mi	Langlade	17.3 ft	21 ft	3
Manson Lake	41.6 mi	Oneida	12 ft	54 ft	6
Silver Lake	41.8 mi	Waupaca	7 ft	17 ft	4
Lake Esadore	42.9 mi	Taylor	4.5 ft	36 ft	4
Nepco Lake	43.9 mi	Wood	10.5 ft	29 ft	6
Squash Lake	44.2 mi	Oneida	17.5 ft	74 ft	6
Big Twin Lake	44.3 mi	Langlade	20 ft	25 ft	4
Nose Lake	44.4 mi	Oneida	12 ft	16 ft	2
School Section Lake	44.5 mi	Waupaca	6.5 ft	38 ft	3
Crescent Lake	44.9 mi	Oneida	14 ft	-	0
Washburn Lake	45.3 mi	Oneida	7.5 ft	27 ft	2
Oscar Jenny Lake	45.9 mi	Oneida	8.9 ft	24 ft	3
Pickerel Lake	46.1 mi	Forest	10 ft	19 ft	4
Lake Julia	46.2 mi	Oneida	9.9 ft	19 ft	6
Oneida Lake	46.4 mi	Oneida	5.5 ft	34 ft	6
Sawyer Lake	47.1 mi	Langlade	10 ft	31 ft	5
George Lake	47.2 mi	Oneida	5 ft	26 ft	6
Crane Lake	47.7 mi	Forest	7 ft	25 ft	4

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Cleanest Lakes Near Wausau

Sams Lake

41.9 mi · Shawano County · 11 ft clarity

Big Lake

42.3 mi · Shawano County · 8 ft clarity

Mission Lake

42.7 mi · Shawano County · 17.5 ft clarity

Bealeau Lake

42.7 mi · Shawano County · 11.5 ft clarity

Koonz Lake

42.9 mi · Shawano County · 10.8 ft clarity

Malone Lake

43.9 mi · Shawano County · 13.5 ft clarity

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many lakes are near Wausau?

There are 50 lakes with water-quality readings on record within 50 miles of Wausau, Wisconsin. 40 of them have a recorded public access point and 49 have a clarity reading.

What are the best lakes near Wausau for fishing?

47 lakes near Wausau have documented fish species data. The best fishing lakes combine favourable water-quality readings with diverse fish populations. 9 lakes within 50 miles have 5 or more documented fish species.

Where to stay near Wausau

Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Wausau — book a place close to the cleanest lakes in the area.

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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.