Hinds Lake
Hinds Lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 13.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 36 ft. Surface area: 305.44 acres.
- Clarity
- 13.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 72°F
- Max depth
- 36 ft
- Area
- 305 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Hubbard County
Hinds Lake is a 305-acre mesotrophic lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 36 feet (16-foot average). Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 16 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings. Compared to the 67 other monitored lakes in Hubbard County, Hinds Lake ranks #40 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-22. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 13.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 11 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 41.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 13.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 11 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 4 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 41 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Hinds Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Hinds Lake in Hubbard 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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Water Temperature
Hinds Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 72°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 77°F) and coldest in May (about 58°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 21 field readings (2011–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Hinds Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 36 ft |
| Average Depth | 16 ft |
| Surface Area | 305 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.5 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 72% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Hubbard Beach (South)Public
- Hinds LakePublic
- Lord LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Hinds Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
11 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-06-13 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 28.79 | 0.13 lb |
| CNM | 9.76 | — |
| Largemouth Bass | 7.87 | 0.88 lb |
| Northern Pike | 7.31 | 1.68 lb |
| Green Sunfish | 7.00 | 0.12 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 6.83 | 0.38 lb |
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.
Bluegill
Largemouth Bass
Northern Pike
Green Sunfish
From the 2022-06-13 survey
Hinds Lake is located five miles south of Park Rapids in southern Hubbard County. Hinds has a surface area of 305 acres and a maximum depth of 36 feet. A county owned public access is located on the northeast shore of the lake off Blue Spruce Road. Hinds provides angling opportunities for Northern Pike, Largemouth…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Hinds Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — HindsFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Hinds (1275)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — HindsPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.076 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -1.4 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.26 µg/L/yr | 6 |
County Ranking
Ranked #40 of 68 lakes in Hubbard County
Nearby Lakes in Hubbard County
Frequently asked questions about Hinds Lake
What is the water quality grade for Hinds Lake?
- Hinds Lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 13.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 36 ft. Surface area: 305.44 acres.
Is Hinds Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Hinds Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 4 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Hinds Lake?
- Hinds Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August, from 21 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2021). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Hinds Lake?
- Hinds Lake has a maximum depth of 36 feet and an average depth of 16 feet. The lake covers 305.44 acres.
What fish are in Hinds Lake?
- Fish species found in Hinds Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, smallmouth bass, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Hinds Lake is located in Hubbard County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Hinds Lake?
- Hinds Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Hubbard Beach (South), Hinds Lake, Lord Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Hinds 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 Hubbard County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Mississippi Headwaters, ranked by water quality
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Other Grade A Lakes in Minnesota
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Where this data comes from
85 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
MNPCA85 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 (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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory