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Upper Eau Claire Lake

Barnes, Wisconsin — Bayfield County.

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1,100Surface acres
1Public access sites

Surface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 69544695).

Location & fast facts

Where Upper Eau Claire Lake is in Wisconsin

The red circle marks Upper Eau Claire Lake.

Fast facts

About Upper Eau Claire Lake

  • County: Bayfield
  • Town: Barnes
  • Mapped as: Lake or pond (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Distance: about 286 mi from Milwaukee and 129 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. 1 public trailer launch listed (see access)
  • Fishing. Walleye, Musky, Northern Pike and Largemouth Bass
  • Swimming. 1 public beach or swim spot on the map (details)
  • Camping. 12 campgrounds within 15 mi (list)

Watch for

  • Non-native/invasive species. Curly-leaf pondweed and Chinese mysterysnail 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.
  • No lifeguard listed. None of our sources lists a staffed lifeguard. Swim at your own risk and watch children closely.
  • 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)

92 ftMaximum depth
996Acres (state figure)

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

Average depth not published.

DNR lake class: Complex - Two Story

Source: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Lake Page for Upper Eau Claire Lake (WBIC 2742700); maximum depth and acreage from the DNR lake classification data. Acreage here can differ slightly from our mapped outline.

Lake map

Upper Eau Claire Lake shoreline, boat launches & beaches

Upper Eau Claire Lake Access (Boat launch)1Traut's Resort LLC (Beach)21 mileN

Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.

Boat launchBeach
  1. 1Upper Eau Claire Lake Access
    Boat launch · Barnes
  2. 2Traut's Resort LLC
    Beach

Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 69544695), 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 Upper Eau Claire Lake

We found 12 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Upper Eau Claire Lake, 3 of them within 5 miles. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.

6 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: 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 (46.3130, -91.4750). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Upper Eau Claire 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 Upper Eau Claire 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, 1 with a boat ramp or trailer launch.

    SiteTownOwnerTypeParkingFeeUsesMap
    Upper Eau Claire Lake AccessBarnesTown of BarnesBoat ramp · Concrete ramp——Boating46.3094, -91.4886

    Wisconsin DNR boat access sites

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

    Public beaches

    On OpenStreetMap: 1 beach or swimming spot on the shore of Upper Eau Claire Lake not marked private, residents-only or members-only.

    BeachTypeAccessDirections
    Traut's Resort LLCBeach areaAccess not tagged; check posted rulesGet directions

    Beaches: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), within about 150 m (500 ft) of the lake outline. A mapped beach is not a guarantee that swimming is allowed, supervised or safe; some town beaches need a resident sticker even when the map doesn't say so. Check posted rules and water-quality advisories before you swim.

    Non-native/invasive species

    Reported on or near Upper Eau Claire 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 Upper Eau Claire Lake

    How big is Upper Eau Claire Lake?

    Upper Eau Claire Lake covers about 1,100 acres in Barnes, Wisconsin (Bayfield County).

    How deep is Upper Eau Claire Lake?

    The maximum recorded depth is 92 feet, according to the Wisconsin DNR Lake Pages.

    What fish are in Upper Eau Claire Lake?

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

    Is there a public boat launch on Upper Eau Claire Lake?

    Yes. 1 public trailer launch is listed: Upper Eau Claire Lake Access. Check posted fees and parking rules.

    Can you swim in Upper Eau Claire Lake?

    OpenStreetMap shows 1 public beach or swimming spot on the shore. None of our sources lists a lifeguard, so swim at your own risk and follow posted rules.

    Are there campgrounds near Upper Eau Claire Lake?

    Yes. We list 12 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles, 3 of them within 5 miles.

    What towns are on Upper Eau Claire Lake?

    Upper Eau Claire Lake touches Barnes in Bayfield County, Wisconsin.

    Share a tip or fishing report

    Know Upper Eau Claire 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 Barnes