Lake directory

Boundary Waters Lakes, Graded A–F

221lakes graded

Every Boundary Waters area lake we grade, ranked cleanest first. 23 lakes earn a confident Grade A; 184 rest on a single sample and are flagged. Tap a lake for its full report card — clarity trend, fish species, depth, and mercury-advisory status.

Reviewed by LakeQuality Editorial Team · Updated Jul 5, 2026

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All 221 lakes, cleanest first

#	Lake	County	Grade	Clarity	Area	Max depth
1	Burntside Lake	St. Louis	A	16 ft	7,314 acres	126 ft
2	Clearwater Lake	Cook	A	29 ft	462 acres	65 ft
3	Gunflint Lake	Cook	A	16.5 ft	4,009 acres	200 ft
4	Kekekabic Lakelimited data	Lake	A	19 ft	55 acres	130 ft
5	Knife Lakelimited data	Lake	A	20 ft	105 acres	-
6	Loon Lake	Cook	A	17.4 ft	1,095 acres	202 ft
7	Ottertrack Lakelimited data	Lake	A	20 ft	113 acres	70 ft
8	Snowbank Lake	Lake	A	15.1 ft	4,655 acres	150 ft
9	Ahmakose Lakelimited data	Lake	A	18 ft	43 acres	68 ft
10	Ahsub Lakelimited data	Lake	A	16.5 ft	60 acres	78 ft
11	Amoeber Lakelimited data	Lake	A	18.8 ft	410 acres	110 ft
12	Bearskin Lake	Cook	A	21 ft	509 acres	78 ft
13	Birch Lake	Cook	A	18 ft	236 acres	69 ft
14	Boot Lakelimited data	Lake	A	16.5 ft	197 acres	83 ft
15	Canoe Lakelimited data	Cook	A	20.5 ft	96 acres	40 ft
16	Cherry Lakelimited data	Lake	A	22 ft	19 acres	30 ft
17	Clearwater Lakelimited data	Lake	A	18 ft	640 acres	46 ft
18	Duncan Lakelimited data	Cook	A	21.5 ft	477 acres	130 ft
19	Eddy Lakelimited data	Lake	A	17 ft	122 acres	95 ft
20	Ester Lakelimited data	Lake	A	18.8 ft	374 acres	110 ft
21	Flour Lake	Cook	A	18.2 ft	330 acres	75 ft
22	Gijikiki Lakelimited data	Lake	A	20.5 ft	113 acres	70 ft
23	Gull Lake	Cook	A	15.5 ft	-	-
24	Hanson Lakelimited data	Lake	A	18 ft	289 acres	100 ft
25	Hungry Jack Lake	Cook	A	18 ft	474 acres	71 ft
26	Indiana Lakelimited data	Lake	A	15.3 ft	143 acres	31 ft
27	Jenny Lakelimited data	Lake	A	15.5 ft	102 acres	93 ft
28	Kek Lakelimited data	Lake	A	19.5 ft	55 acres	130 ft
29	Kemo Lakelimited data	Cook	A	17 ft	189 acres	65 ft
30	Leo Lakelimited data	Cook	A	15 ft	102 acres	28 ft
31	Little Gunflint Lake	Cook	A	16.2 ft	4,009 acres	200 ft
32	Little Long Lakelimited data	St. Louis	A	21 ft	322 acres	45 ft
33	Lone Lakelimited data	Cook	A	21 ft	-	-
34	Mayhew Lake	Cook	A	20.6 ft	221 acres	84 ft
35	Mcfarland Lake	Cook	A	17 ft	40 acres	-
36	Missionary Lakelimited data	Lake	A	16.5 ft	99 acres	71 ft
37	Parent Lakelimited data	Lake	A	18 ft	451 acres	50 ft
38	Peter Lakelimited data	Cook	A	22.5 ft	282 acres	120 ft
39	Pine Lakelimited data	Cook	A	16.9 ft	2,122 acres	113 ft
40	Rog Lakelimited data	Cook	A	19.6 ft	54 acres	40 ft
41	Round Lake	Cook	A	16.5 ft	154 acres	45 ft
42	South Lakelimited data	Cook	A	26 ft	1,145 acres	140 ft
43	Tofte Lakelimited data	Lake	A	18.5 ft	134 acres	73 ft
44	Topaz Lakelimited data	Lake	A	17.6 ft	410 acres	110 ft
45	Vera Lakelimited data	Lake	A	18 ft	250 acres	55 ft
46	West Pike Lakelimited data	Cook	A	19 ft	788 acres	120 ft
47	Saganaga Lake	Cook	A	13 ft	-	-
48	Sea Gull Lake	Cook	A	14.3 ft	168 acres	40 ft
49	Alder Lake	Cook	A	13.8 ft	529 acres	72 ft
50	Ed Shave Lake	St. Louis	A	11.5 ft	90 acres	17 ft
51	Fenske Lake	St. Louis	A	11.5 ft	108 acres	43 ft
52	Gogebic Lake	Cook	A	13.8 ft	62 acres	61 ft
53	Meander Lake	St. Louis	A	13 ft	99 acres	25 ft
54	Poplar Lake	Cook	A	10.2 ft	23 acres	30 ft
55	Triangle Lake	Lake	A	12.3 ft	300 acres	43 ft
56	Alton Lakelimited data	Cook	B	13.5 ft	969 acres	72 ft
57	Brule Lakelimited data	Cook	B	10 ft	4,327 acres	78 ft
58	Ensign Lakelimited data	Lake	B	10 ft	1,411 acres	30 ft
59	Moose Lakelimited data	Lake	B	13 ft	1,301 acres	65 ft
60	Ogishkemuncie Lakelimited data	Lake	B	11.5 ft	762 acres	75 ft
61	Thomas Lakelimited data	Lake	B	14.2 ft	1,465 acres	110 ft
62	Agamok Lakelimited data	Lake	B	10 ft	-	-
63	Agnes Lakelimited data	St. Louis	B	11 ft	1,045 acres	30 ft
64	Alpine Lakelimited data	Cook	B	12 ft	909 acres	65 ft
65	Ashdick Lakelimited data	Lake	B	13 ft	109 acres	50 ft
66	Ashigan Lakelimited data	Lake	B	12.2 ft	153 acres	59 ft
67	Beth Lakelimited data	Cook	B	11.1 ft	170 acres	22 ft
68	Big Lake	St. Louis	B	8.2 ft	1,904 acres	22 ft
69	Boulder Lakelimited data	Lake	B	11.5 ft	-	-
70	Chester Lakelimited data	Cook	B	11.9 ft	52 acres	35 ft
71	Crab Lakelimited data	St. Louis	B	13 ft	420 acres	57 ft
72	Disappointment Lakelimited data	Lake	B	13.5 ft	894 acres	54 ft
73	Dix Lakelimited data	Lake	B	14 ft	-	-
74	East Bearskin Lakelimited data	Cook	B	14 ft	593 acres	66 ft
75	East Pike Lakelimited data	Cook	B	12.2 ft	554 acres	40 ft
76	Everett Lake	St. Louis	B	7 ft	113 acres	15 ft
77	Finger Lake	St. Louis	B	8.5 ft	272 acres	60 ft
78	Found Lakelimited data	Lake	B	10.8 ft	60 acres	38 ft
79	Fraser Lakelimited data	Lake	B	12.5 ft	695 acres	105 ft
80	Frog Lakelimited data	Lake	B	10.5 ft	53 acres	38 ft
81	Frost Lakelimited data	Cook	B	11 ft	284 acres	88 ft
82	Gabimichigami Lakelimited data	Cook	B	11.5 ft	1,186 acres	209 ft
83	Gaskin Lakelimited data	Cook	B	10.8 ft	372 acres	82 ft
84	Ge-Be-on-Equat Lakelimited data	St. Louis	B	10 ft	660 acres	55 ft
85	Good Lakelimited data	Lake	B	10 ft	175 acres	51 ft
86	Ima Lakelimited data	Lake	B	11 ft	742 acres	116 ft
87	Jasper Lakelimited data	Cook	B	12 ft	246 acres	125 ft
88	Jordan Lakelimited data	Lake	B	10.5 ft	142 acres	66 ft
89	Kiana Lakelimited data	Lake	B	13.8 ft	-	-
90	Kingfisher Lakelimited data	Lake	B	13 ft	37 acres	42 ft
91	Lake of the Cloudslimited data	Lake	B	12 ft	29 acres	110 ft
92	Link Lakelimited data	Lake	B	10 ft	38 acres	34 ft
93	Little Vermilion Lakelimited data	St. Louis	B	10 ft	116 acres	17 ft
94	Low Lake	St. Louis	B	8.7 ft	316 acres	40 ft
95	Mesaba Lakelimited data	Cook	B	10 ft	213 acres	65 ft
96	Neglige Lakelimited data	Lake	B	11.3 ft	32 acres	58 ft
97	Newfound Lakelimited data	Lake	B	12.8 ft	643 acres	45 ft
98	North Branch Kawishi Lake	Lake	B	8.2 ft	182 acres	13 ft
99	Owl Lakelimited data	Cook	B	13 ft	77 acres	70 ft
100	Pan Lakelimited data	Lake	B	11 ft	-	-
101	Pickle Lakelimited data	Lake	B	12 ft	-	-
102	Pipe Lakelimited data	Cook	B	10.5 ft	285 acres	33 ft
103	Polly Lakelimited data	Lake	B	11 ft	122 acres	95 ft
104	Portage Lakelimited data	Lake	B	13.3 ft	64 acres	45 ft
105	Portage Lake	Cook	B	8.5 ft	128 acres	55 ft
106	Rabbit Lakelimited data	Lake	B	13.5 ft	117 acres	105 ft
107	Red Rock Lakelimited data	Cook	B	12 ft	451 acres	64 ft
108	Rivalry Lakelimited data	Lake	B	10 ft	153 acres	100 ft
109	Rose Lakelimited data	Cook	B	14.6 ft	477 acres	130 ft
110	Sandpit Lakelimited data	Lake	B	14 ft	61 acres	53 ft
111	Sinneeg Lakelimited data	St. Louis	B	11 ft	160 acres	32 ft
112	Skoota Lakelimited data	Lake	B	13 ft	-	-
113	Skull Lakelimited data	Lake	B	11 ft	29 acres	38 ft
114	Spoon Lakelimited data	Lake	B	13 ft	256 acres	85 ft
115	Strup Lakelimited data	Lake	B	10 ft	1,689 acres	195 ft
116	Sucker Lakelimited data	Lake	B	12 ft	25,953 acres	111 ft
117	Tarry Lakelimited data	Cook	B	13 ft	244 acres	66 ft
118	Tin Can Mike Lakelimited data	Lake	B	11 ft	145 acres	29 ft
119	Toe Lakelimited data	St. Louis	B	13.5 ft	169 acres	57 ft
120	Washte Lakelimited data	Lake	B	12 ft	81 acres	-
121	Wisini Lakelimited data	Lake	B	10 ft	43 acres	68 ft
122	Ella Lake	Cook	B	6 ft	-	-
123	Farm Lake	Lake	B	5.5 ft	1,292 acres	56 ft
124	Iron Lake	Cook	B	4.9 ft	122 acres	19 ft
125	Little Iron Lake	Cook	B	4.2 ft	115 acres	18 ft
126	Alice Lakelimited data	Lake	C	8.2 ft	1,469 acres	53 ft
127	Basswood Lakelimited data	Lake	C	9 ft	25,953 acres	111 ft
128	Crooked Lakelimited data	Lake	C	9 ft	10,360 acres	165 ft
129	Fall Lake	Lake	C	5.5 ft	2,258 acres	32 ft
130	Insula Lakelimited data	Lake	C	7.5 ft	2,840 acres	63 ft
131	Lac la Croix Lakelimited data	St. Louis	C	8 ft	29,597 acres	168 ft
132	Little Saganaga Lakelimited data	Cook	C	7 ft	1,627 acres	150 ft
133	Sawbill Lakelimited data	Cook	C	6.6 ft	834 acres	45 ft
134	Adventure Lakelimited data	Lake	C	6.8 ft	47 acres	10 ft
135	Annie Lakelimited data	Lake	C	9 ft	19 acres	16 ft
136	Bear Trap Lakelimited data	St. Louis	C	8.2 ft	121 acres	38 ft
137	Bonnie Lakelimited data	Lake	C	8.2 ft	105 acres	11 ft
138	Caribou Lakelimited data	Cook	C	8.8 ft	246 acres	26 ft
139	Cattyman Lakelimited data	Lake	C	7 ft	17 acres	9 ft
140	Clark Lakelimited data	Lake	C	6.8 ft	1,162 acres	25 ft
141	Copper Lakelimited data	Cook	C	7 ft	37 acres	52 ft
142	Cross Bay Lakelimited data	Cook	C	7 ft	-	-
143	Davis Lakelimited data	Cook	C	8.9 ft	323 acres	64 ft
144	East Twin Lake	St. Louis	C	4.9 ft	123 acres	22 ft
