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Horsehead Lake

Presque Isle, Wisconsin — Vilas County.

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249Surface acres
1Public access sites

Surface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 123148118).

Location & fast facts

Where Horsehead Lake is in Wisconsin

The red circle marks Horsehead Lake.

Fast facts

About Horsehead Lake

  • County: Vilas
  • Town: Presque Isle
  • Mapped as: Lake or pond (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Distance: about 238 mi from Milwaukee and 88 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. 1 public trailer launch listed (see access)
  • Fishing. Walleye, Musky, Northern Pike and Largemouth Bass
  • Camping. 37 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)

24 ftMaximum depth
234Acres (state figure)

Fish species listed by the Wisconsin DNR (with DNR abundance rating): Musky (common), Panfish (common), Walleye (common), Largemouth Bass (present), 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 Horsehead Lake (WBIC 2953100); maximum depth and acreage from the DNR lake classification data. Acreage here can differ slightly from our mapped outline.

Lake map

Horsehead Lake shoreline, boat launches & beaches

Horsehead Lake Ramp (Boat launch)1¼ mileN

Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.

Boat launch
  1. 1Horsehead Lake Ramp
    Boat launch · Presque Isle

Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 123148118), 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 Horsehead Lake

We found 37 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Horsehead Lake, 3 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: 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 (46.2335, -89.7164). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Horsehead 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 Horsehead 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

    1 public access site listed, 1 with a boat ramp or trailer launch.

    SiteTownOwnerTypeParkingFeeUsesMap
    Horsehead Lake RampPresque IsleNHAL Recreation Team LeaderBoat ramp · Concrete ramp——Boating46.2341, -89.7097

    Wisconsin DNR boat access sites

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

    Contact & official info

    Questions about Horsehead Lake

    How big is Horsehead Lake?

    Horsehead Lake covers about 249 acres in Presque Isle, Wisconsin (Vilas County).

    How deep is Horsehead Lake?

    The maximum recorded depth is 24 feet, according to the Wisconsin DNR Lake Pages.

    What fish are in Horsehead Lake?

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

    Is there a public boat launch on Horsehead Lake?

    Yes. 1 public trailer launch is listed: Horsehead Lake Ramp. Check posted fees and parking rules.

    Are there campgrounds near Horsehead Lake?

    Yes. We list 37 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles, 3 of them within 5 miles.

    What towns are on Horsehead Lake?

    Horsehead Lake touches Presque Isle in Vilas County, Wisconsin.

    Share a tip or fishing report

    Know Horsehead 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 Presque Isle