Best Lakes for Swimming Near Wausau
Wisconsin
8 swimming lakes within driving distance of Wausau, Wisconsin, ranked by water quality and swimming-specific filters. 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.
A moderate cluster of 8 graded lakes lies within reach of Wausau, averaging a grade of B. Unnamed Lake (A) is the cleanest of the set.
Filtered for swimming, the nearby-lake list narrows further. swimming-specific signals — fish species, public access, depth profile, motor-boat congestion — interact with the LakeGrade rubric in different ways depending on the use case.
| # | Lake | County | Grade | Distance | Clarity | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Unnamed Lake | Portage | A | 28.3 mi | - | - |
| 2 | Glisezinski Lake | Portage | B | 22.2 mi | 9 ft | - |
| 3 | Moose Lake | Langlade | B | 29.5 mi | 10 ft | - |
| 4 | Joanis Lake | Portage | B | 29.5 mi | - | - |
| 5 | Lake Pesobic | Lincoln | B | 17.6 mi | 7 ft | - |
| 6 | Big Bass Lake | Marathon | B | 19 mi | 6 ft | - |
| 7 | Tree Lake | Portage | B | 26.4 mi | 7.3 ft | - |
| 8 | Unknown Lake | Shawano | B | 29 mi | 5 ft | - |
Other activities near Wausau
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.