Wisconsin Lake Finder

Nelson Lake

Nelson Lake is a 109-acre lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin, up to 50 feet deep, with 45 waterfront parcels on its shore. Fish include musky, panfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and walleye. The DNR lists no public boat landing.

• Size: 109 acres
• Deepest point: 50 ft
• Bottom: 80% sand, 10% gravel, 5% rock, 5% muck
• Fish: Musky, Panfish, Largemouth bass, Smallmouth bass, Walleye
• 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 and slow-no-wake hours
• Drive time without traffic: Green Bay 2 hr 55 min, Appleton 3 hr 5 min, Eau Claire 3 hr 5 min, Madison 3 hr 45 min, Twin Cities 4 hr 10 min, Milwaukee 4 hr 25 min, Waukesha 4 hr 25 min, Rockford 4 hr 40 min, Chicago 5 hr 40 min
• Waterfront parcels: 45 waterfront parcels

Questions about Nelson Lake

How many waterfront properties are on Nelson Lake?

45 waterfront parcels front Nelson Lake in Vilas County. That counts parcels on the water from county parcel maps, not homes for sale.

How big is Nelson Lake?

Nelson Lake covers 109 acres in Vilas County, Wisconsin.

How deep is Nelson Lake?

Nelson Lake is 50 feet deep at its deepest point.

What fish are in Nelson Lake?

The Wisconsin DNR lists musky, panfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and walleye in Nelson Lake.

Is there public access to Nelson Lake?

The Wisconsin DNR lists no public boat landing, beach or park on Nelson Lake.

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

Nelson 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 and slow-no-wake hours; the ordinance itself says which part of the lake or the day each covers.

How long is the drive to Nelson Lake?

By car, Nelson Lake is about 2 hr 55 min from Green Bay, 3 hr 5 min from Appleton, 3 hr 5 min from Eau Claire, 4 hr 10 min from the Twin Cities and 5 hr 40 min from Chicago. Those are typical times without traffic, to the nearest road at the lake.

What is the bottom of Nelson Lake like?

The lake bottom is 80% sand, 10% gravel, 5% rock, 5% muck, by the Wisconsin DNR's record.