Best Lakes Near Wausau, WI
50 lakes within 50 miles of Wausau ranked by water quality grade.
Within reasonable driving distance of Wausau sit 50 graded lakes — a lake-dense area that gives residents real choice on any given weekend. The average grade across the nearby set is A.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed Lake | 28.3 mi | Portage | A | - | 0 |
| Joanis Lake | 29.5 mi | Portage | A | - | 0 |
| Lake Helen | 30.2 mi | Portage | A | 20 ft | 3 |
| Clara Lake-Deep Hole | 33.8 mi | Lincoln | A | 50 ft | 2 |
| Lake Buteau | 34.1 mi | Lincoln | A | 50 ft | 3 |
| Mary Lake | 34.2 mi | Lincoln | A | 42 ft | 1 |
| Greater Bass Lake | 34.7 mi | Langlade | A | 25 ft | 6 |
| Rinehart Lake | 35.2 mi | Portage | A | 27 ft | 3 |
| Thomas Lake | 35.6 mi | Portage | A | 28 ft | 4 |
| Ebert Lake | 38.3 mi | Portage | A | 30 ft | 3 |
| Brekke Lake | 38.5 mi | Waupaca | A | 25 ft | 4 |
| Clear Lake | 40 mi | Lincoln | A | 45 ft | 4 |
| Perch Lake | 40.5 mi | Langlade | A | 21 ft | 3 |
| Mission Lake | 42.7 mi | Shawano | A | 44 ft | 2 |
| Squash Lake | 44.2 mi | Oneida | A | 74 ft | 6 |
| Big Twin Lake | 44.3 mi | Langlade | A | 25 ft | 4 |
| White Lake | 44.4 mi | Langlade | A | 42 ft | 5 |
| Rose Lake | 47.9 mi | Langlade | A | 24 ft | 4 |
| Rose Lake | 48.3 mi | Langlade | A | 24 ft | 4 |
| Fountain Lake | 48.4 mi | Portage | A | 23 ft | 2 |
| Arbutus Lake | 48.5 mi | Forest | A | 28 ft | 3 |
| Round Lake | 48.6 mi | Waupaca | A | 67 ft | 8 |
| Pope Lake | 48.7 mi | Waupaca | A | 40 ft | 5 |
| Beasley Lake | 48.8 mi | Waupaca | A | 47 ft | 6 |
| Mildred Lake | 49.8 mi | Oneida | A | 45 ft | 4 |
| Bass Lake | 33.2 mi | Lincoln | A | 40 ft | 4 |
| Long Lake | 33.3 mi | Lincoln | A | 64 ft | 4 |
| Seven Island Lake | 33.3 mi | Lincoln | A | 31 ft | 5 |
| Sunset Lake | 33.5 mi | Portage | A | 55 ft | 3 |
| Onland Lake | 34.9 mi | Portage | A | 28 ft | 3 |
| Nutrient Sampling Point Lake | 36.1 mi | Waupaca | A | 33 ft | 4 |
| North Lake | 36.3 mi | Waupaca | A | 33 ft | 4 |
| Lake Emily | 36.7 mi | Portage | A | 35 ft | 5 |
| Iola Lake | 39.3 mi | Waupaca | A | - | 3 |
| Manson Lake | 41.6 mi | Oneida | A | 54 ft | 6 |
| Sams Lake | 41.9 mi | Shawano | A | 13 ft | 2 |
| Bealeau Lake | 42.7 mi | Shawano | A | 24 ft | 4 |
| Koonz Lake | 42.9 mi | Shawano | A | 40 ft | 4 |
| Malone Lake | 43.9 mi | Shawano | A | 31 ft | 3 |
| Nepco Lake | 43.9 mi | Wood | A | 29 ft | 6 |
| Nose Lake | 44.4 mi | Oneida | A | 16 ft | 2 |
| Crescent Lake | 44.9 mi | Oneida | A | - | 0 |
| Lake Julia | 46.2 mi | Oneida | A | 19 ft | 6 |
| Sawyer Lake | 47.1 mi | Langlade | A | 31 ft | 5 |
| Deep Hole Lake | 47.4 mi | Oneida | A | 24 ft | 3 |
| Velvet Lake | 48.2 mi | Oneida | A | 16 ft | 3 |
| Marl Lake | 48.9 mi | Waupaca | A | 59 ft | 5 |
| Columbia Lake | 48.9 mi | Waupaca | A | 72 ft | 7 |
| Richter Lake | 49 mi | Taylor | A | 50 ft | 3 |
| Taylor Lake | 49 mi | Waupaca | A | 58 ft | 6 |
Top-Rated Lakes Near Wausau
Lakes Near Other Cities
Frequently Asked Questions
How many lakes are near Wausau?
There are 50 graded lakes within 50 miles of Wausau, Wisconsin. 50 of these have an A water quality grade (excellent).
What are the best lakes near Wausau for fishing?
47 lakes near Wausau have documented fish species data. The best fishing lakes combine good water quality grades with diverse fish populations. 15 lakes within 50 miles have 5 or more documented fish species.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.