Horseshoe Lake
Horseshoe Lake in Cass County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 8.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 18 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 12 ft. Surface area: 127.36 acres.
- Clarity
- 8.9 ft
- Max depth
- 12 ft
- Area
- 127 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Cass County
Horseshoe Lake is a 127-acre mesotrophic lake in Cass County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 12 feet (7-foot average). Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2020. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 103 other monitored lakes in Cass County, Horseshoe Lake ranks #5 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2020-10-08. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8.9 ft. Phosphorus level: 18 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 2.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 44.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 18 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.7 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 44 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Horseshoe Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Horseshoe Lake in Cass 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 | 12 ft |
| Average Depth | 7.3 ft |
| Surface Area | 127 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Whipholt WaysidePublic
- Trapper's Landing LodgeSemi-private
Fishing Horseshoe Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
5 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2014-06-16 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Pumpkinseed | 22.01 | 0.25 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 16.70 | 0.22 lb |
| Bluegill | 11.17 | 0.12 lb |
| Northern Pike | 8.43 | 1.92 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 5.98 | 0.89 lb |
| Black Crappie | 5.25 | 0.28 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.
Pumpkinseed
Yellow Perch
Bluegill
Northern Pike
From the 2014-06-16 survey
Horseshoe Lake (DOW# 11-0284; Lake Class 37) is a 127-acre lake located near Whipholt, MN. There is a US Forest Service-owned carry-in public access on the north shore off of State Highway 200. Horseshoe Lake has 3.27 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 12 feet. The lake is primarily managed for Largemouth Bass…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Horseshoe Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — HorseshoeFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
County Ranking
Ranked #5 of 104 lakes in Cass County
Nearby Lakes in Cass County
Frequently asked questions about Horseshoe Lake
What is the water quality grade for Horseshoe Lake?
- Horseshoe Lake in Cass County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 8.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 18 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 12 ft. Surface area: 127.36 acres.
Is Horseshoe Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Horseshoe Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 2.7 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Horseshoe Lake?
- Horseshoe Lake has a maximum depth of 12 feet and an average depth of 7.3 feet. The lake covers 127.36 acres.
Are there boat ramps on Horseshoe Lake?
- Horseshoe Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Whipholt Wayside, Trapper's Landing Lodge. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Horseshoe Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
69 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
LEECHLAK_WQX69 samples · 2020
Analytical methods
- 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