Horseshoe Lake
Horseshoe Lake in Washington County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 4.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 40 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 31 µg/L. Maximum depth: 11.3 ft. Surface area: 75.37 acres.
- Clarity
- 4.8 ft
- Typical in August
- 78°F
- Max depth
- 11.3 ft
- Area
- 75 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Public access
- No
Grade F measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Horseshoe Lake →
Next lake in Washington County
Horseshoe Lake is a 75-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Washington County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 11 feet. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2024. The lake supports 8 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 74 other monitored lakes in Washington County, Horseshoe Lake ranks #65 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-10-08. 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.
Algae and nutrients are often high — check current advisories before swimming. Skip the water if you see scum or a paint-like bloom
Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)
Murky, only visible to about 4.8 ft. Phosphorus level: 40 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 31 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 59.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 40 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 31 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 59 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Horseshoe Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Horseshoe Lake in Washington 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Horseshoe Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Horseshoe Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Horseshoe Lake typically sits around 78°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 75°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 78°F) and coldest in May (about 51°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 59 field readings (2010–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Horseshoe Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 11.3 ft |
| Surface Area | 75 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.9 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | No |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Horseshoe 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.
EPA Impairment Status
Horseshoe 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 MN82-0110-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.51 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #65 of 75 lakes in Washington County
Nearby Lakes in Washington County
Frequently asked questions about Horseshoe Lake
What is the water quality grade for Horseshoe Lake?
- Horseshoe Lake in Washington County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 4.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 40 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 31 µg/L. Maximum depth: 11.3 ft. Surface area: 75.37 acres.
Is Horseshoe Lake safe to swim in?
- Algae and nutrients are often high — check current advisories before swimming. Skip the water if you see scum or a paint-like bloom. Horseshoe Lake has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 31 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Horseshoe Lake?
- Horseshoe Lake typically sits around 78°F at the surface in August, from 59 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Horseshoe Lake?
- Horseshoe Lake has a maximum depth of 11.3 feet. The lake covers 75.37 acres.
What fish are in Horseshoe Lake?
- Fish species found in Horseshoe Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, white sucker, yellow bullhead. Horseshoe Lake is located in Washington County, Minnesota.
Explore Horseshoe Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
28 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA28 samples · 2024
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Analysis of Chlorophyll in Periphyton and Plankton
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