Bear Lake Water Temperature
Bear Lake in Portage County, Wisconsin typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August — warmest in Jul (~79°F) and coldest in Feb (~38°F). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Typical water temperature by month
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 30 field readings (2025–2026) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. Months with too few readings are left blank.
Is Bear Lake warm enough to swim?
Pleasant for swimming — the range most people find enjoyable without a wetsuit.
Want more than temperature? Bear Lake scored NR on water quality — clarity, algae, phosphorus, depth, fish species, and swimming safety, all on one report card.
Water temperatures at nearby Wisconsin lakes
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Where to stay near Bear Lake
Planning a swim or lake trip? Compare cabins, lodges, and vacation rentals near Bear Lake — live availability and prices. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.
Top-rated places to stay near Bear Lake
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Frequently asked questions
What is the water temperature of Bear Lake?
Bear Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August, from 30 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2025–2026). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
When is Bear Lake warmest?
Surface water at Bear Lake is typically warmest in July, reaching about 79°F. Lake surface temperature lags air temperature by several weeks, so the warmest water usually arrives in mid-to-late summer even though the hottest air can come earlier.
Is Bear Lake warm enough to swim?
At its typical summer peak of about 74°F, Bear Lake rates as "comfortable" for swimming. Pleasant for swimming — the range most people find enjoyable without a wetsuit.
Where does this Bear Lake water temperature data come from?
Every temperature on this page is a typical (climatological) value computed from real surface-water field readings collected by state and federal agencies and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal — 30 readings from 1 monitoring station between 2025 and 2026. They describe what is typical for each month, not the temperature right now.
About this data
Water temperatures are a climatology — the typical value for each month, averaged from real surface-water field readings collected by state and federal agencies and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. They tell you what to expect, not the temperature at this moment. Actual conditions vary with recent weather, depth, and time of day.