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LakeQuality
Late afternoon sun over Slim Lake, scattering a bright path across wind-textured water

Aitkin County Lake Quality

Minnesota, 170 lakes, measured by Minnesota PCA

Aitkin County has 170 monitored 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 measurements reflect that mix. 11 of those lakes carry recent nutrient and algae readings. The county-level summary describes that subset, not every water body listed. The county-wide picture is low-to-moderate phosphorus with clear summer transparency across most monitored lakes.

The county's lakes lean shallow, which makes the readings sensitive to wind, sediment-resuspension, and any nutrient inputs from the watershed. The cleanest measured lake is Round Lake.

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Where to stay near Aitkin County

Top-rated places to stay near Aitkin County

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Quick Answers for Aitkin County

Cleanest lakes in Aitkin County →Cleanest lakes in Minnesota →Best swimming lakes in Minnesota →

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.

Fishing in Aitkin County

Aitkin County Fishing Guide

Fish species and the cleanest lakes in Aitkin County

DNR Reports (40)

Minnesota DNR LakeFinder resources for lakes in Aitkin County. browse all reports →

These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).

All Lakes in Aitkin County

170 lakes · 11 ranked on readings, 159 without enough sampling11 lakes ranked on readings · 159 without enough sampling, hidden

#LakeClarityPhosphorusAlgaeTrophicMax DepthAccess
1Round LakeAitkin14.5 ft10 µg/L2.7 µg/LNo recent samples125 ft✓ Public
2Clear LakeAitkin15 ft13 µg/L4.3 µg/LNo recent samples24 ft✓ Public
3Cedar LakeAitkin11.1 ft13 µg/L3 µg/LNo recent samples105 ft✓ Public
4Big Pine LakeAitkin17 ft15 µg/L1.6 µg/LNo recent samples78 ft✓ Public
5Farm Island LakeAitkin11.3 ft17.5 µg/L3.5 µg/LNo recent samples56 ft✓ Public
6Minnewawa LakeAitkin5 ft24.5 µg/L11 µg/LNo recent samples21 ft✓ Public
7Big Sandy LakeAitkin4.5 ft30 µg/L11 µg/LNo recent samples84 ft✓ Public
8Pine LakeAitkin6.5 ft23 µg/L12 µg/LNo recent samples28 ft✓ Public
9Ripple LakeAitkin4.5 ft21 µg/L14.4 µg/LNo recent samples39 ft✓ Public
10Horseshoe LakeAitkin3.5 ft40 µg/L20 µg/LNo recent samples12 ftCarry-in
11Flowage LakeAitkin2.1 ft55 µg/L13.5 µg/LNo recent samplesNo recent samples✓ Public
Round LakeAitkin14.5 ftNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples27 ft✓ Public
Round LakeAitkin14.5 ftNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples59 ft✓ Public
Long LakeAitkin10.8 ftNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples116 ft✓ Public
Bachelor LakeAitkin14 ftNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples47 ftCarry-in
Bass LakeAitkin5 ftNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples58 ftCarry-in
Island LakeAitkin7 ftNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples25 ftCarry-in
Portage LakeAitkin4.5 ftNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples18 ft✓ Public
Mille Lacs LakeAitkin10 ftNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples42 ft✓ Public
Cedar LakeAitkin8.8 ftNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples18 ftCarry-in
Blind LakeAitkin5.5 ftNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples17 ft✓ Public
Wilkins LakeAitkin13 ftNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples39 ft✓ Public
Brown LakeAitkin7 ftNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples28 ft✓ Public
Rabbit LakeAitkin9.3 ftNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples51 ft✓ Public
Fleming LakeAitkin5.2 ftNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples15 ft✓ Public
Hanging Kettle LakeAitkin6.5 ftNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples35 ft✓ Public
Wolf LakeAitkin3.5 ftNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples31 ft✓ Public
Vanduse LakeAitkin11 ftNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples27 ft✓ Public
Hammal LakeAitkin12.5 ftNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples44 ft✓ Public
Waukenabo LakeAitkin8 ftNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples38 ft✓ Public
Esquagamah LakeAitkin5 ftNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples31 ft✓ Public
Rat LakeAitkin5.5 ftNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples21 ft✓ Public
Lone LakeAitkin22.5 ftNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples60 ft✓ Public
Elm Island LakeAitkin4 ftNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples25 ft✓ Public
Loon LakeAitkin4 ftNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples21 ft✓ Public
Sugar LakeAitkin14.5 ft10 µg/L3.2 µg/LNo recent samples45 ft✓ Public
Wakefield LakeAitkin7.6 ftNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples69 ftCarry-in
Steamboat LakeAitkin2.3 ftNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples21 ft✓ Public
Spirit LakeAitkin11 ftNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples46 ft✓ Public
Dam LakeAitkin11.3 ftNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples48 ft✓ Public
Blackface LakeAitkin8 ftNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples18 ft✓ Public
Gun LakeAitkin7 ftNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples44 ft✓ Public
Landgren LakeAitkin13 ftNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples47 ftCarry-in
Porcupine LakeAitkin1.5 ft51 µg/L7.5 µg/LNo recent samplesNo recent samplesCarry-in
Nord LakeAitkin10.5 ft19 µg/L8.1 µg/LNo recent samples29 ft✓ Public
Davis LakeAitkin1.6 ft75 µg/L1.5 µg/LNo recent samples21 ftCarry-in
Shumway LakeAitkin5 ftNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples23 ft✓ Public
Hill LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples48.2 ftNot recorded
Kangas LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Moose River PoolAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Taylor LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Langs LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Washburn LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples✓ Public
Libby LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Sanders LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Red LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Clear LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Sitas LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
West LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Avenue LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
White Elk LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples6.6 ft✓ Public
Mud LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Kingsleys PotholeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Moose LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Buss LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Otter LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Little McKinney LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
McKinney LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Blackwater LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Muskeg LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Edna LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Starry LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Moulton LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples23.9 ft✓ Public
