Gunn Lake
Itasca County, MinnesotaView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Gunn Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Oligotrophic
- Public access
- Limited data
Gunn Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 14.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 9.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.9 µg/L.
Gunn Lake is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Itasca County, Minnesota. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available. Compared to the 71 other monitored lakes in Itasca County, Gunn Lake ranks #48 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2022-09-01. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
If you are planning to stay, you can search lake houses and cabins around Gunn Lake on Vrbo, or look for a hotel room near the lake on Booking.com or Expedia.
What Gunn Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water14.3 ft of visibility
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLimited data
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. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Gunn 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 Gunn Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Gunn Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Good clarity, visible to about 14.3 ft. Phosphorus 9.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 3.9 µg/L. TSI 40.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 14.3ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 9.5µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 3.9µg/L | Measured, not scored The green pigment in algae — a direct measure of how much algae is in the water. |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 40 | Oligotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. No reading is a swimming clearance.
Ask about Gunn Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Gunn Lake typically sits around 53°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 55°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 57°F) and coldest in May (about 48°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (48°F) to its warmest (57°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 210 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Gunn Lake water temperature breakdown →
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Gunn Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Fifth Chain (0741)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Fifth ChainPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Gunn Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Gunn Lake in Itasca 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 Gunn 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 Gunn Lake’s readings
Email me when new measurements post for this lake. Updates stay free.
Or email
Fishing Gunn Lake
Water Quality Trend: Worsening
Based on 5 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Worsening5 years
Nearby Lakes in Itasca County
Frequently asked questions about Gunn Lake
Where is Gunn Lake?
- Gunn Lake is a lake in Itasca County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Gunn Lake?
- Gunn Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 14.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 9.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.9 µg/L.
Is Gunn Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Gunn Lake?
- Gunn Lake typically sits around 53°F at the surface in September, from 210 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Can I fish at Gunn Lake?
- Public access to Gunn Lake is listed as yes on the lake record. 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 Gunn Lake across LakeQuality
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Itasca County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the Mississippi Headwaters, ranked by water quality
Lakes in the Rainy Lake Watershed, ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
More lakes in Minnesota
State Parks Near Gunn Lake
Other Lakes in Minnesota
Oligotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
33 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA33 samples · 2020–2022
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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.