145	Esther Lakelimited data	Cook	C	9.5 ft	78 acres	35 ft
146	Fairy Lakelimited data	St. Louis	C	7 ft	109 acres	19 ft
147	Flash Lakelimited data	Lake	C	9 ft	83 acres	24 ft
148	Four Lakelimited data	Lake	C	8 ft	611 acres	25 ft
149	Fourtown Lakelimited data	Lake	C	7 ft	323 acres	27 ft
150	Gerund Lakelimited data	Lake	C	9.5 ft	90 acres	85 ft
151	Gibson Lakelimited data	Lake	C	7 ft	33 acres	24 ft
152	Green Lakelimited data	St. Louis	C	9 ft	160 acres	20 ft
153	Gun Lakelimited data	St. Louis	C	9 ft	341 acres	57 ft
154	Gust Lakelimited data	Cook	C	7 ft	143 acres	-
155	Hatchet Lakelimited data	Lake	C	7 ft	127 acres	40 ft
156	Hazel Lakelimited data	Lake	C	8 ft	-	-
157	Horse Lakelimited data	Lake	C	7 ft	715 acres	25 ft
158	Horseshoe Lakelimited data	Cook	C	7.7 ft	188 acres	26 ft
159	Horseshoe Lakelimited data	Lake	C	8 ft	205 acres	40 ft
160	Hudson Lakelimited data	Lake	C	8 ft	-	-
161	Isabella Lake	Lake	C	4.4 ft	1,257 acres	19 ft
162	Jackfish Lakelimited data	Lake	C	7 ft	-	-
163	Karl Lakelimited data	Cook	C	8 ft	121 acres	70 ft
164	Lizz Lakelimited data	Cook	C	9 ft	23 acres	30 ft
165	Long Island Lakelimited data	Cook	C	9.1 ft	884 acres	85 ft
166	Lunar Lakelimited data	Lake	C	9.3 ft	62 acres	60 ft
167	Melon Lakelimited data	Lake	C	8 ft	-	-
168	Mora Lakelimited data	Cook	C	8.5 ft	210 acres	40 ft
169	Mueller Lakelimited data	Lake	C	9 ft	24 acres	36 ft
170	Niki Lakelimited data	Lake	C	7.7 ft	-	-
171	One Lakelimited data	Lake	C	7.5 ft	846 acres	57 ft
172	Phoebe Lakelimited data	Cook	C	7.5 ft	610 acres	25 ft
173	Rocky Lakelimited data	St. Louis	C	7 ft	120 acres	40 ft
174	Rove Lakelimited data	Cook	C	9 ft	1,344 acres	130 ft
175	Shell Lakelimited data	St. Louis	C	9 ft	493 acres	15 ft
176	South Hegman Lakelimited data	St. Louis	C	8.5 ft	118 acres	55 ft
177	Splash Lakelimited data	Lake	C	8.5 ft	92 acres	18 ft
178	Three Lakelimited data	Lake	C	8 ft	904 acres	37 ft
179	Toe Lakelimited data	Lake	C	7.5 ft	122 acres	95 ft
180	Trader Lakelimited data	Lake	C	7.7 ft	54 acres	10 ft
181	Trease Lake	St. Louis	C	4.7 ft	97 acres	-
182	Two Lakelimited data	Lake	C	7.5 ft	516 acres	35 ft
183	Wagosh Lakelimited data	St. Louis	C	8 ft	42 acres	10 ft
184	Watap Lakelimited data	Cook	C	9 ft	1,993 acres	210 ft
185	Wind Lakelimited data	Lake	C	9 ft	926 acres	32 ft
186	Ada Lakelimited data	Cook	D	5.5 ft	23 acres	13 ft
187	Boot Lakelimited data	St. Louis	D	5.5 ft	323 acres	27 ft
188	Chippewa Lakelimited data	Lake	D	6.5 ft	-	-
189	Crooked Lakelimited data	Cook	D	5.5 ft	244 acres	66 ft
190	Elton Lakelimited data	Lake	D	5 ft	124 acres	53 ft
191	Gabbro Lakelimited data	Lake	D	4.3 ft	977 acres	50 ft
192	Ham Lakelimited data	Lake	D	6 ft	1,469 acres	53 ft
193	Homer Lakelimited data	Cook	D	6 ft	434 acres	22 ft
194	Hub Lakelimited data	Cook	D	5.2 ft	-	-
195	Iron Lakelimited data	St. Louis	D	5 ft	1,962 acres	64 ft
