Leighton Lake
Leighton Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 21.7 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 63 ft. Surface area: 245.45 acres.
- Clarity
- 21.7 ft
- Max depth
- 63 ft
- Area
- 245 acres
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Itasca County
Why Leighton 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 Leighton Lake, no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). 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.
Leighton Lake is a 245-acre lake in Itasca County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 63 feet (30-foot average). The lake supports 11 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and bowfin (dogfish). Public access is available with 3 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-08-20. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Leighton Lake water quality
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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 Leighton Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Crystal clear, you can see 21.7 ft down. Trophic State Index: 33.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 21.7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 33 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Leighton Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Leighton 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 Leighton Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 63 ft |
| Average Depth | 30 ft |
| Surface Area | 245 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 4.1 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 32% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Mississippi River #10Public
- Leighton LakePublic
- Schoolcraft State ParkPublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Leighton Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
8 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-08-06 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Tullibee (Cisco) | 16.07 | 0.78 lb |
| Bluegill | 9.02 | 0.25 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 8.47 | 0.54 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 7.58 | 0.19 lb |
| BNS | 7.15 | — |
| CNM | 7.15 | — |
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.
Tullibee (Cisco)
Bluegill
Yellow Bass
Yellow Perch
From the 2025-08-06 survey
Temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) measurements were collected from the deepest basin in Leighton Lake on August 6th, 2025, to evaluate the quantity and quality of cold, oxygenated water (i.e., oxythermal habitat) available to Cisco, also known as Tullibee, the most sensitive coldwater species present in this lake.…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Leighton Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — LeightonFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Leighton (0845)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — LeightonPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Graded lakes near Leighton Lake
Leighton Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Itasca County
Frequently asked questions about Leighton Lake
What is the water quality grade for Leighton Lake?
- Leighton Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 21.7 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 63 ft. Surface area: 245.45 acres.
Is Leighton Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Leighton 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 Leighton Lake?
- Leighton Lake has a maximum depth of 63 feet and an average depth of 30 feet. The lake covers 245.45 acres.
What fish are in Leighton Lake?
- Fish species found in Leighton Lake include black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, walleye, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Leighton Lake is located in Itasca County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Leighton Lake?
- Leighton Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Mississippi River #10, Leighton Lake, Schoolcraft State Park. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Leighton Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where this data comes from
1 measurement 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
MNPCA1 sample · 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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory