Wild Rice Lake, Wisconsin, USA

Also known as:  Manitowish Chain of Lakes

Secluded by wilderness in the center of Wisconsin’s Vilas County, Wild Rice Lake is one of 10 magnificent lakes in the Manitowish Waters Chain of Lakes which are linked by navigable channels. The other lakes in the chain include Little Star Lake, Island Lake, Rest Lake, Clear Lake, Fawn Lake, Spider Lake, Stone Lake, Manitowish Lake, and Alder Lake. The Manitowish Chain is located in the heart…
Keep scrolling to read more.

Welcome to the ultimate guide to Wild Rice Lake! Article topics include:

Looking for Wild Rice Lake cabins or other accommodations? Save time and use this interactive map to find, compare and book at the best rates. Or explore more of our favorite travel partners.

This post contains affiliate links. If you click and purchase, we may earn a small referral fee at no extra cost to you. Read our full disclosure.

Explore Area Hotels

Nearby offer more hotel accommodations:

  • Check TripAdvisor
  • Check Expedia
  • Check Hotels.com
  • Check Booking.com

    • All About Wild Rice Lake, WI

    Lake Locations: USA - US Midwest Region - Wisconsin - Lake Superior Northwoods Region, WI -

    Secluded by wilderness in the center of Wisconsin’s Vilas County, Wild Rice Lake is one of 10 magnificent lakes in the Manitowish Waters Chain of Lakes which are linked by navigable channels. The other lakes in the chain include Little Star Lake, Island Lake, Rest Lake, Clear Lake, Fawn Lake, Spider Lake, Stone Lake, Manitowish Lake, and Alder Lake. The Manitowish Chain is located in the heart of the Northwoods region of Wisconsin. The Manitowish River connects the majority of these lakes, but Wild Rice Lake connects directly to Alder Lake via the Trout River. Whether you enjoy lakes, rivers, or wilderness, Wild Rice Lake offers a variety of year-round recreational activities.

    With 379 acres of cool blue water, Wild Rice Lake invites you to take it easy on or off shore. The lake offers anglers a wide variety of fish including northern pike, bluegill, crappie, walleye, muskie, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. Just east of the lake is Boulder Junction, a community with the registered trademark “Musky Capital of the World.” With over 190 lakes and guided fishing services, even a novice angler will delight in the sport.

    Wild Rice Lake has a mean depth of 11 feet and a maximum depth of 26 feet for your boating pleasure. Go from lake to river, and river to lake, with guided tours for kayaking, canoeing, tubing, and rafting. Ride along the 44-mile Manitowish River and indulge in the several portages, canoe-in campsites, and breathtaking scenic beauty along the way. You can even make your way to Rest Lake for some exciting water ski shows. Each lake in the chain has something spectacular to offer.

    The Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest accounts for more than 225,000 acres of land around the chain of lakes. It is complete with activities for every season such as canoeing, hiking, bird watching, snowmobiling, biking and hunting. Wildlife enthusiasts will find immense pleasure in the Great Wisconsin Birding and Nature Trail. This trail has a total of five highway-based viewing guides featuring exceptional birding and wildlife watching sites. The trail has more than 80 waypoints for birding and wildlife watching. Hunters, trappers, berry pickers, birders, and photographers will find peace at the Powell Marsh State Wildlife Area. There are no designated trails, but roads and dikes provide walking access throughout the area. In the middle of the marsh is a 1,800-acre no entry from September 1- December 31 for wildlife refuge. The surrounding area of Wild Rice Like offers a multitude of places to experience wildlife.

    The Wild Rice Lake area offers a variety of year-round activities including hiking, biking, horseback riding, golfing, downhill skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling. Spend your nights at Frank B. Koller Memorial Park for Music in the Park Summer Concert Series, or visit the Koller Memorial Library for a quieter night with a book or movie. The North Lakeland Discovery Center is a popular attraction with scenic trails and rustic bunkhouses available to rent for your wedding, reunion, or business retreat. Take your kids to the Northwoods Children’s Museum to learn about their world as well as understanding concepts related to science, history, art and culture. The Museum is complete with 22 hands-on exhibits that will cater to your child’s entertainment. There are also summer residence camps and summer day camps for children to enjoy.

    Wild Rice Lake gets its name from the Wisconsin wild rice harvests. Even though Wild Rice Lake is not a part of the regulated harvesting waters, other lakes in Vilas County offer the delicious and nutritious food for Wisconsin residents to harvest. Move to Wisconsin to experience these annual harvests. Another exciting agricultural attraction for all to enjoy are the Cranberry Marsh Tours. The event features self-guided fall color tours, a quaint arts & crafts show, cranberry samples, fresh cranberry sales, bake sales, live music, “Taste of Harvest” offered by some of the area’s local restaurants, cranberry cooking contests, pontoon cruises on the Manitowish Waters chain, and much more!

    With plenty of vacation rentals and real estate properties for sale, Wild Rice Lake can be your home away from home or permanent residence. There are a wide variety of activities for all ages and personalities.

    Things to Do at Wild Rice Lake

    These are some activities in the Wild Rice Lake, WI area visitors can enjoy:

    • Vacation Rentals
    • Fishing
    • Boating
    • Canoeing
    • Kayaking
    • Water Skiing
    • Tubing
    • Golf
    • Camping
    • Hiking
    • Biking
    • Downhill Skiing
    • Snowmobiling
    • Horseback Riding
    • Hunting
    • Wildlife Viewing
    • Birding
    • State Forest
    • Museum

    What Kind of Fish Are in Wild Rice Lake?

    Wild Rice Lake has been known to have the following fish species:

    • Bass
    • Black Bass
    • Bluegill
    • Crappie
    • Largemouth Bass
    • Muskellunge
    • Northern Pike
    • Perch
    • Pike
    • Smallmouth Bass
    • Sunfish
    • Trout
    • Walleye
    divider

    Find Places to Stay at Wild Rice Lake

    If you’re considering a Wild Rice Lake lake house rental or hotel, we’ve made it super easy to find the best rates and compare vacation accommodations at a glance. Save time using this interactive map below.

    Note: These are affiliate links and we may earn a small commission if you click and make a purchase. Read our full disclosure policy here.

    More Sites to Book a Wild Rice Lake Vacation

    Our interactive Wild Rice Lake lodging map above is an easy tool for comparing VRBO rental homes and nearby hotels with Booking.com, but there could be times when you need to expand your search for different types of accommodations. Here are some other lake lodging partners we recommend:

    Check TripAdvisor
    Check Expedia
    Find a Campspot
    All Travel Resources

    Wild Rice Lake Statistics & Helpful Links

    divider

    Lake Type: Natural Freshwater Lake, Not Dammed

    Surface Area: 379 acres

    Shoreline Length: 4 miles

    Normal Elevation (Full Pond): 1,601 feet

    Average Depth: 11 feet

    Maximum Depth: 26 feet

    Water Volume: 4,329 acre-feet

    Trophic State: Mesotrophic

    Wild Rice Lake Map
    Local Weather Forecast

    We strive to keep information on LakeLubbers as accurate as possible. If you’ve found something here that needs updating, please touch base by filling out our Content Correction form.

    Shop Wild Rice Lake Gifts

    Custom Lake Tumblers

    Create Your Own Captain / First Mate Custom 20oz Tumbler

    ORDER HERE
    Custom Lake T Shirt

    Create Your Personalized My Boat My Rules Unisex T-Shirt

    ORDER HERE
    Custom Lake Coffee Mug - On Lake Time

    Create a Custom Coffee Mug – 11oz or 15oz

    ORDER HERE
    VIEW ALL CUSTOM LAKE PRODUCTS

    More Wild Rice Lake news from LakeLubbers.com

    • Advertise your vacation rental property or local business: DETAILS HERE
    • The Wild Rice Lake forum has been discontinued: HERE’S WHY
    • New Wild Rice Lake photos coming soon!
    • You’re invited to join our lake-lovin’ community on Facebook and Instagram!
    • Share this Wild Rice Lake article with your fellow LakeLubbers: