Mckenzie Lake
Mckenzie Lake in Clearwater County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 12.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 13 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 17 ft. Surface area: 89.21 acres.
- Clarity
- 12.6 ft
- Typical in August
- 72°F
- Max depth
- 17 ft
- Area
- 89 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Clearwater County
Mckenzie Lake is a 89-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Clearwater County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 17 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 36 other monitored lakes in Clearwater County, Mckenzie Lake ranks #22 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-09-16. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Mckenzie Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
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.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 12.6 ft. Phosphorus level: 13 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 1.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 39.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 12.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 13 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 1.6 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 39 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Mckenzie Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Mckenzie Lake in Clearwater 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 Mckenzie 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 →
Water Temperature
Mckenzie Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 72°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 74°F) and coldest in Sep (about 65°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 66 field readings (2016–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Mckenzie Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 17 ft |
| Surface Area | 89 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.5 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 85% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- McKenzie LakePublic
Fishing Mckenzie Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
3 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 1991-07-08 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Pumpkinseed | 28.75 | 0.11 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 17.13 | 0.27 lb |
| Black Crappie | 5.63 | 0.62 lb |
| Northern Pike | 5.38 | 1.26 lb |
| White Sucker | 3.17 | 1.96 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
From the 1991-07-08 survey
NOP, WTS, AND YEP ARE ALL ABOVE THE CLASS 37 QUARTILES FOR NUMBER AND POUNDS PER GILLNETS SET. PMK GREATLY EXCEEDS THE TRAPNET QUARTILES WHILE BLC ARE CLOSE TO THE MEDIAN. BLC NUMBERS HAVE VARIED OVER THE YEARS BUT HAVE ALWAYS HAD SOME STRONG YEAR CLASSES. YEP APPEARED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE 1987 SURVEY AND PMK IN…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Mckenzie Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — McKenzieFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — McKenzie (1342)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — McKenzieFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — McKenziePublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
County Ranking
Ranked #22 of 37 lakes in Clearwater County
Nearby Lakes in Clearwater County
Frequently asked questions about Mckenzie Lake
What is the water quality grade for Mckenzie Lake?
- Mckenzie Lake in Clearwater County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 12.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 13 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 17 ft. Surface area: 89.21 acres.
Is Mckenzie Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Mckenzie Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 1.6 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Mckenzie Lake?
- Mckenzie Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August, from 66 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2016–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Mckenzie Lake?
- Mckenzie Lake has a maximum depth of 17 feet. The lake covers 89.21 acres.
Are there boat ramps on Mckenzie Lake?
- Mckenzie Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include McKenzie Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Mckenzie Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Clearwater County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Mississippi Headwaters, ranked by water quality
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Mckenzie Lake
Other Grade A Lakes in Minnesota
Oligotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
27 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota (White Earth Band) (Tribal)
WEARTH_WQX27 samples · 2024
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Turbidity by Nephelometry
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