Bean Lake
Bean Lake in Lake County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 9.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 9.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 26 ft. Surface area: 31.46 acres.
- Clarity
- 9.8 ft
- Typical in August
- 68°F
- Max depth
- 26 ft
- Area
- 31 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Lake County
Bean Lake is a 31-acre mesotrophic lake in Lake County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 26 feet (12-foot average). Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including rainbow trout, splake, and white sucker. Public access is available. Compared to the 34 other monitored lakes in Lake County, Bean Lake ranks #12 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2023-09-28. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Bean Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 9.8 ft. Phosphorus level: 9.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 3.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 41.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 9.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 9.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.7 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 41 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Bean Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Bean Lake in Lake County, Minnesota — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.
Top-rated places to stay near Bean Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Bean Lake typically sits around 68°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 66°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 68°F) and coldest in May (about 57°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 72 field readings (2022–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Bean Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 26 ft |
| Average Depth | 12 ft |
| Surface Area | 31 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 51% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Bean Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
11 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-09-30 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| White Sucker | 86.29 | 0.44 lb |
| IOD | 33.00 | — |
| FND | 9.50 | — |
| SPT | 8.24 | 0.77 lb |
| Fathead Minnow | 5.00 | — |
| Smallmouth Bass | 4.00 | 0.25 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
Length Distributions
Number of fish caught at each inch class in the most recent survey that recorded lengths. Red dashed line marks an approximate trophy threshold for that species.
White Sucker
SPT
From the 2024-09-30 survey
Bean Lake is a 32-acre designated trout lake located entirely within Tettegouche State Park. It is stocked with 2,000 Splake fingerlings in the fall of odd numbered years and 1,000 Rainbow Trout yearlings each spring. There is an access with a concrete log ramp at the end of a rocky spur of the Red Dot ATV trail…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Bean Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — BeanFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Bean (0770)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — BeanFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — BeanPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.1 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.9 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.4 µg/L/yr | 2 |
County Ranking
Ranked #12 of 35 lakes in Lake County
Nearby Lakes in Lake County
Frequently asked questions about Bean Lake
What is the water quality grade for Bean Lake?
- Bean Lake in Lake County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 9.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 9.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 26 ft. Surface area: 31.46 acres.
Is Bean Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Bean Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 3.7 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Bean Lake?
- Bean Lake typically sits around 68°F at the surface in August, from 72 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2022–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Bean Lake?
- Bean Lake has a maximum depth of 26 feet and an average depth of 12 feet. The lake covers 31.46 acres.
What fish are in Bean Lake?
- Fish species found in Bean Lake include rainbow trout, splake, white sucker. Bean Lake is located in Lake County, Minnesota.
Explore Bean Lake across LakeGrade
2 documented falls within 13.6 mi, nearest High Falls of the Baptism River
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Planning a trip around Apostle Islands?
Bean Lake is about 38 miles from Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. Crowds there swing hard by season, so the month you pick changes both how busy the park is and what lodging costs.
Best time to visit Apostle Islands →More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Bean Lake
Other Grade A Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
39 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA39 samples · 2022–2023
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder