Big Sand Lake
Hubbard County, Minnesota1,639 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Big Sand Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Oligotrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- zebra mussel
- 135 ft max depth
- Public access
Big Sand Lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 23 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 7 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 135 ft. Surface area: 1638.65 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on July 24, 2023 caught 9.07 walleye per gill net at Big Sand Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 7–30 inches. DNR survey details →
Free interactive depth-contour map of Big Sand Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 130 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
Big Sand Lake is a 1,639-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 135 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 16 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and brown bullhead. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 67 other monitored lakes in Hubbard County, Big Sand Lake ranks #31 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-23. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Big Sand Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water23 ft of visibility
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing16 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 26
- Deep water135 ft surveyed max depth
- Big water1,639 acres
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLow algae
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. Big Sand Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Big Sand Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota DNR and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Big Sand Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Big Sand Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Crystal clear, you can see 23 ft down. Phosphorus 7 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 1.7 µg/L. TSI 33.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 23ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 7µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 1.7µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 33 | Oligotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. No reading is a swimming clearance.
Ask about Big Sand Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Big Sand Lake typically sits around 56°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 61°F. Usually warmest in Jun (about 69°F) and coldest in May (about 53°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (53°F) to its warmest (69°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 378 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Big Sand Lake water temperature breakdown →
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on July 24, 2023 caught 9.07 walleye per gill net at Big Sand Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 7–30 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Big Sand Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
15 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-07-24 (Targeted Survey).
15 surveys on file · most recent 2023-07-24 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluntnose Minnow | 58.69 | 2–3 in 2023-07-24 | |
| White Sucker | 17.91 | 11–24 in 2023-07-24 | 1.88 lb |
| Walleye | 14.21 | 7–30 in 2023-07-24 | 1.59 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and is not a weekly bite report.
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.
Bluntnose Minnow
White Sucker
Walleye
From the 2023-07-24 survey
Big Sand Lake is located seven miles northeast of Park Rapids in central Hubbard County. Big Sand has a surface area of 1,635 acres and a maximum depth of 135 feet. A state owned public access is located on the south shore of the lake off Grouse Road, next to the outlet of the Sand River. Access with small boats is…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Big Sand Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Big SandFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Big Sand (1289)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Big SandPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
135 ft
Surface area
1,639 acres
Shoreline
8.2 mi
Littoral zone
28%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
80 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,414 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Big Sand LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Big Sand Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Big Sand Lake in Hubbard 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 Big Sand Lake
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Follow Big Sand Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Big Sand Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
Water Quality Trend: Worsening
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Worsening6 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+0.51 µg/L/yr6 years
Chlorophyll-a
Improving-0.05 µg/L/yr6 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 26
Earliest Apr 14, 2015 · Latest May 13, 2013
Typical ice-in
Dec 15
Earliest Dec 1, 2007 · Latest Dec 20, 2001
Most recent ice-out
May 9
2022
27 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
EPA Impairment Status
Big Sand Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Fish consumption.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN29-0185-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Hubbard County
Frequently asked questions about Big Sand Lake
Where is Big Sand Lake?
- Big Sand Lake is a lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Big Sand Lake?
- Big Sand Lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 23 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 7 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 135 ft. Surface area: 1638.65 acres.
Is Big Sand Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Big Sand Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Big Sand Lake?
- Big Sand Lake typically sits around 56°F at the surface in September, from 378 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Big Sand Lake?
- Big Sand Lake has a maximum depth of 135 feet. The lake covers 1638.65 acres.
What fish are in Big Sand Lake?
- Fish species found in Big Sand Lake include black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, muskellunge, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, smallmouth bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Big Sand Lake is located in Hubbard County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Big Sand Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on July 24, 2023 caught 9.07 walleye per gill net at Big Sand Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 7–30 inches. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Big Sand Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does Big Sand Lake thaw?
- Big Sand Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 26. Ice typically forms around Dec 15. The open water season is approximately 233 days.
Are there boat ramps on Big Sand Lake?
- Big Sand Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Big Sand Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Big Sand Lake?
- Big Sand 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 Minnesota's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Big Sand Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Hubbard County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the Mississippi Headwaters, ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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Where this data comes from
322 measurements from 4 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
MNPCA322 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (4)
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
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