Gilbert Lake
Gilbert Lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 14.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 45 ft. Surface area: 356.58 acres.
- Clarity
- 14.6 ft
- Max depth
- 45 ft
- Area
- 357 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 18
- Open water
- 228 days
Next lake in Crow Wing County
Gilbert Lake is a 357-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 45 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 9 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and bowfin (dogfish). Public access is available with 4 public boat landings. Compared to the 84 other monitored lakes in Crow Wing County, Gilbert Lake ranks #34 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-22. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 14.6 ft. Phosphorus level: 11 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 2.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 38.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 14.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 11 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.1 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 38 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Gilbert Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Gilbert Lake in Crow Wing 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.
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 45 ft |
| Surface Area | 357 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 7.1 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 63% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- EvergreenPublic
- French RapidsPublic
- Gilbert LakePublic
- Lum ParkPublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Gilbert 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
14 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-05-15 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| BKS | 18.28 | — |
| Largemouth Bass | 14.85 | 0.97 lb |
| Bluegill | 10.83 | 0.22 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 6.39 | — |
| Northern Pike | 4.79 | 1.36 lb |
| CNM | 4.55 | — |
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
Bluegill
Northern Pike
From the 2023-05-15 survey
A trap net assessment was conducted on Gilbert Lake on 15-17, 2023, to monitor the Black Crappie and Bluegill populations. Gilbert Lake has a special regulation limiting the daily possession to five Sunfish and five Crappies. The reduced daily limit began in 2005. Black Crappies ranged in length from 5.4 to 14.5…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Gilbert Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — GilbertFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — GilbertPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.382 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.39 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.06 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (52 observations).
Estimated open water season: 228 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-11 (2024) | 2013-05-11 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 2018-11-20 (2018) | 2017-12-12 (2017) |
Most recent ice-out: 2024-03-11
EPA Impairment Status
Gilbert Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN18-0145-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.39 km)
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Gilbert Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger.
- Wausau Paper - Brainerd MillBrainerd · 0.8 mi away · NPDES MN0001422Major
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
County Ranking
Ranked #34 of 85 lakes in Crow Wing County
Nearby Lakes in Crow Wing County
Frequently asked questions about Gilbert Lake
What is the water quality grade for Gilbert Lake?
- Gilbert Lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 14.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 45 ft. Surface area: 356.58 acres.
Is Gilbert Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Gilbert Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 2.1 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Gilbert Lake?
- Gilbert Lake has a maximum depth of 45 feet. The lake covers 356.58 acres.
What fish are in Gilbert Lake?
- Fish species found in Gilbert Lake include black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, yellow bullhead. Gilbert Lake is located in Crow Wing County, Minnesota.
When does Gilbert Lake thaw?
- Gilbert Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 18. Ice typically forms around Dec 2. The open water season is approximately 228 days.
Are there boat ramps on Gilbert Lake?
- Gilbert Lake has 4 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Evergreen, French Rapids, Gilbert Lake, Lum Park. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Gilbert Lake across LakeGrade
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
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Where this data comes from
189 measurements from 3 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
MNPCA189 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 (3)
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
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