Horseshoe Lake
Horseshoe Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 10.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 25 ft. Surface area: 260.22 acres.
- Clarity
- 10.5 ft
- Max depth
- 25 ft
- Area
- 260 acres
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Itasca County
Why Horseshoe 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 Horseshoe 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.
Horseshoe Lake is a 260-acre lake in Itasca County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 25 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 13 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-10-10. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Elevated cyanobacteria detected — see the algae advisory
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Horseshoe Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 10.5 ft. Trophic State Index: 43.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 43 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Horseshoe Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Horseshoe 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 Horseshoe Lake
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Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
A significant bloom was detected. Avoid swimming and keep children and dogs out of the water — blue-green algae can produce toxins.
EPA CyAN satellite reading from August 18, 2026 (rising) · 16 weekly estimates shown (364 on record). Satellite estimates cover only open water and can miss shoreline scums — always check your state’s current advisory before entering. EPA CyAN ↗
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 25 ft |
| Surface Area | 260 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 93% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Bello LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Horseshoe Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
5 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2007-08-27 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 18.27 | 0.3 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 10.58 | 0.16 lb |
| Bluegill | 5.91 | 0.23 lb |
| Northern Pike | 5.13 | 1.76 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 3.31 | 0.17 lb |
| White Sucker | 3.07 | 2.65 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.
Black Bullhead
Yellow Perch
Bluegill
Northern Pike
From the 2007-08-27 survey
Horseshoe Lake is a 270-acre lake in Itasca County near Marcell. Horseshoe Lake is a relatively small, shallow, hardwater lake that has occasionally experienced winterkill. The lake has historically been managed for walleye and centrachids. A population assessment was conducted on Horseshoe Lake in 2007 to determine…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Horseshoe Lake. 2 reports 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
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Horseshoe (0817)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.152 m/yr | 5 |
EPA Impairment Status
Horseshoe Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN31-0726-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.32 km)
Graded lakes near Horseshoe Lake
Horseshoe Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Itasca County
Frequently asked questions about Horseshoe Lake
What is the water quality grade for Horseshoe Lake?
- Horseshoe Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 10.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 25 ft. Surface area: 260.22 acres.
Is Horseshoe Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Horseshoe 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 Horseshoe Lake?
- Horseshoe Lake has a maximum depth of 25 feet. The lake covers 260.22 acres.
What fish are in Horseshoe Lake?
- Fish species found in Horseshoe Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead. Horseshoe Lake is located in Itasca County, Minnesota.
Does Horseshoe Lake have blue-green algae?
- EPA CyAN satellite data last estimated Horseshoe Lake's cyanobacteria density at 570,164 cells/mL (high bloom risk). Satellite estimates cover open water and can miss shoreline scums, so always check Minnesota's current advisory before entering.
Are there boat ramps on Horseshoe Lake?
- Horseshoe Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Bello Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Horseshoe Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
43 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA43 samples · 2020–2024
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