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Rest Lake, Wisconsin, USA

Also known as:  Manitowish Chain of Lakes

Located in Wisconsin’s Vilas County, Rest Lake is part of the Manitowish Waters Chain which includes 10 beautiful lakes: Manitowish Lake, Little Star Lake, Island Lake, Rest Lake, Clear Lake, Fawn Lake, Spider Lake, Stone Lake, Wild Rice Lake, and Alder Lake linked by navigable channels. Rest Lake is a natural lake with a dam that was constructed in 1887 for logging operations. The dam was rebuilt…
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    • All About Rest Lake, WI

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

    Located in Wisconsin’s Vilas County, Rest Lake is part of the Manitowish Waters Chain which includes 10 beautiful lakes: Manitowish Lake, Little Star Lake, Island Lake, Rest Lake, Clear Lake, Fawn Lake, Spider Lake, Stone Lake, Wild Rice Lake, and Alder Lake linked by navigable channels. Rest Lake is a natural lake with a dam that was constructed in 1887 for logging operations. The dam was rebuilt in 1926 when the Chippewa and Flambeau Improvement Company took ownership of it. Rest Lake has a winter drawdown of 5 feet from November to Spring break. This drawdown protects aquatic life and prevents spring flooding. The lake’s 808 acres of pristine blue water in Wisconsin’s Northwoods region are the perfect place to plan a vacation year round.

    Rest Lake accommodates all types of boating with a mean depth of 18 feet and a maximum depth of 53 feet. Anglers reel in catches of walleye, muskie, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, northern pike, crappie, and bluegill. The Manitowish River runs through the lake and is a navigable connection to other lakes including Stone Lake, Spider Lake, and Island Lake. The Manitowish River is prime recreation water for canoeing, kayaking, rafting, and tubing.

    For some off-water fun, the Rest Lake area provides an abundance of family-friendly activities. Take your kids to the Northwoods Children’s Museum to learn about topics such as science, history, art, and culture. Summer residence camps and summer day camps provide additional opportunities for children’s enjoyment. There is even the Frank Koller Memorial Library for those who fancy a relaxing vacation with scenic views and a captivating book. The North Lakeland Discovery Center is a non-profit environmental education center with wooded trails for hiking and biking during warm weather and cross country skiing and snowshoeing during winter months. These trails are also perfect for birding treks. The Center is for all ages and can be rented for weddings, reunions, or business retreats.

    Rest Lake is home to the Powell Marsh Wildlife Area that has 4,300 acres of marshland, with a 1,800 acre no-entry in the middle of the marsh from September through December for wildlife refuge. The marsh is popular with hunters, birders, trappers and hikers. The lake also has two other parks near its location: Rest Lake Park and Frank B Koller Memorial Park. Both parks have picnic tables, grills, and a shallow entrance to the lake for boats. During the summer months you will find water ski shows at Rest Lake Park; Koller Memorial Park features Music in the Park Sunday Concert Series. Both parks are great places to spend time with family and friends.

    A short drive will take you to some of the finest downhill ski facilities, snowmobile clubs, golf courses, horseback riding trails, and much more. The Great Wisconsin Birding and Nature 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. The Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest surrounds the Manitowish Waters Chain. The Forest offers a wide variety of year round recreational activities such as canoeing, hiking, birding, snowmobiling, biking and hunting.

    Not to be missed are the Cranberry Marsh Tours in the fall. 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 contest, pontoon cruises on the Manitowish Waters chain, and more!

    Regardless of which season you plan your visit, Rest Lake will cater to your wishes. There are plenty of vacation rentals and real estate properties for sale to meet your needs. Come for a visit; you may decide to stay for a lifetime.

    Things to Do at Rest Lake

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

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

    What Kind of Fish Are in Rest Lake?

    Rest 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
    • Walleye
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    Find Places to Stay at Rest Lake

    If you’re considering a Rest 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 Rest Lake Vacation

    Our interactive Rest 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:

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    Rest Lake Statistics & Helpful Links

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    Lake Type: Natural Freshwater Lake, Dammed

    Water Level Control: Chippewa Flambeau Improvement Company

    Surface Area: 808 acres

    Shoreline Length: 7 miles

    Normal Elevation (Full Pond): 1,601 feet

    Average Depth: 18 feet

    Maximum Depth: 53 feet

    Water Volume: 14,258 acre-feet

    Completion Year: 1887

    Lake Area-Population: 700

    Drainage Area: 243 sq. miles

    Trophic State: Mesotrophic

    Rest Lake Map
    Local Weather Forecast

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