2015 Map of Three Lakes

About this map

Three Lakes serves as the central hub of this water-heavy landscape, where the interconnected chain of lakes dictates the local geography and transportation. The map reveals a dense concentration of glacial lakes, including the expansive Thunder Lake to the west and the irregular shoreline of Planting Ground Lake to the east. The boundary between Vilas Co and Oneida Co cuts through the northern portion of the sheet, just north of the Clearwater Lake settlement. This area is characterized by a complex network of local roads such as Maple Lake Dam Rd and Rice Lake Rd that navigate the narrow strips of land between water bodies like Maple Lake and Townline Lake. The concentration of named lakes—ranging from the large Big Lake to smaller basins like Squash Lake—underscores the region's long-standing identity as a premier Northwoods destination for recreation and residential lakefront development.