Elbow Lake
Pine County, Minnesota99 acresView mapDirections
No nutrient or algae sampling on record from Minnesota PCA for this lake.
- Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
- 33 ft max depth
Elbow Lake in Pine County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Maximum depth: 32.8 ft. Surface area: 99 acres.
Elbow Lake is a 99-acre lake in Pine County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 33 feet.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Elbow Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Deep water32.8 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
No readingRecreation use not supported
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Elbow Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Elbow 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 Elbow Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Elbow Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
No clarity data. TSI undefined.
Ask about Elbow Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Lake Details
Max depth
32.8 ft
Surface area
99 acres
Shoreline
4 mi
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Elbow Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Elbow Lake in Pine 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 Elbow 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 whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Follow Elbow Lake’s readings
Email me when new measurements post for this lake. Updates stay free.
Or email
Fishing Elbow Lake
EPA Impairment Status
Elbow 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: Recreation.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN58-0126-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Pine County
Frequently asked questions about Elbow Lake
Where is Elbow Lake?
- Elbow Lake is a lake in Pine County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Elbow Lake?
- Elbow Lake in Pine County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Maximum depth: 32.8 ft. Surface area: 99 acres.
Is Elbow Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Elbow Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Elbow Lake?
- Elbow Lake has a maximum depth of 32.8 feet. The lake covers 99 acres.
Explore Elbow Lake across LakeQuality
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Pine County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the St. Croix Watershed, ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
More lakes in Minnesota
State Parks Near Elbow Lake
Other Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
Measurements for Elbow Lake come from the EPA Water Quality Portal. Per-sample source details are not recorded for this lake.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder