Little Gunflint Lake
Little Gunflint Lake in Cook County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 16.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 7 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 200 ft. Surface area: 4009.12 acres.
- Clarity
- 16.2 ft
- Max depth
- 200 ft
- Area
- 4,009 acres
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- May 6
- Open water
- 217 days
Next lake in Cook County
Why Little Gunflint 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 Little Gunflint Lake, no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). 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.
Little Gunflint Lake is a 4,009-acre lake in Cook County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 200 feet. The lake supports 12 documented fish species including bluegill, burbot, and cisco species. Public access is available.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2022-08-02. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Little Gunflint Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Little Gunflint Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Crystal clear, you can see 16.2 ft down. Phosphorus level: 7 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 1.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 34.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 16.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 7 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 1.3 µg/L | Not graded |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 34 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Little Gunflint Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Little Gunflint Lake in Cook 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 Little Gunflint Lake
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 200 ft |
| Surface Area | 4,009 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 39.2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 17% |
| Public Access | Yes |
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 Little Gunflint 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.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
13 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-08-11 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| RBS | 6.77 | 0.02 lb |
| Rock Bass | 4.78 | 0.32 lb |
| Walleye | 3.96 | 1.4 lb |
| Tullibee (Cisco) | 3.42 | 0.22 lb |
| CIS | 3.32 | 0.24 lb |
| White Sucker | 2.03 | 2.29 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.
RBS
Rock Bass
Walleye
Tullibee (Cisco)
From the 2025-08-11 survey
Temperature and dissolved oxygen measurements were collected from the deepest basin in Gunflint Lake on August 11th, 2025. This was done to evaluate the quantity and quality of cold, oxygenated water (i.e., oxythermal habitat) available to Lake Trout, the most sensitive coldwater species present in this lake (Cisco,…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Little Gunflint Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — GunflintFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Gunflint (1800)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — GunflintFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — GunflintPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (87 observations).
Estimated open water season: 217 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2012-03-23 (2012) | 1936-06-03 (1936) |
| Ice-In | 2002-11-27 (2002) | 2001-12-23 (2001) |
Most recent ice-out: 2023-05-12
EPA Impairment Status
Little Gunflint 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 MN16-0331-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.85 km)
Graded lakes near Little Gunflint Lake
Little Gunflint Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Cook County
Frequently asked questions about Little Gunflint Lake
What is the water quality grade for Little Gunflint Lake?
- Little Gunflint Lake in Cook County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 16.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 7 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 200 ft. Surface area: 4009.12 acres.
Is Little Gunflint Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Little Gunflint Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 1.3 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Little Gunflint Lake?
- Little Gunflint Lake has a maximum depth of 200 feet. The lake covers 4009.12 acres.
What fish are in Little Gunflint Lake?
- Fish species found in Little Gunflint Lake include bluegill, burbot, cisco species, lake trout, northern pike, rainbow smelt, rock bass, smallmouth bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow perch. Little Gunflint Lake is located in Cook County, Minnesota.
When does Little Gunflint Lake thaw?
- Little Gunflint Lake typically has ice-out around May 6. Ice typically forms around Dec 9. The open water season is approximately 217 days.
Explore Little Gunflint Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Cook County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Lake Superior Basin (MN+WI), ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
Other Lakes in Minnesota
Oligotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
5 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA5 samples · 2022
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- 2130 B ~ Nephelometric Method
- 2120 B ~ Color in Water by Visual Comparison
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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate