Eden Lake
Stearns County, Minnesota278 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Eden Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Impaired biota (cause unknown)
- 77 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Eden Lake in Stearns County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 179.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 27 µg/L. Maximum depth: 77 ft. Surface area: 278.23 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on June 10, 2024 caught 8.50 walleye per gill net at Eden Lake. DNR survey details →
Eden Lake is a 278-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Stearns County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 77 feet (19-foot average). The lake supports 16 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 31 other monitored lakes in Stearns County, Eden Lake ranks #21 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2023-10-19. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Eden Lake covers about 280 acres in Stearns County. It has one public boat landing. The median ice-out date is April 7, which is when the open-water season begins. For a place on the water, look through cabin and lake-house rentals near Eden Lake on Vrbo. For a hotel or motel room, Booking.com and Expedia both search around the lake.
What Eden Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing16 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 7
- Deep water77 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyRecreation use not supported
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. Eden Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for impaired biota (cause unknown), mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Eden 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 Eden Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Eden Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Very murky, less than 3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 179.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 27 µg/L. TSI 68.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 3ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 180µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 27µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 68 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Eden Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Eden Lake typically sits around 52°F at the surface in October. Summer average is about 57°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 60°F) and coldest in May (about 49°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (49°F) to its warmest (60°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 190 field readings (2018–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Eden Lake water temperature breakdown →
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on June 10, 2024 caught 8.50 walleye per gill net at Eden Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Eden Lake’s water-quality measurements separately. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
11 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-06-10 (Targeted Survey).
11 surveys on file · most recent 2024-06-10 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 48.96 | 4–8 in 2024-06-10 | 0.14 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 31.48 | 5–6 in 2024-06-10 | 0.5 lb |
| Bluegill | 20.35 | 3–8 in 2024-06-10 | 0.24 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 19.47 | 15–19 in 2024-06-10 | 1.39 lb |
| Black Crappie | 13.48 | 3–11 in 2024-06-10 | 0.25 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
Black Bullhead
Bluegill
Largemouth Bass
From the 2024-06-10 survey
Eden Lake is located in south-central Stearns County, north of Eden Valley. It is the second in a series of lakes that outlet north to join the Sauk River Chain of Lakes. A large, mostly agricultural watershed (over 24,000 acres) drains into Eden Lake. The resulting nutrient load has resulted in impaired water…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Eden Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — EdenFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — EdenFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — EdenPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
77 ft
Average depth
18.6 ft
Surface area
278 acres
Shoreline
2.5 mi
Littoral zone
45%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
35 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,086 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Eden LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Eden Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Eden Lake in Stearns 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 readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around Eden Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Eden 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 →
Follow Eden Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Eden Lake
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 7
Earliest Mar 9, 2001 · Latest May 6, 2013
Typical ice-in
Nov 29
Earliest Nov 4, 1991 · Latest Dec 21, 1998
Most recent ice-out
Apr 18
2022
94 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
EPA Impairment Status
Eden Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Aquatic life, Fish consumption, Recreation.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN73-0150-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Stearns County
Frequently asked questions about Eden Lake
Where is Eden Lake?
- Eden Lake is a lake in Stearns County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Eden Lake?
- Eden Lake in Stearns County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 179.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 27 µg/L. Maximum depth: 77 ft. Surface area: 278.23 acres.
Is Eden Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Eden Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for impaired biota (cause unknown), mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Eden Lake?
- Eden Lake typically sits around 52°F at the surface in October, from 190 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2018–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Eden Lake?
- Eden Lake has a maximum depth of 77 feet and an average depth of 18.6 feet. The lake covers 278.23 acres.
What fish are in Eden Lake?
- Fish species found in Eden Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, channel catfish, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Eden Lake is located in Stearns County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Eden Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on June 10, 2024 caught 8.50 walleye per gill net at Eden Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Eden Lake’s water-quality measurements separately. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does Eden Lake thaw?
- Eden Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 7. Ice typically forms around Nov 29. The open water season is approximately 236 days.
Are there boat ramps on Eden Lake?
- Eden Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Eden Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Eden Lake?
- Eden 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.
Explore Eden 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 Stearns County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the Crow River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Lakes in the Sauk River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
More lakes in Minnesota
State Parks Near Eden Lake
Other Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
36 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
MNPCA36 samples · 2023
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H 2 ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination by spectrophotometer
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