Napoleon Lake
Napoleon Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 18 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 30 ft. Surface area: 138 acres.
- Clarity
- 18 ft
- Typical in August
- 71°F
- Max depth
- 30 ft
- Area
- 138 acres
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 29
- Open water
- 205 days
Next lake in Itasca County
Why Napoleon 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 Napoleon 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.
Napoleon Lake is a 138-acre lake in Itasca County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 30 feet. The lake supports 8 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and largemouth bass. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-23. 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 Napoleon Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Crystal clear, you can see 18 ft down. Trophic State Index: 35.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 18 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 35 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Napoleon Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Napoleon Lake in Itasca 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 Napoleon Lake
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Water Temperature
Napoleon Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 70°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 73°F) and coldest in May (about 54°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 88 field readings (2018–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Napoleon Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 30 ft |
| Surface Area | 138 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.8 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 30% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Owen LakePublic
- Lost LakePublic
- Wilson LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Napoleon Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
3 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2009-07-20 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 4.53 | 0.24 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 4.30 | 0.11 lb |
| Northern Pike | 2.86 | 1.14 lb |
| Black Crappie | 1.30 | 0.6 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 0.83 | 0.22 lb |
| White Sucker | 0.65 | 2.45 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
Yellow Perch
Northern Pike
Black Crappie
From the 2009-07-20 survey
Napoleon Lake is located about 17 miles northeast of Marcell, MN, within the Little Fork Watershed. The 123 acre lake has 42 littoral acres and a 30 foot max depth. Diverse aquatic plant life can be found along the 2.8 mile shoreline. A county access is located along the northeast side with limited parking. Similar to…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Napoleon Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — NapoleonFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Napoleon (0747)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — NapoleonPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.034 m/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (9 observations).
Estimated open water season: 205 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2020-04-25 (2020) | 2022-05-09 (2022) |
| Ice-In | 2017-11-10 (2017) | 2024-11-30 (2024) |
Most recent ice-out: 2022-05-09
Graded lakes near Napoleon Lake
Napoleon Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Itasca County
Frequently asked questions about Napoleon Lake
What is the water quality grade for Napoleon Lake?
- Napoleon Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 18 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 30 ft. Surface area: 138 acres.
Is Napoleon Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Napoleon 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 Napoleon Lake?
- Napoleon Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August, from 88 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2018–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Napoleon Lake?
- Napoleon Lake has a maximum depth of 30 feet. The lake covers 138 acres.
What fish are in Napoleon Lake?
- Fish species found in Napoleon Lake include black crappie, bluegill, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch. Napoleon Lake is located in Itasca County, Minnesota.
When does Napoleon Lake thaw?
- Napoleon Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 29. Ice typically forms around Nov 20. The open water season is approximately 205 days.
Are there boat ramps on Napoleon Lake?
- Napoleon Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Owen Lake, Lost Lake, Wilson Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Napoleon Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
83 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA83 samples · 2020–2025
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
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