Swimming Holes in Price County: The Best Places to Cool Off

Swimming Holes in Price County: The Best Places to Cool Off When the Northwoods Gets Hot

Here’s the thing about swimming in Price County: most visitors never find the good spots. They pull up to the public beach on Elk Lake, park next to thirty other cars, and wade into water that’s been churned muddy by a hundred feet. That’s fine. But if you know where to look. The boat landings at dawn, the sandbars that only locals can find, the swimming holes that don’t show up on any tourism map, Price County has some of the clearest, quietest freshwater swimming in Wisconsin.

We swam all of them. Here’s where to go, when to go, and what nobody tells you. Read more Price County stories from across the web.

The Best Swimming Lakes

Elk Lake, The Popular Pick

Access: Elk Lake Public Beach, Lake Ave, Phillips. Free parking, public restrooms, picnic area.

Elk Lake is the obvious choice and it’s obvious for a reason: the beach is sandy, the water is clear, the drop-off is gradual enough for kids, and the park has bathrooms. It gets crowded on summer weekends. Think 30-40 families. But the lake is big enough that you can swim away from the crowd. The best swimming is actually 100 yards south of the main beach, near the boat landing. The water’s deeper, the sand bottom drops off cleanly, and there’s almost nobody there after 10 AM because they’re all at the beach.

Water quality: Excellent. Elk Lake is spring-fed, 87 acres with a maximum depth of 13 feet, and has minimal agricultural runoff. The DNR monitors it regularly. Check Wisconsin DNR Beach Conditions before you go after heavy rain.

Spirit Lake, The Locals’ Choice

Access: Spirit Lake Boat Landing, Spirit Lake Rd. No beach, no restrooms, no lifeguard. Free.

Spirit Lake is one of the quieter swimming lakes in Price County. At 137 acres, it’s small enough to feel secluded but large enough for a good swim. The water is spring-fed and cool — note that DNR classifies Spirit Lake’s water clarity as low, so don’t expect crystal-clear water, but the swimming is still excellent. The east shore has a natural sandbar that forms in late June when the water level drops. Swim out about 40 yards from the boat landing and you’ll find it: chest-deep water on a sand bottom, surrounded by wild shoreline. No cabins, no motors within the slow-no-wake zone, no crowd.

The catch: there’s no beach, no bathroom, no trash cans. Pack out what you pack in. The boat landing has parking for about 8 cars. On a Saturday in July, you might be sharing the water with 2-3 other families. On a Tuesday, you’ll have it to yourself.

Duroy Lake, The Wilderness Swim

Access: Duroy Lake Boat Landing, Duroy Lake Rd. Free day use. No campground.

Duroy Lake is a 350-acre lake in Price County with a quiet, undeveloped feel. The water is typical Northwoods — slightly tea-colored from tannins (natural, not pollution) — and the swimming is about as wild as it gets in Wisconsin. The public boat landing provides water access with a gradual entry and soft bottom.

For the best experience, swim early. The lake is still and glassy at 7 AM, the loons are calling, and you might have the water to yourself. By noon, the kayakers and fishing boats show up.

Hidden Swimming Holes (That We’re Telling You About Anyway)

Butternut Lake, The Warm Water

Access: Butternut Lake Boat Landing, E Butternut Lake Rd, Butternut.

Butternut’s average depth is only 14 feet (max 32 feet), which means it warms up faster than the deeper lakes. By mid-June, the water temperature is comfortable for swimming. Not the shock of the deeper lakes. The south shore has a natural sand bottom and the boat landing area is wide enough for a proper swim. If you’re traveling with kids who hate cold water, Butternut is the call.

The Phillips Chain, Long Lake Beach

Access: Long Lake Public Beach, Long Lake Rd, Phillips. Free parking, small restroom facility.

Long Lake’s beach is smaller than Elk Lake’s but the water is warmer and the crowd is lighter. The swimming area is roped off with a clean sand bottom. The real gem is the narrows between Long Lake and Elk Lake. Swim out past the rope line and the water opens up with 15-20 feet of visibility. Watch for boat traffic in the channel.

Flambeau River, The Adventure Swim

Access: Multiple entry points. Best for experienced swimmers only.

River swimming is not lake swimming. The Flambeau has current, drop-offs, and underwater hazards. That said, the calm pools below the rapids on the Price County section are some of the most refreshing water you’ll find anywhere. The water is cold (even in August, it rarely gets above 68°F), clean, and moving. Swim with a buddy. Wear water shoes. Don’t swim after heavy rain. The river rises fast.

The safest river swimming spot is the pool below the dam at Lugerville. It’s deep, the current is minimal, and there’s a natural rock ledge to jump from (at your own risk. Water depth varies).

What to Know Before You Swim

Water Temperature

Price County lakes are cold. Even in late July, the deeper lakes rarely get above 72°F at the surface. The shallower lakes (Butternut, Elk, Long) warm up faster and hit 75-78°F by mid-summer. The river is always cold. Expect 60-68°F.

Water Quality

All Price County swimming waters are monitored by the Wisconsin DNR Beach Health program. After heavy rain (1+ inch in 24 hours), avoid swimming near agricultural runoff points for 24-48 hours. The spring-fed lakes (Spirit, Elk) recover faster. The flowages (Solo) are generally safe because of the constant water movement.

Safety

No lifeguards at any Price County swimming area. Swim with a buddy.
Water shoes are essential on the Flambeau River and recommended everywhere else. Check the Wisconsin DNR invasive species page for current zebra mussel reports before swimming.
Boat traffic: Swim within designated areas or near shore. The Chain of Lakes and Spirit Lake get significant boat traffic on weekends.
Water depth: Lakes drop off suddenly. The “step-off” from shallow to deep can happen within 10 feet of shore on Spirit and Elk lakes.

Swimming by Month

June: Water temps in the low 60s. Hard-core swimmers only. Butternut Lake is the warmest. The river is still high from snowmelt. Not safe for swimming.

July: Peak swimming. Water temps hit 68-75°F depending on the lake. This is the month. Elk Lake beach is crowded on weekends; go early or try Spirit Lake.

August: Still great. Water temps peak around 75°F in shallow lakes. The river is at its calmest. Weekday swimming at any of these spots will give you near-solitude.

September: The water stays swimmable through mid-September on warm years. The crowds are gone. Duroy Lake is magical in September. No bugs, warm water, no people.

After the Swim

You just spent the afternoon in a cold lake. Now you need a hot meal and a cold drink. Ripsaw Saloon in Prentice is 15 minutes from Spirit Lake, 20 from Butternut, and right on the way back from Duroy Lake. Beef tallow fries, a Wisconsin Old Fashioned, and the kind of bar where you can walk in with wet hair and nobody blinks.

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are the best swimming holes in Price County?

Price County has several natural swimming areas including the beaches at Solberg Lake County Park, Butternut Lake public beach, and the sandbar swimming holes along the Flambeau River. Most are free to access with parking available.

Are Price County swimming holes safe?

Most designated swimming areas in Price County are monitored for water quality during summer months. Always check for posted advisories, supervise children near water, and be aware that natural swimming holes may have uneven bottoms and drop-offs.

What is the water temperature in Price County lakes?

During peak summer (July–August), lake temperatures in Price County typically reach 68–75°F at the surface. Spring and early summer water remains cool, and swimmers should be aware of thermal layers in deeper lakes.

📊 Price County Data & Demographics
Live stats on population, income, housing, employment, and more, updated monthly from Census data.

View Price County Stats →