Beatrice Lake
Beatrice Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 10.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 29 ft. Surface area: 123.79 acres.
- Clarity
- 10.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 70°F
- Max depth
- 29 ft
- Area
- 124 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 20
- Open water
- 214 days
Next lake in Itasca County
Beatrice Lake is a 124-acre mesotrophic lake in Itasca County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 29 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2024. The lake supports 9 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and green sunfish. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 71 other monitored lakes in Itasca County, Beatrice Lake ranks #28 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-11-17. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Beatrice Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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)
Good clarity, visible to about 10.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 4.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 44.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 15 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 4.9 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 44 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Beatrice Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Beatrice Lake in Itasca 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 Beatrice Lake
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Beatrice Lake typically sits around 70°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 68°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 70°F) and coldest in Nov (about 41°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 119 field readings (2016–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Beatrice Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 29 ft |
| Surface Area | 124 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 4.1 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 59% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Johnson LakePublic
- Beatrice LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Beatrice Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
9 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-07-21 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluntnose Minnow | 127.51 | — |
| CNM | 30.34 | — |
| MMS | 11.73 | — |
| Green Sunfish | 11.51 | — |
| JND | 7.23 | — |
| Largemouth Bass | 7.02 | 1.07 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.
Largemouth Bass
From the 2025-07-21 survey
Beatrice Lake is a small lake located in the Pike River watershed in northeast Itasca County. Beatrice Lake has a total surface area of 173 acres. The lake is best suited for Northern Pike, Black Crappie, and Bluegill. Other area lakes in this class include Little Bear, Big Ole and Black Island Lakes. Beatrice Lake…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Beatrice Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — BeatriceFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Beatrice (0634)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — BeatricePublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.023 m/yr | 5 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (69 observations).
Estimated open water season: 214 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2012-03-25 (2012) | 2013-05-10 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 1991-11-04 (1991) | 1999-12-06 (1999) |
Most recent ice-out: 2022-05-07
EPA Impairment Status
Beatrice 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 MN69-0939-01 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.67 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #28 of 72 lakes in Itasca County
Nearby Lakes in Itasca County
Frequently asked questions about Beatrice Lake
What is the water quality grade for Beatrice Lake?
- Beatrice Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 10.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 29 ft. Surface area: 123.79 acres.
Is Beatrice Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Beatrice Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 4.9 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Beatrice Lake?
- Beatrice Lake typically sits around 70°F at the surface in August, from 119 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2016–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Beatrice Lake?
- Beatrice Lake has a maximum depth of 29 feet. The lake covers 123.79 acres.
What fish are in Beatrice Lake?
- Fish species found in Beatrice Lake include black crappie, bluegill, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch. Beatrice Lake is located in Itasca County, Minnesota.
When does Beatrice Lake thaw?
- Beatrice Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 20. Ice typically forms around Nov 20. The open water season is approximately 214 days.
Are there boat ramps on Beatrice Lake?
- Beatrice Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Johnson Lake, Beatrice Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Beatrice Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Itasca County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Mississippi Headwaters, ranked by water quality
Lakes in the Rainy Lake Watershed, ranked by water quality
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Beatrice Lake
Other Grade A Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
131 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA131 samples · 2020–2024
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
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