Hanging Horn Lake
Hanging Horn Lake in Carlton County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 6.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 80 ft. Surface area: 408.66 acres.
- Clarity
- 6.5 ft
- Max depth
- 80 ft
- Area
- 409 acres
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 23
- Open water
- 222 days
Next lake in Carlton County
Why Hanging Horn 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 Hanging Horn 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.
Hanging Horn Lake is a 409-acre lake in Carlton County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 80 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 11 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and largemouth bass. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-08-13. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Hanging Horn Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Murky, only visible to about 6.5 ft. Trophic State Index: 50.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 50 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Hanging Horn Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Hanging Horn Lake in Carlton 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.
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 80 ft |
| Surface Area | 409 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 4.6 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 21% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- Hanging Horn LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Hanging Horn 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
7 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2020-07-20 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Tullibee (Cisco) | 43.74 | 0.4 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 20.29 | — |
| JND | 7.63 | — |
| Bluegill | 6.75 | 0.21 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 3.14 | 0.14 lb |
| MTS | 3.02 | — |
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.
Tullibee (Cisco)
Bluegill
Yellow Perch
From the 2020-07-20 survey
Hanging Horn was surveyed during the summer of 2020 to evaluate and update information about fish populations, and to evaluate the effectiveness of the Rainbow Trout and Brown Trout stocking programs. Rainbow Trout and Brown Trout are the primary species of management for Hanging Horn Lake. Just over 19,500 yearling…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Hanging Horn Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Hanging HornFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Hanging Horn (0271)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Hanging HornFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Hanging HornPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.133 m/yr | 5 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (10 observations).
Estimated open water season: 222 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2005-04-14 (2005) | 2022-05-04 (2022) |
| Ice-In | 1991-11-25 (1991) | 2004-12-03 (2004) |
Most recent ice-out: 2022-05-04
EPA Impairment Status
Hanging Horn Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN09-0038-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Carlton County
Frequently asked questions about Hanging Horn Lake
What is the water quality grade for Hanging Horn Lake?
- Hanging Horn Lake in Carlton County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 6.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 80 ft. Surface area: 408.66 acres.
Is Hanging Horn Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Hanging Horn Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Hanging Horn Lake?
- Hanging Horn Lake has a maximum depth of 80 feet. The lake covers 408.66 acres.
What fish are in Hanging Horn Lake?
- Fish species found in Hanging Horn Lake include black crappie, bluegill, largemouth bass, northern pike, rock bass, shorthead redhorse, silver redhorse, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow perch. Hanging Horn Lake is located in Carlton County, Minnesota.
When does Hanging Horn Lake thaw?
- Hanging Horn Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 23. Ice typically forms around Dec 1. The open water season is approximately 222 days.
Are there boat ramps on Hanging Horn Lake?
- Hanging Horn Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Hanging Horn Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Hanging Horn Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
4 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
MNPCA4 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
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