Aitkin County Lake Quality
Minnesota, 53 lakes, average grade C (Fair)
Aitkin County has 53 graded lakes, enough that within-county variation matters as much as the county average. Some are deep glacial basins, others are shallow agricultural-watershed waters, and the grade distribution reflects that mix. Aitkin County averages to a C. The distribution behind that average matters more than the letter: a few stressed lakes versus many decent ones can produce the same average as the inverse.
Most of the county's monitored lakes are shallow — under 50 feet — which means wind keeps the water column mixed all summer and sediment-bound phosphorus releases back into the surface layer whenever the bottom is disturbed. Round Lake (A) is the cleanest in the county.
Quick Answers for Aitkin County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Round Lake, whether the fish are safe to eat, and the best times to fish — or browse the full Minnesota regulations index.
DNR Reports (150)
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder resources for lakes in Aitkin County. Showing 12 most recent — browse all reports →
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — WolfFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — WilkinsFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — WaukenaboFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — WakefieldFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — VanduseFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — SugarFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — SteamboatFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Little TurtleFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — ShumwayFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — RoundFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — RoundFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — RoundFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
All Lakes in Aitkin County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Max Depth | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Round Lake | A | 15.3 ft | 59 ft | - |
| 2 | Clear Lake | A | 16 ft | 24 ft | - |
| 3 | Big Pine Lake | A | 16.5 ft | 78 ft | 15 µg/L |
| 4 | Lone Lake | A | 22.7 ft | 60 ft | - |
| 5 | Sugar Lake | A | 15.5 ft | 45 ft | 9.5 µg/L |
| 6 | Round Lake | A | 14.5 ft | 125 ft | 11 µg/L |
| 7 | Cedar Lake | A | 11 ft | 105 ft | 10 µg/L |
| 8 | Nord Lake | A | 10.5 ft | 29 ft | 19 µg/L |
| 9 | Round Lake | B | 14.5 ft | 27 ft | - |
| 10 | Long Lake | B | 10.8 ft | 116 ft | - |
| 11 | Bachelor Lake | B | 14.5 ft | 47 ft | - |
| 12 | Mille Lacs Lake | B | 10.5 ft | 42 ft | - |
| 13 | Wilkins Lake | B | 13 ft | 39 ft | - |
| 14 | Vanduse Lake | B | 11 ft | 27 ft | - |
| 15 | Hammal Lake | B | 12 ft | 44 ft | - |
| 16 | Farm Island Lake | B | 10.5 ft | 56 ft | - |
| 17 | Spirit Lake | B | 11 ft | 46 ft | - |
| 18 | Dam Lake | B | 12 ft | 48 ft | - |
| 19 | Landgren Lake | B | 13 ft | 47 ft | - |
| 20 | Ml-Nw Lake | B | 9.4 ft | 42 ft | 24 µg/L |
| 21 | Ml-Ce Lake | B | 9 ft | 42 ft | 25 µg/L |
| 22 | Ml-Garrison Lake | B | 6.2 ft | 42 ft | 26 µg/L |
| 23 | Ml-Nshore Lake | B | 7.4 ft | 42 ft | 24.5 µg/L |
| 24 | Ml-Ne Lake | B | 8.6 ft | 42 ft | 24 µg/L |
| 25 | Ml-Seventeen Lake | C | 6.2 ft | 42 ft | 24.5 µg/L |
| 26 | Cedar Lake | C | 8.8 ft | 18 ft | - |
| 27 | Big Sandy Lake | C | 4.5 ft | 84 ft | 29.5 µg/L |
| 28 | Brown Lake | C | 7 ft | 28 ft | - |
| 29 | Rabbit Lake | C | 9.7 ft | 51 ft | - |
| 30 | Waukenabo Lake | C | 8 ft | 38 ft | - |
| 31 | Wakefield Lake | C | 7.6 ft | 69 ft | - |
| 32 | Blackface Lake | C | 8 ft | 18 ft | - |
| 33 | Gun Lake | C | 7 ft | 44 ft | - |
| 34 | Pine Lake | C | 6.6 ft | 28 ft | 30 µg/L |
| 35 | Horseshoe Lake | D | 3.5 ft | 12 ft | - |
| 36 | Bass Lake | D | 5 ft | 58 ft | - |
| 37 | Portage Lake | D | 4.5 ft | 18 ft | - |
| 38 | Blind Lake | D | 5.5 ft | 17 ft | - |
| 39 | Minnewawa Lake | D | 5.2 ft | 21 ft | - |
| 40 | Fleming Lake | D | 5.2 ft | 15 ft | - |
| 41 | Hanging Kettle Lake | D | 6.3 ft | 35 ft | - |
| 42 | Wolf Lake | D | 3.5 ft | 31 ft | - |
| 43 | Esquagamah Lake | D | 5 ft | 31 ft | - |
| 44 | Flowage Lake | D | 2.1 ft | - | 55 µg/L |
| 45 | Rat Lake | D | 5 ft | 21 ft | - |
| 46 | Elm Island Lake | D | 4 ft | 25 ft | - |
| 47 | Loon Lake | D | 4 ft | 21 ft | - |
| 48 | Ripple Lake | D | 4.5 ft | 39 ft | - |
| 49 | Porcupine Lake | D | 1.5 ft | - | 51 µg/L |
| 50 | Shumway Lake | D | 5 ft | 23 ft | - |
| 51 | Davis Lake | D | 1.6 ft | 21 ft | 75 µg/L |
| 52 | Steamboat Lake | F | 2.3 ft | 21 ft | - |
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.