Bear Lake
Noble County, Indiana137 acresView mapDirections
IDEM publishes the water-quality measurements for Bear Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- 59 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Bear Lake in Noble County, Indiana has water-quality measurements published by IDEM, shown here as reported. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 11.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 59.1 ft. Surface area: 137 acres.
Bear Lake is a 137-acre lake in Noble County, Indiana with a maximum depth of 59 feet (22-foot average). Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, IDEM, last sampled 2023-07-20. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Bear Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Deep water59.1 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Bear Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Indiana Department of Environmental Management and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Bear Lake
These are the measurements IDEM publishes for Bear Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
No clarity data. Phosphorus 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 11.2 µg/L.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | No reading How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. | |
| Total phosphorus | 30µg/L | Fair GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 11.2µg/L | Measured, not scored The green pigment in algae — a direct measure of how much algae is in the water. |
Ask about Bear Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Lake Details
Max depth
59.1 ft
Average depth
22 ft
Surface area
137 acres
Shoreline
2.9 mi
Public access
Yes
Listed by IDEM
Recreation & Access
- Tri-County Fish & Wildlife AreaPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Bear Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Bear Lake in Noble County, Indiana — 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. The water-quality readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around Bear Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Bear Lake
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Fishing Bear Lake
Nearby Lakes in Noble County
Frequently asked questions about Bear Lake
Where is Bear Lake?
- Bear Lake is a lake in Noble County, Indiana. Its water-quality measurements are published by IDEM and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Bear Lake?
- Bear Lake in Noble County, Indiana has water-quality measurements published by IDEM, shown here as reported. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 11.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 59.1 ft. Surface area: 137 acres.
Is Bear Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Bear Lake?
- Bear Lake has a maximum depth of 59.1 feet and an average depth of 22 feet. The lake covers 137 acres.
Are there boat ramps on Bear Lake?
- Bear Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Tri-County Fish & Wildlife Area. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Bear Lake?
- Bear Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Indiana's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Bear Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
Measurements for Bear Lake come from the EPA Water Quality Portal. Per-sample source details are not recorded for this lake.
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.
Other records on this page
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory