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Lake Clay

Lake Placid, Florida — Highlands County.

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356Surface acres
2Public access sites

Surface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 112050297).

Location & fast facts

Where Lake Clay is in Florida

The red circle marks Lake Clay.

Fast facts

About Lake Clay

  • County: Highlands
  • City or town on the shore: Lake Placid
  • Mapped as: Lake or pond (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Distance: about 14 mi from Sebring and 56 mi from Fort Myers, straight-line (not driving distance)

Towns and counties: U.S. Census Bureau boundaries overlaid on the USGS lake outline (Florida: incorporated places touching the lake, otherwise the nearest one).

Fishing in Florida

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

Good for & watch for

Good for

  • Boating. 2 public trailer launches listed (see access)
  • Camping. 1 campgrounds within 15 mi (list)

Watch for

  • Non-native/invasive species. Whorled hydrilla, Common water-hyacinth and Water lettuce 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.

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.

Lake map

Lake Clay shoreline, boat launches & beaches

Lake Clay Public Boat Ramp (East Side) (Boat launch)1Lake Clay Public Boat Ramp (West Side) (Boat launch)2½ mileN

Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.

Boat launch
  1. 1Lake Clay Public Boat Ramp (East Side)
    Boat launch · Lake Placid
  2. 2Lake Clay Public Boat Ramp (West Side)
    Boat launch · Lake Placid

Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 112050297), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: FWC Florida Boat Ramp Inventory. Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.

Campgrounds near Lake Clay

We found 1 campground and RV park within 15 miles of Lake Clay. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.

All campgrounds & RV parks in Florida

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 (27.3111, -81.3470). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Lake Clay. 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 Lake Clay

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 ET (America/New_York), 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
    Lake Clay Public Boat Ramp (East Side)Lake PlacidHighlands CountyStand Alone Ramp · Concrete ramp · dock6 trailerNo feeBoating27.3145, -81.3430
    Lake Clay Public Boat Ramp (West Side)Lake PlacidHighlands CountyStand Alone Ramp · Concrete ramp · dock20 trailerNo feeBoating27.3151, -81.3538

    FWC Florida Boat Ramp Inventory

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

    Non-native/invasive species

    Reported on or near Lake Clay

    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 Lake Clay

    How big is Lake Clay?

    Lake Clay covers about 356 acres in Lake Placid, Florida (Highlands County).

    Is there a public boat launch on Lake Clay?

    Yes. 2 public trailer launches are listed: Lake Clay Public Boat Ramp (East Side) and Lake Clay Public Boat Ramp (West Side). Check posted fees and parking rules.

    Are there campgrounds near Lake Clay?

    Yes. We list 1 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles.

    What towns are on Lake Clay?

    Lake Clay touches Lake Placid in Highlands County, Florida.

    Share a tip or fishing report

    Know Lake Clay? 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 Florida lakes & ponds · All waters in Lake Placid