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Metonga Lake

Lincoln · Crandon, Wisconsin — Forest County.

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2,040Surface acres
3Public access sites
1.6 miShoreline trails

Surface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 75651505).

Location & fast facts

Where Metonga Lake is in Wisconsin

The red circle marks Metonga Lake.

Fast facts

About Metonga Lake

  • County: Forest
  • Shore towns: Lincoln, Crandon
  • Mapped as: Lake or pond (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Distance: about 180 mi from Milwaukee and 54 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. 3 public trailer launches listed (see access)
  • Fishing. Walleye, Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass and Smallmouth Bass
  • Walking. 1.6 mi of trail near the shore (trails)
  • Camping. 3 campgrounds within 15 mi (list)

Watch for

  • Non-native/invasive species. Zebra mussel, Eurasian watermilfoil and Rusty Crayfish 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.
  • 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)

79 ftMaximum depth
2,157Acres (state figure)

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

Average depth not published.

DNR lake class: Complex - Cool - Clear

Source: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Lake Page for Metonga Lake (WBIC 394400); maximum depth and acreage from the DNR lake classification data. Acreage here can differ slightly from our mapped outline.

Lake map

Metonga Lake shoreline, boat launches & beaches

Metonga Lake - East Access (Boat launch)1Metonga Lake - North Access (Boat launch)2Metonga Lake - South Access (Boat launch)31 mileN

Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.

Boat launchShoreline trail
  1. 1Metonga Lake - East Access
    Boat launch · Lincoln
  2. 2Metonga Lake - North Access
    Boat launch · Lincoln
  3. 3Metonga Lake - South Access
    Boat launch · Lincoln

Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 75651505), 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.

Shoreline trails

1.6 miTrail within 100 m of shore
About 20%Of the shoreline
NoLoops the whole lake
East shoreWhere

OpenStreetMap shows about 1.6 mi of public hiking and walking trail within about 100 m (330 ft) of the Metonga Lake shoreline, mostly along the east shore.

Trails along the shore

Getting to the trails

No trailhead is mapped for these trails. The closest public access site is Metonga Lake - East Access, 250 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 100 m of the USGS NHD lake outline.

Campgrounds near Metonga Lake

We found 3 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Metonga Lake. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.

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 (45.5422, -88.9034). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Metonga 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 Metonga 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

    3 public access sites listed, 3 with a boat ramp or trailer launch.

    SiteTownOwnerTypeParkingFeeUsesMap
    Metonga Lake - East AccessLincolnForest & Parks Dept.Boat ramp · Gravel ramp——Boating45.5551, -88.8940
    Metonga Lake - North AccessLincolnPublic Works Dept.Boat ramp · Grate ramp——Boating
    Handicap accessible
    45.5591, -88.8973
    Metonga Lake - South AccessLincolnForestry & Parks Dept.Boat ramp · Grate ramp——Boating45.5219, -88.9022

    Wisconsin DNR boat access sites

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

    Non-native/invasive species

    Reported on or near Metonga Lake

    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 Metonga Lake

    How big is Metonga Lake?

    Metonga Lake covers about 2,040 acres in Lincoln and Crandon, Wisconsin (Forest County).

    How deep is Metonga Lake?

    The maximum recorded depth is 79 feet, according to the Wisconsin DNR Lake Pages.

    What fish are in Metonga Lake?

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

    Is there a public boat launch on Metonga Lake?

    Yes. 3 public trailer launches are listed: Metonga Lake - North Access, Metonga Lake - East Access and Metonga Lake - South Access. Check posted fees and parking rules.

    Are there campgrounds near Metonga Lake?

    Yes. We list 3 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles.

    What towns are on Metonga Lake?

    Metonga Lake touches Lincoln and Crandon in Forest County, Wisconsin.

    Share a tip or fishing report

    Know Metonga 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 Lincoln