Moosehead Lake
Moosehead Lake in Carlton County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 4 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 18 ft. Surface area: 279.24 acres.
- Clarity
- 4 ft
- Typical in August
- 73°F
- Max depth
- 18 ft
- Area
- 279 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 19
- Open water
- 217 days
Next lake in Carlton County
Why Moosehead 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 Moosehead 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.
Moosehead Lake is a 279-acre lake in Carlton County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 18 feet (12-foot average). Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 14 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and channel catfish. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-07. 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 Moosehead Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Murky, only visible to about 4 ft. Trophic State Index: 57.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 57 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Moosehead Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Moosehead Lake in Carlton 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 Moosehead Lake
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Water Temperature
Moosehead Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 72°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 74°F) and coldest in Jun (about 69°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 39 field readings (2016–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Moosehead Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 18 ft |
| Average Depth | 12 ft |
| Surface Area | 279 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 93% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Moosehead LakePublic
- Moose LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Moosehead Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
6 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-07-10 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 8.23 | 0.3 lb |
| Smallmouth Bass | 4.99 | 1.14 lb |
| Northern Pike | 3.94 | 1.68 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 3.81 | 0.12 lb |
| Black Crappie | 3.58 | 0.34 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 3.07 | 0.19 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
Smallmouth Bass
Northern Pike
Yellow Perch
From the 2023-07-10 survey
Moosehead Lake is located on the east side of Moose Lake, MN. There is a city administered back-in access adjacent to the public park with a swimming beach. The lake is 279 acres and has a maximum depth of 18 feet. The 2023 survey was completed to update information about fish populations in Moosehead Lake. Special…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Moosehead Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — MooseheadFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Moosehead (0267)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — MooseheadPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.074 m/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (37 observations).
Estimated open water season: 217 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-12 (2024) | 2022-05-21 (2022) |
| Ice-In | 1981-11-20 (1981) | 2024-11-30 (2024) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-04-14
EPA Impairment Status
Moosehead Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN09-0041-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Carlton County
Frequently asked questions about Moosehead Lake
What is the water quality grade for Moosehead Lake?
- Moosehead Lake in Carlton County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 4 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 18 ft. Surface area: 279.24 acres.
Is Moosehead Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Moosehead 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 Moosehead Lake?
- Moosehead Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August, from 39 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2016–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Moosehead Lake?
- Moosehead Lake has a maximum depth of 18 feet and an average depth of 12 feet. The lake covers 279.24 acres.
What fish are in Moosehead Lake?
- Fish species found in Moosehead Lake include black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, shorthead redhorse, silver redhorse, smallmouth bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Moosehead Lake is located in Carlton County, Minnesota.
When does Moosehead Lake thaw?
- Moosehead Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 19. Ice typically forms around Nov 22. The open water season is approximately 217 days.
Are there boat ramps on Moosehead Lake?
- Moosehead Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Moosehead Lake, Moose Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Moosehead Lake across LakeGrade
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where this data comes from
42 measurements from 2 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
MNPCA42 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
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
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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate