Wisconsin Lake Finder

Butternut Lake

Butternut Lake is a 1,246-acre lake in Forest County, Wisconsin, up to 42 feet deep, with 89 waterfront parcels on its shore. Fish include panfish, smallmouth bass, northern pike and walleye. It has 2 public boat landings and public land or a park on the shore.

• Size: 1,246 acres
• Deepest point: 42 ft
• Bottom: 40% sand, 40% gravel, 10% rock, 10% muck
• Fish: Panfish, Smallmouth bass, Northern pike, Walleye
• Public access: 2 public boat landings and public land or a park on the shore
• Boating: Full recreation: over 50 acres, so open to water-skiing and boating at speed under state law
• Drive time without traffic: Green Bay 3 hr 10 min, Appleton 3 hr 30 min, Eau Claire 3 hr 35 min, Madison 4 hr 15 min, Twin Cities 4 hr 40 min, Waukesha 4 hr 45 min, Milwaukee 4 hr 50 min, Rockford 5 hr 5 min, Chicago 6 hr 5 min
• Invasive species on record: Banded Mystery Snail, Chinese Mystery Snail, Rusty Crayfish, Spiny Waterflea
• Waterfront parcels: 89 waterfront parcels

Questions about Butternut Lake

How many waterfront properties are on Butternut Lake?

89 waterfront parcels front Butternut Lake in Forest County. That counts parcels on the water from county parcel maps, not homes for sale.

How big is Butternut Lake?

Butternut Lake covers 1,246 acres in Forest County, Wisconsin.

How deep is Butternut Lake?

Butternut Lake is 42 feet deep at its deepest point.

What fish are in Butternut Lake?

The Wisconsin DNR lists panfish, smallmouth bass, northern pike and walleye in Butternut Lake.

Is there public access to Butternut Lake?

Yes. Butternut Lake has 2 public boat landings and public land or a park on the shore.

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

Butternut 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. No local boating ordinance that limits motorboats is on record.

How long is the drive to Butternut Lake?

By car, Butternut Lake is about 3 hr 10 min from Green Bay, 3 hr 30 min from Appleton, 3 hr 35 min from Eau Claire, 4 hr 40 min from the Twin Cities 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 Butternut Lake like?

The lake bottom is 40% sand, 40% gravel, 10% rock, 10% muck, by the Wisconsin DNR's record.