Kings Lake
Kings Lake in Stearns County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 7.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 45 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 31.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 44 ft. Surface area: 203.86 acres.
- Clarity
- 7.4 ft
- Typical in August
- 65°F
- Max depth
- 44 ft
- Area
- 204 acres
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 12
- Open water
- 232 days
Next lake in Stearns County
Why Kings 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 Kings 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, 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.
Kings Lake is a 204-acre lake in Stearns County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 44 feet (23-foot average). The lake supports 15 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-07-21. 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 Kings Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.4 ft. Phosphorus level: 45 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 31.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 57.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7.4 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 45 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 31.4 µg/L | Not graded |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 57 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Kings Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Kings Lake in Stearns 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 Kings Lake
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Water Temperature
Kings Lake typically sits around 65°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 66°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 70°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 125 field readings (2019–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Kings Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 44 ft |
| Average Depth | 23.4 ft |
| Surface Area | 204 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.1 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 23% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Cedar LakePublic
- FreeportPublic
- Kings LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Kings Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
9 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-08-25 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| PGS | 31.05 | — |
| Bluegill | 30.85 | 0.13 lb |
| LED | 16.72 | — |
| Yellow Perch | 13.85 | 0.1 lb |
| BKF | 9.89 | — |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 9.36 | — |
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
Yellow Perch
From the 2025-08-25 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Kings was conducted on August 25-August 27, 2025, by Lake Biological Monitoring and Assessment Program (LBMA) staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Kings Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — KingsFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Kings (0278)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — KingsFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — KingsPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.017 m/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (41 observations).
Estimated open water season: 232 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 1998-03-30 (1998) | 1990-04-26 (1990) |
| Ice-In | 1994-10-30 (1994) | 2002-12-25 (2002) |
Most recent ice-out: 2008-04-24
Graded lakes near Kings Lake
Kings Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Stearns County
Frequently asked questions about Kings Lake
What is the water quality grade for Kings Lake?
- Kings Lake in Stearns County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 7.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 45 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 31.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 44 ft. Surface area: 203.86 acres.
Is Kings Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Kings Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 31.4 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Kings Lake?
- Kings Lake typically sits around 65°F at the surface in August, from 125 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2019–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Kings Lake?
- Kings Lake has a maximum depth of 44 feet and an average depth of 23.4 feet. The lake covers 203.86 acres.
What fish are in Kings Lake?
- Fish species found in Kings Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Kings Lake is located in Stearns County, Minnesota.
When does Kings Lake thaw?
- Kings Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 12. Ice typically forms around Nov 30. The open water season is approximately 232 days.
Are there boat ramps on Kings Lake?
- Kings Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Cedar Lake, Freeport, Kings Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Kings Lake across LakeGrade
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where this data comes from
85 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 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 Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- 2120 B ~ Color in Water by Visual Comparison
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate