2011 Map of Smoky Lake

About this map

Smoky Lake and Big Sand Lake dominate this glacial landscape on the Michigan-Wisconsin border, where the forest canopy is broken by a dense network of smaller basins like Ishkote Lake, Kaine Lake, and Robinson Lake. The area reflects a transition from recreational wilderness to a managed forest landscape, evidenced by the numerous U.S. Forest Service roads such as USFS Rd 3110 and Kaine Lake Rd. A modest cluster of development is visible at Holmes Park on the southern shore of Smoky Lake, while the Phelps Municipal Landing Strip serves as a critical connection point for this lake-strewn region. The winding course of Elvoy Creek and Little Smoky Creek provides the drainage for the complex topography, connecting isolated water bodies like Secret Lake and Jewel Lake to the larger watershed. This survey captures the rural character of Vilas County at the start of the 2010s, showing the intersection of local lake life and state-boundary land management.