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

Missoula County Lake Quality

Montana, 46 lakes, measured by Montana DEQ

There are 46 monitored lakes in Missoula County. The mix is varied enough that the county-level average tells you the broad strokes, not the choose-this-cabin specifics. 10 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 Inez Lake.

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Quick Answers for Missoula County

Cleanest lakes in Missoula County →Cleanest lakes in Montana →Best swimming lakes in Montana →

Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Inez Lake — or check the official Montana fishing regulations.

All Lakes in Missoula County

46 lakes · 10 ranked on readings, 36 without enough sampling10 lakes ranked on readings · 36 without enough sampling, hidden

Include not-rated lakes (36)

#	Lake	Clarity	Phosphorus	Algae	Trophic	Max Depth	Access
1	Inez LakeMissoula	No recent samples	7.1 µg/L	1.8 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
2	Alva LakeMissoula	No recent samples	4.7 µg/L	0.7 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
3	Lake Alva Mid-Lake DeepMissoula	21.6 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
4	Seeley LakeMissoula	15.4 ft	8.9 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
5	Placid Lake Midlake HoleMissoula	16.7 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
6	Lake Inez South HoleMissoula	17.8 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
7	Lake Inez Off Helms Rd S End of LakeMissoula	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
8	Lake Inez Off Rana Drive Upper W Side of LakeMissoula	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
9	Clearwater River LakeMissoula	No recent samples	12 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
10	Big Sky LakeMissoula	No recent samples	10 µg/L	2.1 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Lake Inez North HoleMissoula	17.4 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Salmon Lake Mid-South BasinMissoula	16.4 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
	Clearwater Lake DeepMissoula	28.6 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Rainy Lake DeepMissoula	18.9 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Lindbergh LakeMissoula	26.5 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Holland LakeMissoula	30.5 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Tote Road LakeMissoula	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Elbow LakeMissoula	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Hidden LakeMissoula	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Lower Jocko LakeMissoula	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Big LakeMissoula	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	136 ft	Not recorded
	Lake Sa-ol-SoothMissoula	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Boulder LakeMissoula	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Carlton LakeMissoula	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Gray Wolf LakeMissoula	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	High Park LakeMissoula	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Turquoise LakeMissoula	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Lost LakeMissoula	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Crystal LakeMissoula	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Glacier LakeMissoula	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Mollman LakesMissoula	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Elk LakeMissoula	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Hemlock LakeMissoula	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Lower Cold LakeMissoula	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Upper Cold LakeMissoula	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Woodward LakeMissoula	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Rumble Creek LakeMissoula	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Stoner LakeMissoula	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Lena LakeMissoula	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Upper Holland LakeMissoula	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	George LakeMissoula	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Doctor LakeMissoula	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Koessler LakeMissoula	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Summit LakeMissoula	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Pierce LakeMissoula	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Lake MarshallMissoula	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	55 ft	Not recorded

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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Browse every Montana lake, or the full directory of lakes across all United States (49 states), Canada (Ontario, Québec, Nova Scotia, British Columbia and Newfoundland and Labrador), and 38 other country hubs..

Source: the Montana Department of Environmental Quality. See data sources.