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Thunder Lake

Pine Lake · Rhinelander, Wisconsin — Oneida County.

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183Surface acres

Surface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID {17D4717F-89DA-4C2E-882C-06284A940B94}).

Location & fast facts

Where Thunder Lake is in Wisconsin

The red circle marks Thunder Lake.

Fast facts

About Thunder Lake

  • County: Oneida
  • Shore towns: Pine Lake, Rhinelander
  • Mapped as: Lake or pond (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Distance: about 196 mi from Milwaukee and 50 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

  • Fishing. Walleye, Musky, Northern Pike and Largemouth Bass
  • Camping. 9 campgrounds within 15 mi (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)

12 ftMaximum depth
172Acres (state figure)

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

Average depth not published.

DNR lake class: Complex - Cool - Dark

Source: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Lake Page for Thunder Lake (WBIC 1580400); maximum depth and acreage from the DNR lake classification data. Acreage here can differ slightly from our mapped outline.

Lake map

Thunder Lake shoreline

¼ mileN

No public access sites are listed for this water in the Wisconsin DNR boat access sites data.

Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID {17D4717F-89DA-4C2E-882C-06284A940B94}), 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 Thunder Lake

We found 9 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Thunder Lake, 4 of them within 5 miles. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.

3 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 (45.6626, -89.3997). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Thunder 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 Thunder 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.

    Contact & official info

    Questions about Thunder Lake

    How big is Thunder Lake?

    Thunder Lake covers about 183 acres in Pine Lake and Rhinelander, Wisconsin (Oneida County).

    How deep is Thunder Lake?

    The maximum recorded depth is 12 feet, according to the Wisconsin DNR Lake Pages.

    What fish are in Thunder Lake?

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

    Are there campgrounds near Thunder Lake?

    Yes. We list 9 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles, 4 of them within 5 miles.

    What towns are on Thunder Lake?

    Thunder Lake touches Pine Lake and Rhinelander in Oneida County, Wisconsin.

    Share a tip or fishing report

    Know Thunder 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 Pine Lake