Eagles Nest Lake
St. Louis County, Minnesota1,028 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Eagles Nest Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Oligotrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- 49 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Eagles Nest Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 15.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 7 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 49 ft. Surface area: 1027.63 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 18, 2025 caught 15.89 walleye per gill net at Eagles Nest Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 3–25 inches. DNR survey details →
Free interactive depth-contour map of Eagles Nest Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 40 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
Eagles Nest Lake is a 1,028-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 49 feet. The lake supports 9 documented fish species including bluegill, burbot, and largemouth bass. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 67 other monitored lakes in St. Louis County, Eagles Nest Lake ranks #30 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-28. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Eagles Nest Lake covers about 1,000 acres in St. Louis County. It has 2 public boat landings, so a lakefront rental is not the only way to get a boat on the water. The median ice-out date is April 29, which is when the open-water season begins. If you are planning to stay, you can search lake houses and cabins around Eagles Nest Lake on Vrbo, or look for a hotel room near the lake on Booking.com or Expedia.
What Eagles Nest Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water15.5 ft of visibility
- Boat launch2 documented ramps
- Fishing9 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 29
- Deep water49 ft surveyed max depth
- Big water1,028 acres
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLimited data
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. Eagles Nest Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Eagles Nest 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 Eagles Nest Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Eagles Nest 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 15.5 ft down. Phosphorus 7 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 1.1 µg/L. TSI 34.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 15.5ft | 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) | 1.1µg/L | Measured, not scored 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. | 34 | Oligotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. No reading is a swimming clearance.
Ask about Eagles Nest Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Eagles Nest Lake typically sits around 63°F at the surface in October. Summer average is about 63°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 64°F) and coldest in May (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 (64°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 143 field readings (2016–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Eagles Nest Lake water temperature breakdown →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Eagles Nest Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was high (159,956 cells/mL) on May 16, 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 18, 2025 caught 15.89 walleye per gill net at Eagles Nest Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 3–25 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Eagles Nest Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
7 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-08-18 (Standard Survey).
7 surveys on file · most recent 2025-08-18 (Standard Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 13.18 | 2–7 in 2025-08-18 | 0.09 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 7.17 | ||
| Walleye | 5.93 | 3–25 in 2025-08-18 | 1.19 lb |
| Bluegill | 5.59 | 3–8 in 2025-08-18 | 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.
Yellow Perch
Walleye
Bluegill
From the 2025-08-18 survey
Eagles Nest 3 (69-0285-03) is a 1,028-acre lake located 8 miles east of Tower. It is accessed by a concrete ramp off the Eagles Nest 3 access road which is off the Bear Head Lake State Park Road. A state park vehicle permit is required to launch and park at this access. The lake has a maximum depth of 49 feet and had…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Eagles Nest Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Eagles Nest #3Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Eagles Nest #3 (1876)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Eagles Nest #3Public Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
49 ft
Surface area
1,028 acres
Shoreline
16.3 mi
Littoral zone
54%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
3 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,483 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Eagles Nest Lake #2Public
- Eagles Nest Lake #3Public
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Eagles Nest Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Eagles Nest 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 Eagles Nest Lake
Prices for Oct 16–18, 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 trip? Cabins and lodging at Eagles Nest Lake → · more Minnesota lake trips
Follow Eagles Nest Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Eagles Nest Lake
- → Eagles Nest Lake fishing: DNR survey catch rates, species & stocking
- → Eagles Nest Lake fishing forecast & best times (species outlook + 14-day solunar calendar)
- → Eagles Nest Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
- → Is it safe to eat fish from Eagles Nest Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
Water Quality Trend: Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Stable6 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 29
Earliest Apr 11, 2017 · Latest May 13, 2013
Typical ice-in
Nov 21
Earliest Nov 7, 2019 · Latest Dec 10, 2016
Most recent ice-out
May 4
2025
32 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
EPA Impairment Status
Eagles Nest 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 MN69-0285-03 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in St. Louis County
Frequently asked questions about Eagles Nest Lake
Where is Eagles Nest Lake?
- Eagles Nest 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 Eagles Nest Lake?
- Eagles Nest Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 15.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 7 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 49 ft. Surface area: 1027.63 acres.
Is Eagles Nest Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Eagles Nest 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 Eagles Nest Lake?
- Eagles Nest Lake typically sits around 63°F at the surface in October, from 143 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2016–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Eagles Nest Lake?
- Eagles Nest Lake has a maximum depth of 49 feet. The lake covers 1027.63 acres.
What fish are in Eagles Nest Lake?
- Fish species found in Eagles Nest Lake include bluegill, burbot, largemouth bass, northern pike, rock bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch. Eagles Nest Lake is located in St. Louis County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Eagles Nest Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 18, 2025 caught 15.89 walleye per gill net at Eagles Nest Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 3–25 inches. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Eagles Nest Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does Eagles Nest Lake thaw?
- Eagles Nest Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 29. Ice typically forms around Nov 21. The open water season is approximately 206 days.
Does Eagles Nest Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Eagles Nest Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was high (159,956 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Minnesota's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Eagles Nest Lake?
- Eagles Nest Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Eagles Nest Lake #2, Eagles Nest Lake #3. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Eagles Nest Lake?
- Eagles Nest 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 Eagles Nest 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 St. Louis 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
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Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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Where this data comes from
304 measurements from 10 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
MNPCA304 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (10)
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