Best Lakes for Kayaking Near Wausau
Wisconsin
5 kayaking lakes within driving distance of Wausau, 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 5 graded lakes lies within reach of Wausau, averaging a grade of C. Iola 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 | Iola Lake | Waupaca | A | 39.3 mi | 10 ft | - |
| 2 | Amherst Millpond | Portage | C | 38.7 mi | - | - |
| 3 | Alexander Lake | Lincoln | C | 17 mi | 4 ft | - |
| 4 | Jordan Pond | Portage | C | 27 mi | 4 ft | - |
| 5 | Mcdill Pond | Portage | C | 32.2 mi | 5 ft | - |
Other activities near Wausau
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.