Shovel LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Holy Water LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples55.9 ftNot recorded
Cranberry LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Camp LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Spectacle LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Spruce LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Birch LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples6 ftNot recorded
Little Spruce LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Laurel LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Cranberry LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Horseshoe LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Dummer LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Sunset LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples29.9 ftNot recorded
Coon LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Browns LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Bass LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Pickerel LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples32.8 ftNot recorded
Dogfish LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples40 ftNot recorded
Town Line LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples67.9 ftNot recorded
Thornton LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Taylor LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Blue LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Lake FourAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Pine Island LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Carlson LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Long LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Hill LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Lake ThreeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Edquist LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Diamond LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Linde LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Monson LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples7.9 ftNot recorded
Section Twelve LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples39.4 ftNot recorded
Sisabagamah LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples37 ftNot recorded
Section Ten LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples17 ftNot recorded
Lake FourAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Hanson LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Little Hanson LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
French LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples37.1 ft✓ Public
Jenkins LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples26.2 ftNot recorded
Long LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples39.4 ftNot recorded
Townline LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples40 ftNot recorded
Round LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples✓ Public
Davis LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples32.2 ftNot recorded
Rock LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples13.1 ftNot recorded
Turner LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Rice River PoolAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Rice LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Newstrom LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Camp LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Lily LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Spring LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Rabbit LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples50.9 ftNot recorded
Twenty LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Swamp LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Section Twenty-Five LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Thirty-One LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Lingroth LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Sjodin LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Spirit LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples48.8 ft✓ Public
Little Pine LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples44 ftNot recorded
Hickory LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples32.8 ftNot recorded
Mallard LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples6.6 ftNot recorded
Gregg LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples18 ftNot recorded
Deer LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Bear LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Split Rock LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Nelson LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Douglas LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples39.4 ftNot recorded
Rice LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Sandabacka LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Dutch LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Mandy LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Starvation LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Sheriff LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples80 ftNot recorded
Little Sheriff LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Mud LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Lake MinnewawaAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples20 ft✓ Public
Sandy River LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples7 ftNot recorded
Anderson LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples16.1 ftNot recorded
Little Prairie LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Stony LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Cornish FlowageAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Cutaway LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples23.9 ftNot recorded
Rat House LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Savanna LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Glacier LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples59.1 ftNot recorded
Remote LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples147 ftNot recorded
Bass LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples42.7 ftNot recorded
Aitkin LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Oxbow LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Boot LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples66.8 ftNot recorded
Little Red Horse LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Bay LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
Ball Bluff LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples75.9 ft✓ Public
Little Ball Bluff LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples49 ft✓ Public
Hay LakeAitkinNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples32.2 ft✓ Public

NR = no nutrient or algae reading on record. The measurements are published as the authority reports them. Where the data comes from.

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Source: the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota DNR. See data sources.