US lakes & pondsUS lakes & pondsSurface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 143249249).
The red circle marks Forest Lake.
Towns and counties: U.S. Census Bureau boundaries overlaid on the USGS lake outline.
Official Wisconsin DNR pages. Rules and fees change; check before you go.
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.
Fish species listed by the Wisconsin DNR (with DNR abundance rating): Panfish (common), Largemouth Bass (present), Northern Pike (present).
Average depth not published.
DNR lake class: Simple - Warm - Dark
Source: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Lake Page for Forest Lake (WBIC 775800); maximum depth and acreage from the DNR lake classification data. Acreage here can differ slightly from our mapped outline.
Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.
Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 143249249), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: Wisconsin DNR boat access sites. Dashed trails: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.
OpenStreetMap shows about 0.4 mi of public hiking and walking trail within about 60 m (200 ft) of the Forest Lake shoreline, mostly along the east and west shores. They follow about 55% of the shore, so you can walk most of the way around but not a full loop.
No trailhead is mapped for these trails. The closest public access site is Forest Lake Carry-In, 0.1 mi from a shoreline trail (Wisconsin DNR boat access data).
The dashed brown line on the lake map shows these trails. We include paths, footways and marked trails that OpenStreetMap doesn't mark as private, and leave out roads, sidewalks and snowmobile corridors. Mapped trails can still cross private land or close for the season, and not every trail is mapped, so follow posted signs.
Trails: © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License (ODbL). Map data as of Oct 9, 2026. Trail lengths count only the parts within about 60 m of the USGS NHD lake outline.
We found 8 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Forest Lake, 1 of them within 5 miles. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.
Drinking water
Showers
RVs welcome · Tent sites
RVs welcome · Tent sites · Showers · Drinking water
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.
Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (43.1059, -88.4072). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Forest Lake. No live water-temperature sensor is shown because we haven't found a public one for this lake.
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.
1 public access site listed.
| Site | Town | Owner | Type | Parking | Fee | Uses | Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Lake Carry-In | Merton | Dept. of Parks & Land Use | Carry-in (hand launch) | — | — | Boating | 43.1029, -88.4076 |
Wisconsin DNR boat access sites
Fees, hours and rules change; confirm with the site owner before you go.
Reported on or near Forest Lake
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.
Forest Lake covers about 22 acres in Merton and Nashotah, Wisconsin (Waukesha County).
The maximum recorded depth is 17 feet, according to the Wisconsin DNR Lake Pages.
Wisconsin DNR Lake Pages lists Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass and Panfish.
No trailer ramp is listed, but there is 1 public access site for car-top boats or shore access.
Yes. We list 8 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles, 1 of them within 5 miles.
Forest Lake touches Merton and Nashotah in Waukesha County, Wisconsin.
Know Forest 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).
Straight-line distance between lake centers. All Wisconsin lakes & ponds · All waters in Merton