Cross Lake
Cross Lake in Polk County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 52 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 28.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 19 ft. Surface area: 319.8 acres.
- Clarity
- 3 ft
- Typical in August
- 72°F
- Max depth
- 19 ft
- Area
- 320 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Cross Lake →
Next lake in Polk County
Cross Lake is a 320-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Polk County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 19 feet (12-foot average). Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 9 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 18 other monitored lakes in Polk County, Cross Lake ranks #13 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-15. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Cross Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyAlgae risk
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.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Very murky, less than 3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 52 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 28.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 62.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 52 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 28.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 62 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Cross Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Cross Lake in Polk 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Cross Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Cross Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Cross Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 75°F) and coldest in May (about 62°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 26 field readings (2025–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Cross Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 19 ft |
| Average Depth | 12 ft |
| Surface Area | 320 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 6.5 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 95% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Cross LakePublic
- Mule John LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Cross Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
7 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-06-13 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 283.13 | 0.3 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 15.66 | 0.59 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 7.70 | 0.34 lb |
| Walleye | 6.80 | 2.44 lb |
| Northern Pike | 3.86 | 2.22 lb |
| Bluegill | 2.25 | 0.36 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.
Black Bullhead
Brown Bullhead
Yellow Perch
Walleye
From the 2022-06-13 survey
Cross Lake is a lightly developed, 320-acre, class-35, lake located in southeastern Polk County with a history of winterkill. The most recent severe winterkill occurred in 1991, when virtually all fish species except bullhead were extirpated from the lake. However, a moderate winterkill also occurred in the winter of…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Cross Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — CrossFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Cross (1958)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — CrossFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — CrossPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.034 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.4 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -2.17 µg/L/yr | 6 |
County Ranking
Ranked #13 of 19 lakes in Polk County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Cross Lake holds Grade D. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Polk County
Frequently asked questions about Cross Lake
What is the water quality grade for Cross Lake?
- Cross Lake in Polk County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 52 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 28.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 19 ft. Surface area: 319.8 acres.
Is Cross Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Cross Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 28.5 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Cross Lake?
- Cross Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August, from 26 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2025–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Cross Lake?
- Cross Lake has a maximum depth of 19 feet and an average depth of 12 feet. The lake covers 319.8 acres.
What fish are in Cross Lake?
- Fish species found in Cross Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, common carp, northern pike, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch. Cross Lake is located in Polk County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Cross Lake?
- Cross Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Cross Lake, Mule John Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Cross Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Polk County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the St. Croix Watershed, ranked by water quality
Lakes in the Red River of the North Watershed, ranked by water quality
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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More Minnesota Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Minnesota
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Where this data comes from
85 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA85 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 (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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory