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Deerskin Lake

Washington · Phelps, Wisconsin — Vilas County.

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302Surface acres
2Public access sites

Surface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 70331375).

Location & fast facts

Where Deerskin Lake is in Wisconsin

The red circle marks Deerskin Lake.

Fast facts

About Deerskin Lake

  • County: Vilas
  • Shore towns: Washington, Phelps
  • Mapped as: Lake or pond (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Distance: about 212 mi from Milwaukee and 74 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, Northern Pike and Largemouth Bass
  • Camping. 17 campgrounds within 15 mi (list)

Watch for

  • 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)

18 ftMaximum depth
309Acres (state figure)

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

Average depth not published.

DNR lake class: Complex - Cool - Dark

Source: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Lake Page for Deerskin Lake (WBIC 1601300); maximum depth and acreage from the DNR lake classification data. Acreage here can differ slightly from our mapped outline.

Lake map

Deerskin Lake shoreline, boat launches & beaches

Deerskin Lake Access 1 (Boat launch)1Deerskin Lake Access 2 (Boat launch)2½ mileN

Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.

Boat launch
  1. 1Deerskin Lake Access 1
    Boat launch · Washington
  2. 2Deerskin Lake Access 2
    Boat launch · Washington

Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 70331375), 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 Deerskin Lake

We found 17 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Deerskin Lake, 1 of them within 5 miles. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.

11 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 (45.9763, -89.1702). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Deerskin 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 Deerskin 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
    Deerskin Lake Access 1WashingtonTown of WashingtonBoat ramp · Paved ramp——Boating45.9786, -89.1702
    Deerskin Lake Access 2WashingtonTown of WashingtonBoat ramp · Paved ramp——Boating45.9813, -89.1618

    Wisconsin DNR boat access sites

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

    Contact & official info

    Questions about Deerskin Lake

    How big is Deerskin Lake?

    Deerskin Lake covers about 302 acres in Washington and Phelps, Wisconsin (Vilas County).

    How deep is Deerskin Lake?

    The maximum recorded depth is 18 feet, according to the Wisconsin DNR Lake Pages.

    What fish are in Deerskin Lake?

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

    Is there a public boat launch on Deerskin Lake?

    Yes. 2 public trailer launches are listed: Deerskin Lake Access 1 and Deerskin Lake Access 2. Check posted fees and parking rules.

    Are there campgrounds near Deerskin Lake?

    Yes. We list 17 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles, 1 of them within 5 miles.

    What towns are on Deerskin Lake?

    Deerskin Lake touches Washington and Phelps in Vilas County, Wisconsin.

    Share a tip or fishing report

    Know Deerskin 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 Washington