Gilchrist Lake
Pope County, Minnesota336 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Gilchrist Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- 2 aquatic invasives
- 24 ft max depth
- Public access
Gilchrist Lake in Pope County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. 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.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 10, 2023 caught 4.83 walleye per gill net at Gilchrist Lake. DNR survey details →
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). 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. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Gilchrist Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing15 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 10
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. Gilchrist Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Gilchrist 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 Gilchrist Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Gilchrist Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Murky, only visible to about 3.9 ft. Phosphorus 53.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 27.4 µg/L. TSI 61.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 3.9ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 53.5µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 27.4µg/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. | 61 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Gilchrist Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Gilchrist Lake typically sits around 68°F at the surface in September. 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.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (61°F) to its warmest (81°F).
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 →
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 10, 2023 caught 4.83 walleye per gill net at Gilchrist Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Gilchrist Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
12 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-07-10 (Standard Survey).
12 surveys on file · most recent 2023-07-10 (Standard Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green Sunfish | 31.76 | 5–7 in 1996-07-08 | 0.47 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 25.72 | 7–8 in 2023-07-10 | 0.28 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 16.91 | 5–6 in 2023-07-10 | 0.11 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.
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
Lake Details
Max depth
24 ft
Average depth
10 ft
Surface area
336 acres
Shoreline
5.1 mi
Littoral zone
62%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
111 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,168 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Gilchrist 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 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 readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around Gilchrist Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Gilchrist 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 Gilchrist Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every 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.
Water Quality Trend: Worsening
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Improving6 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+1.86 µg/L/yr6 years
Chlorophyll-a
Worsening+0.76 µg/L/yr6 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 10
Earliest Mar 1, 2007 · Latest May 4, 2013
Typical ice-in
Nov 27
Earliest Nov 10, 2018 · Latest Dec 22, 2017
Most recent ice-out
Mar 14
2024
24 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
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
Designated uses not supporting: Fish consumption, Recreation.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN61-0072-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Pope County
Frequently asked questions about Gilchrist Lake
Where is Gilchrist Lake?
- Gilchrist Lake is a lake in Pope County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Gilchrist Lake?
- Gilchrist Lake in Pope County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. 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?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Gilchrist Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Gilchrist Lake?
- Gilchrist Lake typically sits around 68°F at the surface in September, 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.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Gilchrist Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 10, 2023 caught 4.83 walleye per gill net at Gilchrist Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Gilchrist Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
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.
Can I fish at Gilchrist Lake?
- Gilchrist 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 Gilchrist 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 Pope County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the Sauk River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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State Parks Near Gilchrist Lake
Other 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)
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