US lakes & pondsUS lakes & pondsSurface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 69886444).
The red circle marks Sparkling 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): Musky (common), Smallmouth Bass (common), Walleye (common), Panfish (present), Largemouth Bass (present).
Maximum depth and Average depth not published.
DNR lake class: Complex - Two Story
Source: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Lake Page for Sparkling Lake (WBIC 1881900); 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 69886444), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: Wisconsin DNR boat access sites. Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.
We found 55 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Sparkling Lake, 12 of them within 5 miles. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.
Tent sites · Toilets · Campfires allowed
RVs welcome · Tent sites · Toilets · Drinking water
Tent sites · Toilets · Campfires allowed
RVs welcome · Tent sites · Showers · Toilets
Tent sites · Toilets · Campfires allowed
Tent sites · Toilets · Campfires 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 (46.0083, -89.7007). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Sparkling 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.
2 public access sites listed, 1 with a boat ramp or trailer launch.
| Site | Town | Owner | Type | Parking | Fee | Uses | Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sparkling Lake | Arbor Vitae | NHAL Recreation Team Leader | Boat ramp · Concrete ramp | — | — | Boating | 46.0056, -89.6956 |
| Sparkling Lake Carry-in Access | Arbor Vitae | Rhinelander Office | Carry-in (hand launch) | — | — | Boating | 46.0147, -89.6973 |
Wisconsin DNR boat access sites
Fees, hours and rules change; confirm with the site owner before you go.
Reported on or near Sparkling Lake
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.
Sparkling Lake covers about 157 acres in Arbor Vitae, Wisconsin (Vilas County).
Wisconsin DNR Lake Pages lists Walleye, Musky, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass and Panfish.
Yes. 1 public trailer launch is listed: Sparkling Lake. Check posted fees and parking rules.
Yes. We list 55 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles, 12 of them within 5 miles.
Sparkling Lake touches Arbor Vitae in Vilas County, Wisconsin.
Know Sparkling 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 Arbor Vitae