The 8 Cleanest Lakes In Wisconsin With Crystal-Clear, Refreshing Waters

Minnesota may be known as the "land of 10,000 lakes," but its neighbor to the east, Wisconsin, is no slouch when it comes to gorgeous, forest-lined and sun-dappled waterways. Folks continue to debate the exact number of lakes in Wisconsin, with some estimates putting the number at as many as 15,000. But regardless of exact figures, if you're coming to Wisconsin for a fishing or lakeside camping getaway, you'll certainly have no shortage of lakes to choose from. 

To narrow down the list, you may want to look for lakes that rank high for water quality and water clarity. Crystal-clear lakes aren't always the cleanest, since harmful bacteria can exist even in the most translucent, sapphire-blue waters. But when you can see down to the sandy bottom of a lake, it often means the lake is free of contaminants like shoreline erosion and agricultural runoff, which are what often give lake water its murky appearance and earthy smell. The clearest and cleanest lakes can often be found in undeveloped areas, surrounded by acres of undisturbed wilderness, far from crowded shorelines bustling with housing developments. Clean, glassy lakes like Shell Lake or Pine Lake provide an ideal setting for a peaceful swim in frequently cooler and more refreshing waters. 

All of the lakes listed below are well known for both their clarity and cleanliness, with many receiving a cleanliness "excellence" rating by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) as well as an A Grade for clarity on the lake monitoring site LakeQuality. Whether your idea of a memorable lake vacation is jumping off a pier, fishing from a pontoon boat, or sunning on a sandy beach, this list of clean, crystal-clear Wisconsin lakes provides a good starting point for planning your next Wisconsin lakeside adventure.

Axhandle Lake is located in Chippewa County in the small town of Sampson, about two hours northeast of St. Paul, Minnesota. Axhandle Lake has clear visibility thanks to its low turbidity, which means it has only small amounts of silt, clay, or algae, making it possible for sunlight to filter through the lake's surface to the sandy and gravelly lake bottom. According to Lake.com, Axhandle is also the second cleanest lake in the United States, making it a safe choice for a refreshing swim or a relaxing day of boating or fishing for largemouth bass or northern pike. 

Shell Lake is known as a fishing haven and is located in the town of Shell Lake in Washburn County, about two hours northeast of St. Paul. The lake's thermal stratification keeps the emerald-colored water cold and clear in the summer, allowing you to see the bottom up to 18 feet below. The glasslike water is great for snorkeling, kayaking, or paddleboarding, where you can enjoy unobstructed views of the bass, muskie, and northern pike as they swim through the reeds and along the sandy lake bottom. The Wisconsin DNR rates the lake's water quality as "excellent," making it a safe choice for a rejuvenating swim.

Located in central Wisconsin, a little less than two hours from Milwaukee, the city of Green Lake is a dreamy lakefront vacation destination home to charming, old-school resorts as well as the state's deepest natural inland lake. While Green Lake's water clarity level of13.5 feet means its waters are only "moderately clear" at the time of writing according to the Wisconsin DNR, Green Lake ranks as the third-cleanest lake in Wisconsin and one of the safest lakes for swimming, according to LakeQuality.  You can experience the lake's pristine waters through a range of activities, including sailing, fishing, and building sandcastles on one of the two public beaches.

Crystal Lake is located in Vilas County in the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest, Wisconsin's largest state forest, about a 3.5-hour drive north of Madison. The 93-acre lake remains one of the three most consistently clear lakes in Wisconsin, due in part to the fact that no rivers or streams flow in or out of it. While the latest Wisconsin DNR monitoring designates the lake's beaches safe for swimming, the turquoise-colored water can be biting cold, which can feel refreshing after a day of hiking, but have an extra towel on hand so you can warm up quickly at one of the lake's two public, soft-sand beaches.

Wazee Lake is located inside the Wazee Lake Recreation Area, Jackson County's newest and largest county park. At 355 feet deep, Wazee is Wisconsin's deepest inland lake, one of the state's cleanest. LakeQuality ranks it as Wisconsin's third-clearest, with visibility in the summer averaging 30 to 40 feet. Between the white-sand beaches and the water's brilliant blue color, Wazee Lake looks like something out of a Caribbean postcard. Though the water's surface temperature hovers at a cool 70 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer, scuba dive deep below the surface, and you'll hit temperatures as cold as 34 degrees.

Lake Owen is situated in southern Bayfield County in the heart of Wisconsin's Northwoods, about 1.5 hours southeast of Duluth, Minnesota. Lake Owen's water quality has an "excellent" rating from the Wisconsin DNR, earning the crystal-clear lake the designation of "Wisconsin's healthiest lake."  With nearly 25 feet of visibility, Lake Owen's clear, clean waters make it both a beautiful and safe destination for swimming and scuba diving, where adventurous divers can explore the remains of a sunken boat. It has also been hailed as one of the best Wisconsin lakes for bass fishing. 

Pine Lake is located in Waukesha County in the village of Chenequa, about a 45-minute drive west of Milwaukee. It is one of the top 10 clearest lakes in Wisconsin, according to LakeQuality. While its clarity averages 25 feet, it can fluctuate and has been measured as high as 52 feet.  Pine Lake's water quality is also considered "excellent," according to the Wisconsin DNR. With a depth of 85 feet, Pine Lake is deeper than many lakes in the state, which means the water can be chilly, making for an invigorating dip as you launch your boat from the lake's boat landing for a day of bass fishing.

Geneva Lake, in Walworth County, is 15 minutes from the Illinois border and about an hour southwest of Milwaukee. Geneva Lake ranks as one of Wisconsin's best lakes for gorgeous views and fun on the water, with visibility up to 20 feet. With a water quality grade of "excellent" from the Wisconsin DNR, the lake also ranks No. 1 on LakeQuality's list of the top 25 cleanest lakes in Wisconsin. For the best swimming, visit during July or August when the surface water temperature at the lake's beaches averages in the mid- to high-70s (degrees Fahrenheit).