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Little Muskie Lake

Arbor Vitae, Wisconsin — Vilas County.

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79Surface acres
1Public access sites

Surface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 70332253).

Location & fast facts

Where Little Muskie Lake is in Wisconsin

The red circle marks Little Muskie Lake.

Fast facts

About Little Muskie Lake

  • County: Vilas
  • Town: Arbor Vitae
  • Mapped as: Lake or pond (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Distance: about 218 mi from Milwaukee and 67 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

  • Paddling. 1 public access site, no trailer ramp listed
  • Fishing. Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass and Panfish
  • Camping. 45 campgrounds within 15 mi, 1 on the shore (list)

Watch for

  • 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)

16 ftMaximum depth
78Acres (state figure)

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

Average depth not published.

DNR lake class: Simple - Harsh - No Fishery

Source: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Lake Page for Little Muskie Lake (WBIC 1542100); maximum depth and acreage from the DNR lake classification data. Acreage here can differ slightly from our mapped outline.

Lake map

Little Muskie Lake shoreline, boat launches & beaches

Little Muskie Lake Access (Cartop / walk-in)1¼ mileN

Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.

Cartop / walk-in
  1. 1Little Muskie Lake Access
    Cartop / walk-in · Arbor Vitae

Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 70332253), 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 Little Muskie Lake

We found 45 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Little Muskie Lake, 5 of them within 5 miles. 1 is right on the shore. 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: 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 (45.9215, -89.6993). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Little Muskie 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 Little Muskie 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.

    SiteTownOwnerTypeParkingFeeUsesMap
    Little Muskie Lake AccessArbor VitaeTown of Arbor VitaeCarry-in (hand launch)——Boating45.9175, -89.7022

    Wisconsin DNR boat access sites

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

    Contact & official info

    Questions about Little Muskie Lake

    How big is Little Muskie Lake?

    Little Muskie Lake covers about 79 acres in Arbor Vitae, Wisconsin (Vilas County).

    How deep is Little Muskie Lake?

    The maximum recorded depth is 16 feet, according to the Wisconsin DNR Lake Pages.

    What fish are in Little Muskie Lake?

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

    Is there a public boat launch on Little Muskie Lake?

    No trailer ramp is listed, but there is 1 public access site for car-top boats or shore access.

    Are there campgrounds near Little Muskie Lake?

    Yes. We list 45 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles, 5 of them within 5 miles.

    What towns are on Little Muskie Lake?

    Little Muskie Lake touches Arbor Vitae in Vilas County, Wisconsin.

    Share a tip or fishing report

    Know Little Muskie 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 Arbor Vitae