Bear Lake
Bear Lake in Lake County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 17.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 9.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 31 ft. Surface area: 44.37 acres.
- Clarity
- 17.4 ft
- Typical in August
- 67°F
- Max depth
- 31 ft
- Area
- 44 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- No
Next lake in Lake County
Bear Lake is a 44-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Lake County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 31 feet (24-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 4 documented fish species including pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass, and white sucker. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 34 other monitored lakes in Lake County, Bear Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2023-09-07. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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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)
Crystal clear, you can see 17.4 ft down. Phosphorus level: 9.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 2.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 38.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 17.4 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 9.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.7 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 38 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Bear Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Bear 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 Bear Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Bear Lake typically sits around 67°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 63°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 68°F) and coldest in May (about 54°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 74 field readings (2022–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Bear Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 31 ft |
| Average Depth | 23.8 ft |
| Surface Area | 44 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.5 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 13% |
| Public Access | No |
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 Bear Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
1 survey on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2008-07-08 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 33.37 | 0.18 lb |
| Smallmouth Bass | 6.80 | 0.34 lb |
| White Sucker | 6.62 | 1.25 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 2.06 | 0.1 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.
Yellow Perch
Smallmouth Bass
White Sucker
Pumpkinseed
From the 2008-07-08 survey
There is no public access to, or public land abutting Bear Lake. Self-sustaining populations of smallmouth bass, yellow perch, pumpkinseed and white sucker exists in the lake. Neascus and yellow grub were common in the smallmouth bass and yellow perch.
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Bear Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — BearFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +2.22 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -4.6 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -5.3 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Bear Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Beaver Bay WwtpBeaver Bay · 2.1 mi away · NPDES MN0040754Recent violation
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 35 lakes in Lake County
Nearby Lakes in Lake County
Frequently asked questions about Bear Lake
What is the water quality grade for Bear Lake?
- Bear Lake in Lake County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 17.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 9.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 31 ft. Surface area: 44.37 acres.
Is Bear Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Bear Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 2.7 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Bear Lake?
- Bear Lake typically sits around 67°F at the surface in August, from 74 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2022–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Bear Lake?
- Bear Lake has a maximum depth of 31 feet and an average depth of 23.8 feet. The lake covers 44.37 acres.
What fish are in Bear Lake?
- Fish species found in Bear Lake include pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass, white sucker, yellow perch. Bear Lake is located in Lake County, Minnesota.
Explore Bear Lake across LakeGrade
2 documented falls within 11.4 mi, nearest Gooseberry Falls (Middle Falls)
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Planning a trip around Apostle Islands?
Bear Lake is about 39 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 Bear Lake
Other Grade A Lakes in Minnesota
Oligotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
36 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
MNPCA36 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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder