Golden Lake
Anoka County, Minnesota58 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Golden Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- 25 ft max depth
- Public access
Golden Lake in Anoka County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 4.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 57 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 11.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 25 ft. Surface area: 58.09 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on May 28, 2018 caught 2.50 northern pike per gill net at Golden Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 19–30 inches. DNR survey details →
Golden Lake is a 58-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Anoka County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 25 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 10 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 22 other monitored lakes in Anoka County, Golden Lake ranks #17 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-26. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Golden Lake covers about 58 acres in Anoka County. It has one public boat landing. The median ice-out date is March 30, which is when the open-water season begins. Vrbo is where to look for cabins and lake homes around Golden Lake, and Booking.com and Expedia search hotels near the lake for your dates.
What Golden Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing10 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Mar 30
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyElevated nutrients
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. Golden Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Golden 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 Golden Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Golden 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 4.5 ft. Phosphorus 57 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 11.8 µg/L. TSI 58.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 4.5ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 57µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 11.8µg/L | Fair GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 58 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Golden Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Golden Lake typically sits around 59°F at the surface in October. Summer average is about 63°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 66°F) and coldest in Mar (about 42°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (42°F) to its warmest (66°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 408 field readings (2019–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Golden Lake water temperature breakdown →
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on May 28, 2018 caught 2.50 northern pike per gill net at Golden Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 19–30 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Golden 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
16 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2018-05-28 (Standard Survey).
16 surveys on file · most recent 2018-05-28 (Standard Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 61.73 | 6–12 in 2018-05-28 | 0.35 lb |
| Bluegill | 56.65 | 2–7 in 2018-05-28 | 0.19 lb |
| Black Crappie | 19.05 | 6–8 in 2018-05-28 | 0.2 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 6.29 | 9 in 1994-06-13 | 0.15 lb |
| Channel Catfish | 3.90 | 19 in 2018-05-28 | 2.48 lb |
| Northern Pike | 2.63 | 19–30 in 2018-05-28 | 2.41 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.
Black Bullhead
Bluegill
Black Crappie
Yellow Perch
From the 2018-05-28 survey
Golden Lake is a small (57 acre) class 38 lake located at the lower end of a sub-watershed of the Rice Creek Watershed in the City of Circle Pines. Maximum depth is 25 feet. A portion of the lakeshore is included in a City of Circle Pines park that contains a boat access and shore facilities for a cascade type winter…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Golden Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — GoldenFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — GoldenFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — GoldenPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
25 ft
Surface area
58 acres
Shoreline
1.6 mi
Littoral zone
88%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
1 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
883 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Golden Lake ParkPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Golden Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Golden Lake in Anoka 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 Golden Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Golden 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 Golden Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Golden Lake
Water Quality Trend: Worsening
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Worsening6 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+7.5 µg/L/yr3 years
Chlorophyll-a
Improving-2.2 µg/L/yr3 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Mar 30
Earliest Mar 24, 2025 · Latest Apr 13, 2023
Most recent ice-out
Mar 24
2025
4 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
EPA Impairment Status
Golden 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.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN02-0045-00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Golden Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Aveda CorpBlaine · 1.7 mi away · NPDES MN0066524
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.
Nearby Lakes in Anoka County
Frequently asked questions about Golden Lake
Where is Golden Lake?
- Golden Lake is a lake in Anoka County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Golden Lake?
- Golden Lake in Anoka County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 4.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 57 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 11.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 25 ft. Surface area: 58.09 acres.
Is Golden Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Golden Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Golden Lake?
- Golden Lake typically sits around 59°F at the surface in October, from 408 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2019–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Golden Lake?
- Golden Lake has a maximum depth of 25 feet. The lake covers 58.09 acres.
What fish are in Golden Lake?
- Fish species found in Golden Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, white sucker. Golden Lake is located in Anoka County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Golden Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on May 28, 2018 caught 2.50 northern pike per gill net at Golden Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 19–30 inches. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Golden 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 Golden Lake thaw?
- Golden Lake typically has ice-out around Mar 30.
Are there boat ramps on Golden Lake?
- Golden Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Golden Lake Park. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Golden Lake?
- Golden 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 Golden Lake across LakeQuality
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Fish species and best lakes in Anoka County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
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Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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Where this data comes from
204 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
MNPCA204 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- 4500 P E ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry- Ascorbic Acid Method
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
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
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