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Big Arbor Vitae Lake

Arbor Vitae, Wisconsin — Vilas County.

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1,071Surface acres
2Public access sites

Surface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 70332115).

Location & fast facts

Where Big Arbor Vitae Lake is in Wisconsin

The red circle marks Big Arbor Vitae Lake.

Fast facts

About Big Arbor Vitae Lake

  • County: Vilas
  • Town: Arbor Vitae
  • Mapped as: Lake or pond (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Distance: about 218 mi from Milwaukee and 67 mi from Wausau, straight-line (not driving distance)

Towns and counties: U.S. Census Bureau boundaries overlaid on the USGS lake outline.

Fishing in Wisconsin

Official Wisconsin DNR pages. Rules and fees change; check before you go.

Good for & watch for

Good for

  • Boating. 2 public trailer launches listed (see access)
  • Fishing. Walleye, Musky, Largemouth Bass and Panfish
  • Camping. 47 campgrounds within 15 mi (list)

Watch for

  • Non-native/invasive species. Curly-leaf pondweed, Chinese mysterysnail and Rusty Crayfish recorded. Clean, drain and dry your boat and gear.
  • Boat traffic. A public trailer launch means motorboats share the water; expect more traffic on summer weekends.
  • Cold water. Water stays cold well into late spring and turns cold again in fall. Wear a life jacket when paddling in the shoulder seasons.

Built only from the data on this page: official access lists, OpenStreetMap beaches and trails, campground listings, state and USGS invasive-species records. We don't rate crowds or water quality.

Official lake data (Wisconsin DNR)

41 ftMaximum depth
1,090Acres (state figure)

Fish species listed by the Wisconsin DNR (with DNR abundance rating): Musky (abundant), Walleye (abundant), Panfish (common), Largemouth Bass (common).

Average depth not published.

DNR lake class: Complex - Cool - Dark

Source: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Lake Page for Big Arbor Vitae Lake (WBIC 1545600); maximum depth and acreage from the DNR lake classification data. Acreage here can differ slightly from our mapped outline.

Lake map

Big Arbor Vitae Lake shoreline, boat launches & beaches

Big Arbor Vitae Lake Boat Launch - North (Boat launch)1Big Arbor Vitae Lake Boat Launch - South (Boat launch)2½ mileN

Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.

Boat launch
  1. 1Big Arbor Vitae Lake Boat Launch - North
    Boat launch · Arbor Vitae
  2. 2Big Arbor Vitae Lake Boat Launch - South
    Boat launch · Arbor Vitae

Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 70332115), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: Wisconsin DNR boat access sites. Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.

Campgrounds near Big Arbor Vitae Lake

We found 47 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Big Arbor Vitae Lake, 8 of them within 5 miles. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.

14 more within 15 miles

All campgrounds & RV parks in Wisconsin

Green tent icons on the lake map mark campgrounds near the shore, and the interactive map shows the closest 12. Amenities are listed only where a source records them; call or check the campground's website before you go, since seasons and rates change every year.

Campground data: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Pulled Oct 12, 2026.

Conditions right now

Air temperature & conditions (nearest NWS station)Loading…
Fetching the latest National Weather Service observation…

Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (45.9306, -89.6511). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Big Arbor Vitae Lake. No live water-temperature sensor is shown because we haven't found a public one for this lake.

Sun, moon & best fishing times

Sun & moon at Big Arbor Vitae Lake

Best fishing times

Major periodMinor periodDaylight

    Based on solunar theory, an estimate. Major periods (about 2 hours) center on when the moon is directly overhead or underfoot; minor periods (about 1 hour) center on moonrise and moonset. The 0–100 activity score rises during those periods and gets a boost near sunrise and sunset and around the new and full moon. Weather, water temperature and pressure often matter more. Sun and moon times are calculated in your browser from the lake's coordinates with standard astronomy formulas, shown in CT (America/Chicago), and accurate to within a few minutes.

    Boat launches & access sites

    2 public access sites listed, 2 with a boat ramp or trailer launch.

    SiteTownOwnerTypeParkingFeeUsesMap
    Big Arbor Vitae Lake Boat Launch - NorthArbor VitaeNHAL Recreation Team LeaderBoat ramp · Concrete Panels ramp——Boating45.9436, -89.6576
    Big Arbor Vitae Lake Boat Launch - SouthArbor VitaeNHAL Recreation Team LeaderBoat ramp · Concrete Plank ramp——Boating45.9185, -89.6367

    Wisconsin DNR boat access sites

    Fees, hours and rules change; confirm with the site owner before you go.

    Non-native/invasive species

    Reported on or near Big Arbor Vitae Lake

    Clean, Drain, Dry. Remove plants and mud, drain all water, and dry your boat, trailer and gear before moving to another water.

    USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database

    USGS records matched to this water by location (within about 150 m of the outline) or by the place name in the record. A record shows a sighting was reported; it doesn't prove the species is still there. As of Oct 10, 2026.

    Contact & official info

    Questions about Big Arbor Vitae Lake

    How big is Big Arbor Vitae Lake?

    Big Arbor Vitae Lake covers about 1,071 acres in Arbor Vitae, Wisconsin (Vilas County).

    How deep is Big Arbor Vitae Lake?

    The maximum recorded depth is 41 feet, according to the Wisconsin DNR Lake Pages.

    What fish are in Big Arbor Vitae Lake?

    Wisconsin DNR Lake Pages lists Walleye, Musky, Largemouth Bass and Panfish.

    Is there a public boat launch on Big Arbor Vitae Lake?

    Yes. 2 public trailer launches are listed: Big Arbor Vitae Lake Boat Launch - South and Big Arbor Vitae Lake Boat Launch - North. Check posted fees and parking rules.

    Are there campgrounds near Big Arbor Vitae Lake?

    Yes. We list 47 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles, 8 of them within 5 miles.

    What towns are on Big Arbor Vitae Lake?

    Big Arbor Vitae Lake touches Arbor Vitae in Vilas County, Wisconsin.

    Share a tip or fishing report

    Know Big Arbor Vitae Lake? Tell us about the launch, parking, where they're biting or anything a first-time visitor should know. Tips go privately to the LakeRipple editor; nothing is posted automatically. Helpful tips may be featured on this page (we'll use your first name only if you give one).

    Lakes & ponds nearby

    Straight-line distance between lake centers. All Wisconsin lakes & ponds · All waters in Arbor Vitae