Lake Minnetonka
Hennepin County, Minnesota14,206 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA records this lake as “Minnetonka Lake.”
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Lake Minnetonka. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- 3 aquatic invasives
- 113 ft max depth
- Public access
Lake Minnetonka in Hennepin County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 10 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 28 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 10.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 113 ft. Surface area: 14205.54 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 6, 2022 caught 2.50 walleye per gill net at Lake Minnetonka. DNR survey details →
Lake Minnetonka is a 14,206-acre mesotrophic lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 113 feet (30-foot average). Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 18 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 8 public boat landings. Compared to the 80 other monitored lakes in Hennepin County, Lake Minnetonka ranks #7 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-26. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
At about 14,000 acres, Lake Minnetonka is large enough that where you stay decides which shore you see most of. It has 8 public boat landings, so a lakefront rental is not the only way to get a boat on the water. The median ice-out date is April 12, which is when the open-water season begins. Vrbo is where to look for cabins and lake homes around Lake Minnetonka, and Booking.com and Expedia search hotels near the lake for your dates.
What Lake Minnetonka is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water10 ft of visibility
- Boat launch8 documented ramps
- Fishing18 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 12
- Deep water113 ft surveyed max depth
- Big water14,206 acres
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyModerate algae
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Lake Minnetonka is safe to swim in today is a call for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota DNR and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Lake Minnetonka
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Lake Minnetonka, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Good clarity, visible to about 10 ft. Phosphorus 28 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 10.1 µg/L. TSI 50.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 10ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 28µg/L | Fair GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 10.1µg/L | Fair GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 50 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Lake Minnetonka
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Lake Minnetonka typically sits around 79°F at the surface in July. Summer average is about 79°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 79°F) and coldest in May (about 64°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (64°F) to its warmest (79°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 8 field readings (2023–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lake Minnetonka water temperature breakdown →
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 6, 2022 caught 2.50 walleye per gill net at Lake Minnetonka.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Lake Minnetonka’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
15 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-06-06 (Standard Survey).
15 surveys on file · most recent 2022-06-06 (Standard Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 60.91 | 2–8 in 2022-06-06 | 0.17 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 42.46 | ||
| Largemouth Bass | 13.45 | 5–14 in 2022-06-06 | 0.95 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 8.80 | 5–8 in 2022-06-06 | 0.13 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and is not a weekly bite report.
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
Largemouth Bass
Yellow Perch
From the 2022-06-06 survey
Introduction Lake Minnetonka is a 14,206-acre lake in Hennepin County, with a maximum depth of 113 feet and an average depth of 30 feet. The lake is comprised of many connected bays and has a complex shoreline. Multiple public and private boat launches are located around Minnetonka, and the lake is popular with both…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Lake Minnetonka. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — MinnetonkaFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — MinnetonkaFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — MinnetonkaPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
113 ft
Average depth
30 ft
Surface area
14,206 acres
Shoreline
133.3 mi
Littoral zone
41%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Recreation & Access
- Lake Minnetonka, North ArmPublic
- Lake Minnetonka, Carson BayPublic
- Lake Minnetonka, Phelp'sPublic
- Halsted BayPublic
- Lake Minnetonka, Spring Park BayPublic
- Lake Minnetonka, Maxwell BayPublic
Showing 6 of 8 documented landings from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory.
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Lake Minnetonka
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Minnetonka in Hennepin 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 Lake Minnetonka
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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 trip? Cabins and lodging at Lake Minnetonka → · more Minnesota lake trips
Follow Lake Minnetonka’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Lake Minnetonka
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
Water Quality Trend: Worsening
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Stable6 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+0.56 µg/L/yr6 years
Chlorophyll-a
Stable+0.03 µg/L/yr6 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 12
Earliest Mar 11, 1878 · Latest May 5, 2018
Typical ice-in
Dec 8
Earliest Nov 25, 1996 · Latest Jan 2, 2002
Most recent ice-out
Apr 3
2026
323 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Lake Minnetonka under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Former Advance Machine CoSpring Park · 0.8 mi away · NPDES MN0066648
- Boomerang Laboratories LlcSpring Park · 1 mi away · NPDES MN0066508
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
Nearby Lakes in Hennepin County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Minnetonka
Where is Lake Minnetonka?
- Lake Minnetonka is a lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Lake Minnetonka?
- Lake Minnetonka in Hennepin County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 10 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 28 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 10.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 113 ft. Surface area: 14205.54 acres.
Is Lake Minnetonka safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Lake Minnetonka?
- Lake Minnetonka typically sits around 79°F at the surface in July, from 8 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2023–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Lake Minnetonka?
- Lake Minnetonka has a maximum depth of 113 feet and an average depth of 30 feet. The lake covers 14205.54 acres.
What fish are in Lake Minnetonka?
- Fish species found in Lake Minnetonka include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, muskellunge, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Lake Minnetonka is located in Hennepin County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Lake Minnetonka?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 6, 2022 caught 2.50 walleye per gill net at Lake Minnetonka. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Lake Minnetonka’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does Lake Minnetonka thaw?
- Lake Minnetonka typically has ice-out around Apr 12. Ice typically forms around Dec 8. The open water season is approximately 240 days.
Are there boat ramps on Lake Minnetonka?
- Lake Minnetonka has 8 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lake Minnetonka, North Arm, Lake Minnetonka, Carson Bay, Lake Minnetonka, Phelp's, Halsted Bay, among others. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Lake Minnetonka?
- Lake Minnetonka has 8 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Minnesota's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Lake Minnetonka across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Hennepin County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the Crow River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
More lakes in Minnesota
State Parks Near Lake Minnetonka
Other Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Compare Lake Minnetonka With Nearby Lakes
Carver County · 11.5 ft
Hennepin County · 9.8 ft
Hennepin County · 7.9 ft
Hennepin County · 4.8 ft
Hennepin County · 3.5 ft
Hennepin County · 3.1 ft
Where this data comes from
1,428 measurements from 24 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
MNPCA1,428 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (24)
- MNPCA-27-0133-05-207
- MNPCA-27-0133-02-311
- MNPCA-27-0133-13-302
- MNPCA-27-0133-14-110
- MNPCA-27-0133-05-208
- MNPCA-27-0133-03-201
- MNPCA-27-0133-01-102
- MNPCA-27-0133-09-201
- MNPCA-27-0133-05-203
- MNPCA-27-0133-09-204
- MNPCA-27-0133-15-106
- MNPCA-27-0133-10-102
- MNPCA-27-0133-10-101
- MNPCA-27-0133-05-112
- MNPCA-27-0133-12-101
- MNPCA-27-0133-05-113
- MNPCA-27-0133-02-126
- MNPCA-27-0133-06-201
- MNPCA-27-0133-14-103
- MNPCA-27-0133-02-205
- MNPCA-27-0133-02-402
- MNPCA-27-0133-02-201
- MNPCA-27-0133-05-115
- MNPCA-27-0133-11-101
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.
Other records on this page
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate