Bearskin Lake
Bearskin Lake in Cook County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 21 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 6 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 78 ft. Surface area: 509.22 acres.
- Clarity
- 21 ft
- Max depth
- 78 ft
- Area
- 509 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 28
- Open water
- 212 days
Next lake in Cook County
Bearskin Lake is a 509-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Cook County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 78 feet (31-foot average). Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 9 documented fish species including bluegill, green sunfish, and hybrid sunfish. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 43 other monitored lakes in Cook County, Bearskin Lake ranks #23 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-08-27. 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 21 ft down. Phosphorus level: 6 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 1.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 32.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 21 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 6 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 1.3 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 32 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Bearskin Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Bearskin Lake in Cook 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.
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 78 ft |
| Average Depth | 31 ft |
| Surface Area | 509 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 8.3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 18% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Aspen LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Bearskin Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
9 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-08-28 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| RBS | 39.94 | 0.05 lb |
| Lake Trout | 3.04 | 1.97 lb |
| Green Sunfish | 2.31 | 0.08 lb |
| Smallmouth Bass | 1.27 | 0.83 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 1.11 | 0.19 lb |
| Bluegill | 1.09 | 0.12 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.
RBS
Lake Trout
Green Sunfish
Smallmouth Bass
From the 2023-08-28 survey
West Bearskin Lake is a 509-acre lake located 23 miles northwest of Grand Marais with a public access boat launch on the east shore of the lake and carry-in portage landing along the south shore. Primary and secondary management species in West Bearskin Lake are lake trout and smallmouth bass. The 2023 standard lake…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Bearskin Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — BearskinFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Bearskin (1830)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — BearskinPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.163 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.24 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.14 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (6 observations).
Estimated open water season: 212 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2006-04-20 (2006) | 2008-05-13 (2008) |
| Ice-In | 1976-11-08 (1976) | 2007-11-30 (2007) |
Most recent ice-out: 2008-05-13
EPA Impairment Status
Bearskin Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN16-0228-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #23 of 44 lakes in Cook County
Nearby Lakes in Cook County
Frequently asked questions about Bearskin Lake
What is the water quality grade for Bearskin Lake?
- Bearskin Lake in Cook County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 21 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 6 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 78 ft. Surface area: 509.22 acres.
Is Bearskin Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Bearskin Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 1.3 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Bearskin Lake?
- Bearskin Lake has a maximum depth of 78 feet and an average depth of 31 feet. The lake covers 509.22 acres.
What fish are in Bearskin Lake?
- Fish species found in Bearskin Lake include bluegill, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, lake trout, northern pike, rainbow smelt, smallmouth bass, walleye, yellow perch. Bearskin Lake is located in Cook County, Minnesota.
When does Bearskin Lake thaw?
- Bearskin Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 28. Ice typically forms around Nov 26. The open water season is approximately 212 days.
Are there boat ramps on Bearskin Lake?
- Bearskin Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Aspen Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Bearskin Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where this data comes from
63 measurements from 3 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA63 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 2130 B ~ Nephelometric Method
- 2120 B ~ Color in Water by Visual Comparison
Monitoring station identifiers (3)
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate