Hamlet Lake
Hamlet Lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 18.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 88 ft. Surface area: 307.2 acres.
- Clarity
- 18.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 76°F
- Max depth
- 88 ft
- Area
- 307 acres
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- No
- Ice-out
- Apr 17
- Open water
- 232 days
Next lake in Crow Wing County
Why Hamlet Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when its monitoring record clears the evidence bar: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Hamlet Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by MPCA and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Hamlet Lake is a 307-acre lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 88 feet. Limited fish-species data available. No public access — the lake is private or restricted.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-07. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Hamlet Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Hamlet Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Crystal clear, you can see 18.5 ft down. Trophic State Index: 35.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 18.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 35 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Hamlet Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Hamlet 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Hamlet Lake
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 →
Water Temperature
Hamlet Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 74°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 76°F) and coldest in Oct (about 60°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 76 field readings (2022–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Hamlet Lake water temperature breakdown →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Hamlet Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was low (16,596 cells/mL) on October 18, 2025.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 88 ft |
| Surface Area | 307 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 4.5 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 32% |
| Public Access | No |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fishing Hamlet Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
1 survey on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 1989-07-19 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 12.19 | 0.17 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 8.84 | 0.39 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 7.00 | 0.29 lb |
| Northern Pike | 6.10 | 1.09 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 3.44 | 0.15 lb |
| Rock Bass | 1.70 | 0.31 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
From the 1989-07-19 survey
Northern pike and yellow bullhead numbers are high. Bowfin, brown bullhead, rock bass, pumpkinseed, bluegill, largemouth bass and black crappie are present in average numbers when compared with catch rates from lake class 23. Growth rates for northern pike were below average, and the individual sizes were small. Ages…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Hamlet Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — HamletFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Hamlet (0169)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.01 m/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (51 observations).
Estimated open water season: 232 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-16 (2024) | 2013-05-13 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 2018-11-20 (2018) | 2024-01-08 (2024) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-04-14
Graded lakes near Hamlet Lake
Hamlet Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Crow Wing County
Frequently asked questions about Hamlet Lake
What is the water quality grade for Hamlet Lake?
- Hamlet Lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 18.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 88 ft. Surface area: 307.2 acres.
Is Hamlet Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Hamlet Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Hamlet Lake?
- Hamlet Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August, from 76 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2022–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Hamlet Lake?
- Hamlet Lake has a maximum depth of 88 feet. The lake covers 307.2 acres.
When does Hamlet Lake thaw?
- Hamlet Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 17. Ice typically forms around Dec 5. The open water season is approximately 232 days.
Does Hamlet Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Hamlet Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was low (16,596 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Minnesota's current advisory before swimming.
Explore Hamlet 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 Crow Wing County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Brainerd Lakes area
Top lakes and where to stay in the Mille Lacs Area area
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Pine River Watersheds (Brainerd Lakes), ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Hamlet Lake
Other Lakes in Minnesota
Oligotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
113 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
MNPCA113 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate