Devil Track Lake
Cook County, Minnesota1,876 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Devil Track Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- spiny waterflea
- 50 ft max depth
- Public access
Devil Track Lake in Cook County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 12 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 50 ft. Surface area: 1876.36 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 1, 2024 caught 4.27 walleye per gill net at Devil Track Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 6–20 inches. DNR survey details →
Free interactive depth-contour map of Devil Track Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 50 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
Devil Track Lake is a 1,876-acre mesotrophic lake in Cook County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 50 feet. The lake supports 9 documented fish species including bluegill, green sunfish, and lake whitefish. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 43 other monitored lakes in Cook County, Devil Track Lake ranks #10 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-07. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Devil Track Lake covers about 1,900 acres in Cook County. It has one public boat landing. The median ice-out date is May 7, which is when the open-water season begins. For a place on the water, look through cabin and lake-house rentals near Devil Track Lake on Vrbo. For a hotel or motel room, Booking.com and Expedia both search around the lake.
What Devil Track Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing9 species recorded
- Camping1 public campground nearby
- Ice seasonIce-out around May 7
- Deep water50 ft surveyed max depth
- Big water1,876 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. Devil Track Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Devil Track 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 Devil Track Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Devil Track Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7 ft. Phosphorus 12 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 5.3 µg/L. TSI 45.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 7ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 12µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 5.3µg/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. | 45 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Devil Track Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Devil Track Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was high (105,682 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 Standard Survey on August 1, 2024 caught 4.27 walleye per gill net at Devil Track Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 6–20 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Devil Track Lake’s water-quality measurements separately. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
17 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-08-01 (Standard Survey).
17 surveys on file · most recent 2024-08-01 (Standard Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green Sunfish | 8.57 | 5 in 2012-08-13 | 0.1 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 7.36 | 5–12 in 2024-08-01 | 0.21 lb |
| Walleye | 3.00 | 6–20 in 2024-08-01 | 0.83 lb |
| Smallmouth Bass | 2.10 | 7–19 in 2024-08-01 | 0.97 lb |
| White Sucker | 1.50 | 6–22 in 2024-08-01 | 2.74 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.
Green Sunfish
Yellow Perch
Walleye
Smallmouth Bass
From the 2024-08-01 survey
Devil Track Lake is a large, 1,876-acre lake within Cook County and has a maximum depth of 50 ft. The lake is located approximately 5 miles northwest of Grand Marais and there are two public boat accesses with a USFS campground located on the north side of the lake off Cook County Road 8. Devil Track Lake is a very…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Devil Track Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Devil TrackFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Devil Track (1799)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Devil TrackFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Devil TrackPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
50 ft
Surface area
1,876 acres
Shoreline
17.4 mi
Littoral zone
33%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
34 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,627 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Devil Track LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Public campgrounds near Devil Track Lake
- Devil Track Lake Campground3.0 km
Nearest public campgrounds in the USGS National Map inventory, within about 3 miles. An empty list means USGS records no campground that close, which is not the same as camping being unavailable. Where the source gives an official reservation link, it is used; the cabin and hotel search does not cover campsites. More camping lakes
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Devil Track Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Devil Track Lake in Cook 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 Devil Track Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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 →
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Devil Track Lake
- → Devil Track Lake fishing: DNR survey catch rates, species & stocking
- → Devil Track Lake fishing forecast & best times (species outlook + 14-day solunar calendar)
- → Devil Track Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
- → Is it safe to eat fish from Devil Track Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
Ice season
Typical ice-out
May 7
Earliest Apr 10, 2010 · Latest May 20, 2014
Typical ice-in
Nov 23
Earliest Nov 7, 2002 · Latest Dec 11, 2001
Most recent ice-out
May 13
2023
56 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Devil Track Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Devil Track (completed 1987), built primarily for recreation on the DEVIL TRACK RIVER; rockfill-type dam, 12 ft tall and 50 ft long.
- Surface area
- 1,873 ac
- Normal storage
- 15,000 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 17,000 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 24 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- USDA FS
All listed purposes: Recreation;Fish and Wildlife Pond.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MN00089 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Devil Track 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 MN16-0143-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Cook County
Frequently asked questions about Devil Track Lake
Where is Devil Track Lake?
- Devil Track Lake is a lake in Cook County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Devil Track Lake?
- Devil Track Lake in Cook County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 12 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 50 ft. Surface area: 1876.36 acres.
Is Devil Track Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Devil Track Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Devil Track Lake?
- Devil Track Lake has a maximum depth of 50 feet. The lake covers 1876.36 acres.
What fish are in Devil Track Lake?
- Fish species found in Devil Track Lake include bluegill, green sunfish, lake whitefish, northern pike, pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch. Devil Track Lake is located in Cook County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Devil Track Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 1, 2024 caught 4.27 walleye per gill net at Devil Track Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 6–20 inches. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Devil Track Lake’s water-quality measurements separately. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does Devil Track Lake thaw?
- Devil Track Lake typically has ice-out around May 7. Ice typically forms around Nov 23. The open water season is approximately 200 days.
Does Devil Track Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Devil Track Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was high (105,682 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Minnesota's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Devil Track Lake?
- Devil Track Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Devil Track Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Devil Track Lake?
- Devil Track 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.
Are there campgrounds on Devil Track Lake?
- Devil Track Lake has 1 public campground from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including Devil Track Lake Campground. This is a location join, not a booking. Cabins and hotels are listed separately; campsite reservations use the official link when the source provides one.
Explore Devil Track 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 Cook County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the Lake Superior Basin (MN+WI), ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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Compare Devil Track Lake With Nearby Lakes
Where this data comes from
125 measurements from 2 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
MNPCA125 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 (2)
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
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate