Gilchrist Lake
Gilchrist Lake in Pope County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 53.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 27.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 24 ft. Surface area: 335.96 acres.
- Clarity
- 3.9 ft
- Typical in August
- 74°F
- Max depth
- 24 ft
- Area
- 336 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 10
- Open water
- 231 days
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Gilchrist Lake →
Next lake in Pope County
Gilchrist Lake is a 336-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Pope County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 24 feet (10-foot average). Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 15 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 19 other monitored lakes in Pope County, Gilchrist Lake ranks #16 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 onlyAlgae risk
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.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Murky, only visible to about 3.9 ft. Phosphorus level: 53.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 27.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 61.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 53.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 27.4 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 61 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Gilchrist Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Gilchrist Lake in Pope 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 grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Gilchrist Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Gilchrist Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Gilchrist Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 76°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 81°F) and coldest in May (about 61°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 28 field readings (2011–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Gilchrist Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 24 ft |
| Average Depth | 10 ft |
| Surface Area | 336 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 5.1 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 62% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Gilchrist LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Gilchrist 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
12 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-07-10 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| IOD | 52.38 | — |
| Green Sunfish | 31.76 | 0.47 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 25.72 | 0.28 lb |
| JND | 21.57 | — |
| Yellow Perch | 16.91 | 0.11 lb |
| BNS | 16.14 | — |
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.
Green Sunfish
Hybrid Sunfish
Yellow Perch
From the 2023-07-10 survey
Lake Gilchrist is a shallow 321-acre basin located in southeast Pope County. Maximum depth is 24.0 feet. Approximately 61% of the surface area is less than 15.0 feet in depth. The East Branch of the Chippewa River runs through the basin. Water quality and habitat conditions are variable in response to a large…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Gilchrist Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — GilchristFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — GilchristFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — GilchristPublic 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 | ↑ Improving | +0.069 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +1.86 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.76 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (24 observations).
Estimated open water season: 231 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2007-03-01 (2007) | 2013-05-04 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 2018-11-10 (2018) | 2017-12-22 (2017) |
Most recent ice-out: 2024-03-14
EPA Impairment Status
Gilchrist 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 MN61-0072-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #16 of 20 lakes in Pope County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Gilchrist Lake holds Grade D. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Pope County
Frequently asked questions about Gilchrist Lake
What is the water quality grade for Gilchrist Lake?
- Gilchrist Lake in Pope County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 53.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 27.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 24 ft. Surface area: 335.96 acres.
Is Gilchrist Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Gilchrist Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 27.4 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Gilchrist Lake?
- Gilchrist Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August, from 28 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2021). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Gilchrist Lake?
- Gilchrist Lake has a maximum depth of 24 feet and an average depth of 10 feet. The lake covers 335.96 acres.
What fish are in Gilchrist Lake?
- Fish species found in Gilchrist Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Gilchrist Lake is located in Pope County, Minnesota.
When does Gilchrist Lake thaw?
- Gilchrist Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 10. Ice typically forms around Nov 27. The open water season is approximately 231 days.
Are there boat ramps on Gilchrist Lake?
- Gilchrist Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Gilchrist Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Gilchrist Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Pope County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Sauk River Watershed, ranked by water quality
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
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State Parks Near Gilchrist Lake
Other Grade D Lakes in Minnesota
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Where this data comes from
110 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
MNPCA110 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
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