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Birch Lake

Laona, Wisconsin — Forest County.

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466Surface acres

Surface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 76155451).

Location & fast facts

Where Birch Lake is in Wisconsin

The red circle marks Birch Lake.

Fast facts

About Birch Lake

  • County: Forest
  • Town: Laona
  • Mapped as: Lake or pond (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Distance: about 179 mi from Milwaukee and 64 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

  • Fishing. Walleye, Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass and Smallmouth Bass
  • Camping. 7 campgrounds within 15 mi (list)

Watch for

  • Non-native/invasive species. Rusty Crayfish recorded. Clean, drain and dry your boat and gear.
  • 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)

468Acres (state figure)

Fish species listed by the Wisconsin DNR (with DNR abundance rating): Panfish (common), Walleye (common), Largemouth Bass (present), Smallmouth Bass (present), Northern Pike (present).

Maximum depth and Average depth not published.

DNR lake class: Complex - Cool - Clear

Source: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Lake Page for Birch Lake (WBIC 555500); maximum depth and acreage from the DNR lake classification data. Acreage here can differ slightly from our mapped outline.

Lake map

Birch Lake shoreline

½ mileN

No public access sites are listed for this water in the Wisconsin DNR boat access sites data.

Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 76155451), 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 Birch Lake

We found 7 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Birch Lake. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.

1 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: Recreation.gov (RIDB) · 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 (45.5698, -88.6396). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Birch 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 Birch 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.

    Non-native/invasive species

    Reported on or near Birch 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 Birch Lake

    How big is Birch Lake?

    Birch Lake covers about 466 acres in Laona, Wisconsin (Forest County).

    What fish are in Birch Lake?

    Wisconsin DNR Lake Pages lists Walleye, Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass and Panfish.

    Are there campgrounds near Birch Lake?

    Yes. We list 7 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles.

    What towns are on Birch Lake?

    Birch Lake touches Laona in Forest County, Wisconsin.

    Share a tip or fishing report

    Know Birch 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 Laona