Elk Lake
Elk Lake in Grant County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 9 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 29 ft. Surface area: 206.59 acres.
- Clarity
- 9 ft
- Typical in August
- 75°F
- Max depth
- 29 ft
- Area
- 207 acres
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 8
- Open water
- 233 days
Next lake in Grant County
Why Elk Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when its monitoring record clears the evidence bar: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Elk Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by MPCA and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Elk Lake is a 207-acre lake in Grant County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 29 feet (15-foot average). Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 10 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and green sunfish. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-05. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Elk Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 9 ft. Trophic State Index: 45.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 45 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Elk Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Elk Lake in Grant 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 Elk Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Elk Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 72°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 75°F) and coldest in May (about 63°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 51 field readings (2018–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Elk Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 29 ft |
| Average Depth | 15 ft |
| Surface Area | 207 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 53% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Thompson LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Elk Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
10 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2021-08-23 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 27.49 | 1.05 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 17.84 | 0.15 lb |
| Bluegill | 15.96 | 0.22 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 11.00 | 0.81 lb |
| Walleye | 5.37 | 1.84 lb |
| Black Crappie | 2.02 | 0.33 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.
Largemouth Bass
Yellow Perch
Bluegill
Black Bullhead
From the 2021-08-23 survey
Elk Lake is a 207-acre lake located two miles north of Hoffman in Grant County. Average and maximum depth are 15 and 29 feet, respectively. Water clarity was 7.5 feet during the survey. City-owned beach and campground facilities are located on the south shore next to the public access. Because of this it is a popular…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Elk Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — ElkFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — ElkFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — ElkPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.071 m/yr | 5 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (15 observations).
Estimated open water season: 233 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2016-03-17 (2016) | 2008-04-24 (2008) |
| Ice-In | 2003-11-11 (2003) | 2001-12-20 (2001) |
Most recent ice-out: 2016-03-17
EPA Impairment Status
Elk Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN26-0046-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.8 km)
Graded lakes near Elk Lake
Elk Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Grant County
Frequently asked questions about Elk Lake
What is the water quality grade for Elk Lake?
- Elk Lake in Grant County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 9 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 29 ft. Surface area: 206.59 acres.
Is Elk Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Elk Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Elk Lake?
- Elk Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August, from 51 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2018–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Elk Lake?
- Elk Lake has a maximum depth of 29 feet and an average depth of 15 feet. The lake covers 206.59 acres.
What fish are in Elk Lake?
- Fish species found in Elk Lake include black crappie, bluegill, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Elk Lake is located in Grant County, Minnesota.
When does Elk Lake thaw?
- Elk Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 8. Ice typically forms around Nov 27. The open water season is approximately 233 days.
Are there boat ramps on Elk Lake?
- Elk Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Thompson Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Elk Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
46 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
MNPCA46 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
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
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