US lakes & pondsUS lakes & pondsSurface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 75473335).
The red circle marks McKinley 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).
Maximum depth and Average depth not published.
DNR lake class: Simple - Cool - Clear
Source: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Lake Page for McKinley Lake (WBIC 692700); 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 75473335), 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 0.3 mi of public hiking and walking trail within about 90 m (300 ft) of the McKinley Lake shoreline, mostly along the south shore.
No trailhead is mapped for these trails. The closest public access site is McKinley Lake Access, 350 ft 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 90 m of the USGS NHD lake outline.
We found 17 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of McKinley Lake, 8 of them within 5 miles. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.
Toilets · Drinking water
Toilets · Drinking water
Electric hookups · RVs welcome · Tent sites · Dogs allowed
RVs welcome · Tent sites · Dogs allowed
RVs welcome · Tent sites · Drinking water · Dogs allowed
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.
Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (45.9240, -88.9742). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for McKinley 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McKinley Lake Access | Hiles | US Forest Service | Carry-in (hand launch) | — | — | Boating | 45.9198, -88.9717 |
Wisconsin DNR boat access sites
Fees, hours and rules change; confirm with the site owner before you go.
McKinley Lake covers about 48 acres in Hiles, Wisconsin (Forest County).
Wisconsin DNR Lake Pages lists 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 17 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles, 8 of them within 5 miles.
McKinley Lake touches Hiles in Forest County, Wisconsin.
Know McKinley 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 Hiles