Wonderful waters await in Vilas County—the heart of Wisconsin’s Northwoods is home to more than 1,300 lakes, ranging in size from picture-perfect ponds to sprawling chains of lakes that offer miles of shoreline to explore. Here’s a look at some of the public-access lakes open to boaters and paddlers in Vilas County.
Trout Lake, Boulder Junction
This sprawling, 3,800-acre lake south of downtown Boulder Junction is divided into a large southern basin and a smaller northern basin and is a popular spot for boating, swimming, paddling, and fishing. A peninsula known as Cathedral Point separates the two sections of the lake, and a short trail takes hikers on a trip through towering old-growth pine trees.
How to get on the lake: Public-access boat ramps are located on Cty. Hwy. M and Ben Bendrick Drive.
Buckatabon Lake, Conover
This quiet lake about 20 minutes north of Eagle River is actually two lakes—500-acre Buckatabon Lake and 375-acre Lower Buckatabon Lake. The two lakes are connected and can be accessed by boats, canoes, kayaks, and other watercraft.
How to get on the lake: A public-access boat ramp is located off East Buckatabon Road on the south end of Upper Buckatabon Lake.
Anvil Lake, Eagle River
Anvil Lake is a 15-minute drive from downtown Eagle River and offers easy access to boaters, anglers, canoers, kayakers, and beachgoers. The 377-acre lake is part of the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest and is also home to the Anvil Lake Trail, one of the oldest trail systems in the Northwoods and a popular spot for hiking, biking, and cross-country skiing.
How to get on the lake: A paved boat ramp is available on South Anvil Lake Road off State Hwy. 70 on the south side of the lake and an unimproved (gravel) boat landing can be found on Landing Road off South Anvil Lake Road on the southwest side of the lake.
Flambeau Lake, Lac du Flambeau
Lac du Flambeau—whose name translates to “Lake of the Torches” and comes from the French who saw Ojibwe locals spearfishing by torchlight at night—is home to Flambeau Lake, a 1,100-acre waterway in southern Vilas County known for its clear, clean water. Flambeau Lake is also part of the 10-lake Lac du Flambeau Chain of Lakes, which also includes Pokegama Lake, Big Crawling Stone Lake, Little Crawling Stone Lake, Fence Lake, North and Twin Placid Lakes, To-To Tom Lake, and Moss Lake.
How to get on the lake: A public boat landing is located at the Lac du Flambeau Campground and Marina off Old Abe Road on the northeast corner of the lake.
Lac Vieux Desert, Land O’ Lakes
The largest lake in Vilas County, 4,000-acre Lac Vieux Desert straddles the border of Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and is a popular spot for boating and fishing. It’s also home to several lodges and resorts on both sides of the border, and visitors can see where the Wisconsin River gets its start at Lac Vieux Desert Park on the southwest corner of the lake.
How to get on the lake: On the Wisconsin side of the lake, boat ramps are available on Lac Vieux Landing on the east side of the lake and off West Shore Drive on the west side of the lake. Carry-in access is also available at the source of the Wisconsin River on the southwest side of the lake.
Manitowish Waters Chain of Lakes
Another 10-lake chain in western Vilas County, the Manitowish Waters Chain of Lakes consists of Wild Rice Lake, Alder Lake, Little Manitowish Lake, Manitowish Lake, Little Star Lake, Island Lake, Spider Lake, Stone Lake, Fawn Lake, and Clear Lake. Many of these lakes offer waterside dining at restaurants and resorts and unique attractions like Little Bohemia Lodge on Little Star Lake, where gangster John Dillinger had a shootout with the FBI in 1934.
How to get on the lakes: Wild Rice, Alder, Little Star, Island, and Clear lakes all have public-access ramps or launches.
Big Arbor Vitae Lake, Minocqua Area
The name is accurate—Big Arbor Vitae Lake covers more than 1,000 acres on the Vilas County-Oneida County border just northeast of Woodruff in the small community of Arbor Vitae. (There’s also a Little Arbor Vitae Lake (480 acres) across State Hwy. 70.) Known as a good musky fishing destination, Big Arbor Vitae Lake is also a relaxing, quiet place for a getaway; much of the land surrounding the lake is undeveloped state forest land.
How to get on the lake: There are public-access boat launches on either side of the lake (off Buckhorn Road on the north side and off State Hwy. 70 in the southeast corner).
North & South Twin Lakes, Phelps
The town of Phelps sits on the east end of North Twin Lake, a 2,800-acre lake that’s known for boating and fishing and is also home to several restaurants and resorts. South Twin Lake—its smaller sibling to the south and west—covers 628 acres and is known for its clear water.
How to get on the lakes: North Twin Lake can be accessed via public boat launches off State Hwy. 17 on the northeast end of the lake and Lakota Road on the west side of the lake. South Twin Lake has a boat ramp on Twin Lake Road (north side of the lake) and carry-in access off Dam Lane (south side of the lake).
Presque Isle Lake, Presque Isle
A nearly 1,200-acre lake located just minutes west of downtown Presque Isle, Presque Isle Lake is very clear and very deep (the average depth is 37 feet and the deepest part of the lake is 103 feet), and most boats can navigate the channels that connect to Averill Lake and Van Vliet Lake to the south and east. The Presque Isle River is also a popular paddling destination and can be accessed on the east side of Presque Isle Lake.
How to get on the lake: Public-access boat ramps are located on Cty. Hwy. P on the south side of the lake and at Wilderness Park on the east side of the lake.
Plum Lake, Sayner-Star Lake
North of downtown Sayner sits 1,000-acre Plum Lake, a scenic spot in central Vilas County can find cabins, resorts, and campgrounds, as well as a public fishing pier on the western end of the lake. Plum Lake can be accessed via the Heart of Vilas County Paved Bike Trail and is also home to weekly shows from the Plum Ski-ters Water Show throughout the summer—head to the northern boat launch to catch the show on Wednesday and Saturday nights.
How to get on the lake: The northern public-access boat launch is off Razorback Road, and another ramp is located off Plum Lake Drive on the south side of the lake.
Big St. Germain Lake, St. Germain
The second-largest lake on this list, 1,600-acre Big St. Germain Lake can be found northwest of downtown St. Germain in south-central Vilas County. This popular lake is home to lots of amenities, including connections to Fawn Lake and Lake Content and access to Lost Creek for canoes and kayaks. It’s also located along Vilas County’s biking, hiking, ATV/UTV and snowmobile trails and boasts an impressive array of lodging properties and dining options.
How to get on the lake: A public boat ramp is located on the northeastern corner of the lake off Big St. Germain Drive.
North & South Turtle Lakes
Another set of neighboring lakes, North and South Turtle Lakes offer great options for fishing, boating, paddling, and lodging in Winchester in northwestern Vilas County. South Turtle Lake is slightly larger (466 acres, compared to 359 acres for North Turtle Lake)
How to get on the lakes: North Turtle Lake can be accessed via a boat ramp between North Turtle Lake and Rock Lake, and South Turtle Lake is home to a boat launch on Chicago Avenue off Cty. Hwy. W.
