Wisconsin Lake Finder

Balsam Lake

Balsam Lake is a 1,901-acre lake in Polk County, Wisconsin, up to 37 feet deep, with 703 waterfront parcels on its shore. Fish include panfish, largemouth bass, northern pike and walleye. It has 6 public boat landings.

• Size: 1,901 acres
• Deepest point: 37 ft
• Bottom: 80% gravel, 20% sand
• Fish: Panfish, Largemouth bass, Northern pike, Walleye
• Public access: 6 public boat landings
• Boating: Full recreation: over 50 acres, so open to water-skiing and boating at speed under state law
• Local boating ordinances on record: water-skiing rules, slow-no-wake areas and a speed limit
• Drive time without traffic: Twin Cities 1 hr 10 min, Eau Claire 1 hr 35 min, Madison 4 hr 15 min, Green Bay 4 hr 20 min, Appleton 4 hr 20 min, Waukesha 4 hr 50 min, Milwaukee 5 hr 5 min, Rockford 5 hr 5 min, Chicago 6 hr 5 min
• Invasive species on record: Chinese Mystery Snail, Curly-Leaf Pondweed, Eurasian Water-Milfoil, Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica), Purple Loosestrife, Yellow Iris, Zebra Mussel
• Waterfront parcels: 703 waterfront parcels

Questions about Balsam Lake

How many waterfront properties are on Balsam Lake?

703 waterfront parcels front Balsam Lake in Polk County. That counts parcels on the water from county parcel maps, not homes for sale.

How big is Balsam Lake?

Balsam Lake covers 1,901 acres in Polk County, Wisconsin.

How deep is Balsam Lake?

Balsam Lake is 37 feet deep at its deepest point.

What fish are in Balsam Lake?

The Wisconsin DNR lists panfish, largemouth bass, northern pike and walleye in Balsam Lake.

Is there public access to Balsam Lake?

Yes. Balsam Lake has 6 public boat landings.

Can you water-ski or run a boat at speed on Balsam Lake?

Balsam Lake is over 50 acres, so Wisconsin's slow-no-wake rule for small lakes does not apply and boats may run at speed, staying slow within 100 feet of shore, docks and swimmers. Local ordinances on record include water-skiing rules, slow-no-wake areas and a speed limit; the ordinance itself says which part of the lake or the day each covers.

How long is the drive to Balsam Lake?

By car, Balsam Lake is about 1 hr 10 min from the Twin Cities, 1 hr 35 min from Eau Claire, 4 hr 15 min from Madison and 6 hr 5 min from Chicago. Those are typical times without traffic, to the nearest road at the lake.

What is the bottom of Balsam Lake like?

The lake bottom is 80% gravel, 20% sand, by the Wisconsin DNR's record.