Lost Lake
Lost Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 23 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 44 ft. Surface area: 124.07 acres.
- Clarity
- 23 ft
- Typical in August
- 54°F
- Max depth
- 44 ft
- Area
- 124 acres
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in St. Louis County
Why Lost 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 Lost 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.
Lost Lake is a 124-acre lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 44 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 8 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 2024-09-16. 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 Lost Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Crystal clear, you can see 23 ft down. Trophic State Index: 32.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 23 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 32 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Lost Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lost Lake in St. Louis 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 Lost Lake
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Water Temperature
Lost Lake typically sits around 54°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 59°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 64°F) and coldest in Aug (about 54°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 9 field readings (2010–2010) via the EPA Water Quality Portal.
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 44 ft |
| Surface Area | 124 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.4 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 39% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Lost LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Lost Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
3 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2014-06-23 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 16.04 | 0.14 lb |
| White Sucker | 2.93 | 2.17 lb |
| Northern Pike | 2.73 | 1.9 lb |
| Black Crappie | 2.71 | 0.22 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 2.53 | 0.1 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 1.86 | 0.13 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.
Bluegill
White Sucker
Northern Pike
Black Crappie
From the 2014-06-23 survey
Lost Lake is a 107 acre, ecological class 5 lake located off Co Rd 334 and 8 miles southeast of Eveleth. There is one public access with a gravel ramp in the southwest corner of the lake (parking is limited). Lost Lake has a maximum depth of 44 feet and clear water. Lost Lake was stratified on June 23, 2014 with a…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Lost Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — LostFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Lost (1785)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — LostPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.138 m/yr | 4 |
EPA Impairment Status
Lost 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 MN69-0556-00 · Official waterbody report
Graded lakes near Lost Lake
Lost Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in St. Louis County
Frequently asked questions about Lost Lake
What is the water quality grade for Lost Lake?
- Lost Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 23 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 44 ft. Surface area: 124.07 acres.
Is Lost Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Lost Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Lost Lake?
- Lost Lake typically sits around 54°F at the surface in August, from 9 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2010). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Lost Lake?
- Lost Lake has a maximum depth of 44 feet. The lake covers 124.07 acres.
What fish are in Lost Lake?
- Fish species found in Lost Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, northern pike, pumpkinseed, white sucker. Lost Lake is located in St. Louis County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Lost Lake?
- Lost Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lost Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
15 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
MNPCA15 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