Caribou Lake
St. Louis County, Minnesota539 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Caribou Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Impaired · Mercury
- 21 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Caribou Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 10.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 21 ft. Surface area: 538.57 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on June 30, 2025 caught 1.20 northern pike per hour of electrofishing at Caribou Lake. DNR survey details →
Caribou Lake is a 539-acre lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 21 feet (9-foot average). The lake supports 11 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2023-11-16. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Caribou Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water10.5 ft of visibility
- Boat launch2 documented ramps
- Fishing11 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 23
Swimming conditions
No readingLimited data
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Caribou Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Caribou 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 Caribou Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Caribou Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Good clarity, visible to about 10.5 ft. TSI 43.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 10.5ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | No reading The nutrient that most limits algae growth in freshwater. More phosphorus, more algae potential. | |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | No reading The green pigment in algae — a direct measure of how much algae is in the water. | |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 43 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Caribou Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Caribou Lake typically sits around 67°F at the surface in October. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 75°F) and coldest in Nov (about 52°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (52°F) to its warmest (75°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 25 field readings (2016–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Caribou Lake water temperature breakdown →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Caribou Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was low (14,454 cells/mL) on June 6, 2026.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on June 30, 2025 caught 1.20 northern pike per hour of electrofishing at Caribou Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Caribou Lake’s water-quality measurements separately. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
9 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-06-30 (Targeted Survey).
9 surveys on file · most recent 2025-06-30 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluntnose Minnow | 29.55 | ||
| Largemouth Bass | 17.79 | 4–5 in 2025-06-30 | 1.17 lb |
| Bluegill | 16.83 | 3–8 in 2025-06-30 | 0.21 lb |
| Black Crappie | 6.48 | 5–10 in 2025-06-30 | 0.19 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.
Largemouth Bass
Bluegill
Black Crappie
From the 2025-06-30 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Caribou Lake was conducted on June 30th-July 3rd, 2025, by Lake Biological Monitoring and Assessment (LBMA) program staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing, mini-fyke nets, and seining with a 50-foot or…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Caribou Lake. 5 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 (0451)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Caribou (0513)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
Lake Details
Max depth
21 ft
Average depth
9 ft
Surface area
539 acres
Shoreline
5.6 mi
Littoral zone
90%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
4 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,371 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Caribou Lake (West)Public
- Caribou Lake (East)Public
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Caribou Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Caribou Lake in St. Louis 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
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Follow Caribou Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Caribou Lake
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 23
Earliest Apr 11, 2005 · Latest May 3, 2008
Typical ice-in
Nov 24
Earliest Nov 2, 2006 · Latest Nov 29, 2004
Most recent ice-out
Apr 25
2020
10 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
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
Designated uses not supporting: Fish consumption.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN69-0489-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in St. Louis County
Frequently asked questions about Caribou Lake
Where is Caribou Lake?
- Caribou Lake is a lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Caribou Lake?
- Caribou Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 10.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 21 ft. Surface area: 538.57 acres.
Is Caribou Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Caribou 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 Caribou Lake?
- Caribou Lake typically sits around 67°F at the surface in October, from 25 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2016–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Caribou Lake?
- Caribou Lake has a maximum depth of 21 feet and an average depth of 9 feet. The lake covers 538.57 acres.
What fish are in Caribou Lake?
- Fish species found in Caribou Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch. Caribou Lake is located in St. Louis County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Caribou Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on June 30, 2025 caught 1.20 northern pike per hour of electrofishing at Caribou Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Caribou Lake’s water-quality measurements separately. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does Caribou Lake thaw?
- Caribou Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 23. Ice typically forms around Nov 24. The open water season is approximately 215 days.
Does Caribou Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Caribou Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was low (14,454 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Minnesota's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Caribou Lake?
- Caribou Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Caribou Lake (West), Caribou Lake (East). Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Caribou Lake?
- Caribou Lake has 2 documented boat landings 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 Caribou Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
11 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA11 samples · 2023
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
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