196	Jitterbug Lakelimited data	Lake	D	4.5 ft	28 acres	5 ft
197	Kawasachong Lakelimited data	Lake	D	4 ft	162 acres	11 ft
198	Kawishi Lakelimited data	Lake	D	4.5 ft	372 acres	12 ft
199	Koma Lakelimited data	Lake	D	5 ft	250 acres	14 ft
200	Little Gabbro Lakelimited data	Lake	D	6.5 ft	148 acres	26 ft
201	Lower George Lakelimited data	Cook	D	3.5 ft	-	-
202	Lower Pauness Lakelimited data	St. Louis	D	5.7 ft	171 acres	36 ft
203	Malberg Lakelimited data	Lake	D	5.5 ft	398 acres	37 ft
204	Mudro Lakelimited data	St. Louis	D	4.3 ft	94 acres	76 ft
205	N. Br. Kawishiwi R. Lakelimited data	Lake	D	6.2 ft	182 acres	13 ft
206	Newton Lakelimited data	Lake	D	5 ft	516 acres	47 ft
207	Nibin Lakelimited data	St. Louis	D	5.6 ft	776 acres	40 ft
208	North Hegman Lakelimited data	St. Louis	D	6.5 ft	70 acres	30 ft
209	Onagon Lakelimited data	Cook	D	6 ft	31 acres	15 ft
210	Oyster Lakelimited data	St. Louis	D	6.6 ft	763 acres	130 ft
211	Papoose Lakelimited data	Lake	D	6 ft	-	-
212	Polly Lakelimited data	Lake	D	4.5 ft	485 acres	21 ft
213	Rifle Lakelimited data	Lake	D	4.8 ft	904 acres	37 ft
214	South Farm Lakelimited data	Lake	D	5 ft	564 acres	31 ft
215	Square Lakelimited data	Lake	D	5.5 ft	123 acres	7 ft
216	Sunday Lakelimited data	St. Louis	D	6.3 ft	-	-
217	Trident Lakelimited data	Lake	D	6.5 ft	93 acres	14 ft
218	Chaser Lakelimited data	Cook	F	1 ft	213 acres	65 ft
219	Manomin Lakelimited data	Lake	F	2 ft	409 acres	18 ft
220	Nina Moose Lakelimited data	St. Louis	F	2 ft	411 acres	6 ft
221	Ramshead Lakelimited data	St. Louis	F	—	553 acres	10 ft

184 lakes are marked limited data — their grade rests on a single measurement and is excluded from our headline "cleanest" rankings.

Keep exploring

Entry points & permits

Quota permits by entry point

Why the water is so clean

The data story

Clearest lakes in Minnesota

Statewide clarity ranking

Where to stay near the Boundary Waters

Top-rated places to stay near the Boundary Waters

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Frequently Asked Questions

Among lakes with more than one measurement, the clearest is Clearwater Lake, with about 29 feet of visibility. Most interior lakes grade A or B; grades drop on developed edges and river-fed shallows.

It means the grade rests on a single water-quality sample. We flag these lakes and keep them out of "cleanest lake" headline rankings, because one reading can't capture a season. Treat a limited-data grade as a first indication, not a verdict.

Grades come from EPA Water Quality Portal measurements of Secchi clarity, total phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a, graded against regional thresholds and combined into an A–F score. Depth, fish, and recreation data are shown alongside but don't change the grade.

Data: EPA Water Quality Portal and the Minnesota DNR.