Caribou Lake
Caribou Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 31 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 152 ft. Surface area: 246.5 acres.
- Clarity
- 31 ft
- Typical in August
- 52°F
- Max depth
- 152 ft
- Area
- 247 acres
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- May 7
- Open water
- 208 days
Next lake in Itasca County
Why Caribou Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when its monitoring record clears the evidence bar: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Caribou Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by MPCA and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Caribou Lake is a 247-acre lake in Itasca County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 152 feet. The lake supports 7 documented fish species including bluegill, lake trout, and largemouth bass. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-08-31. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Caribou Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Crystal clear, you can see 31 ft down. Trophic State Index: 28.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 31 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 28 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Caribou Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Caribou 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 Caribou Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Caribou Lake typically sits around 52°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 51°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 52°F) and coldest in Jun (about 49°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 212 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Caribou Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 152 ft |
| Surface Area | 247 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.5 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 18% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Caribou LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Caribou Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
8 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-07-11 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 7.18 | 0.1 lb |
| Rock Bass | 3.46 | 0.3 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 3.34 | 0.18 lb |
| Lake Trout | 2.91 | 3.06 lb |
| Walleye | 1.67 | 2.52 lb |
| Smallmouth Bass | 1.46 | 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.
Bluegill
Rock Bass
Yellow Perch
Lake Trout
From the 2022-07-11 survey
Caribou Lake is located about six miles south of Marcell and in the Chippewa National Forest. Fish production is limited due to low fertility associated with oligotrophic conditions. Caribou Lake has a long history of trout management and has been primarily managed for Lake Trout since 1942. Management has consisted…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Caribou Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — CaribouFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Caribou (0342)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — CaribouFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — CaribouPublic 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 | -0.138 m/yr | 5 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (9 observations).
Estimated open water season: 208 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2012-03-26 (2012) | 2022-05-08 (2022) |
| Ice-In | 2011-12-01 (2011) | 2021-12-07 (2021) |
Most recent ice-out: 2022-05-08
EPA Impairment Status
Caribou 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 MN31-0620-00 · Official waterbody report
Graded lakes near Caribou Lake
Caribou Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Itasca County
Frequently asked questions about Caribou Lake
What is the water quality grade for Caribou Lake?
- Caribou Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 31 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 152 ft. Surface area: 246.5 acres.
Is Caribou Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Caribou Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Caribou Lake?
- Caribou Lake typically sits around 52°F at the surface in August, from 212 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Caribou Lake?
- Caribou Lake has a maximum depth of 152 feet. The lake covers 246.5 acres.
What fish are in Caribou Lake?
- Fish species found in Caribou Lake include bluegill, lake trout, largemouth bass, rock bass, smallmouth bass, white sucker, yellow perch. Caribou Lake is located in Itasca County, Minnesota.
When does Caribou Lake thaw?
- Caribou Lake typically has ice-out around May 7. Ice typically forms around Dec 1. The open water season is approximately 208 days.
Are there boat ramps on Caribou Lake?
- Caribou Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Caribou Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Caribou Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
40 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2021–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA40 samples · 2021–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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