North Star Lake
Itasca County, Minnesota832 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for North Star Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Oligotrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- zebra mussel
- 90 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
North Star Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 19 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 90 ft. Surface area: 831.62 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on August 15, 2022 caught 2.25 walleye per gill net at North Star Lake. DNR survey details →
Free interactive depth-contour map of North Star Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 80 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
North Star Lake is a 832-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Itasca County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 90 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 13 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and largemouth bass. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 71 other monitored lakes in Itasca County, North Star Lake ranks #19 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-04. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
North Star Lake covers about 830 acres in Itasca County. It has one public boat landing. For a place on the water, look through cabin and lake-house rentals near North Star Lake on Vrbo. For a hotel or motel room, Booking.com and Expedia both search around the lake.
What North Star Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water19 ft of visibility
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing13 species recorded
- Camping1 public campground nearby
- Deep water90 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLimited data
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. North Star Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether North Star Lake 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 North Star Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for North Star Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Crystal clear, you can see 19 ft down. Phosphorus 10.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 1.5 µg/L. TSI 36.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 19ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 10.5µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 1.5µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 36 | Oligotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. No reading is a swimming clearance.
Ask about North Star Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
North Star Lake typically sits around 58°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 60°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 62°F) and coldest in May (about 52°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (52°F) to its warmest (62°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 145 field readings (2021–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full North Star Lake water temperature breakdown →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for North Star Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was moderate (50,119 cells/mL) on May 16, 2026.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on August 15, 2022 caught 2.25 walleye per gill net at North Star Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows North Star Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
25 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-05-08 (Targeted Survey).
25 surveys on file · most recent 2025-05-08 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluntnose Minnow | 34.94 | ||
| Bluegill | 10.26 | 1–6 in 2022-08-15 | 0.12 lb |
| Muskellunge | 9.93 | 9–48 in 2025-05-08 | 8.47 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 7.06 | 4–9 in 2022-08-15 | 0.14 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
Muskellunge
Yellow Perch
From the 2025-05-08 survey
North Star Lake was stocked with Leech Lake strain Muskie fingerlings in 1989, 1991 and 1994 to establish a population. Natural reproduction was documented in spring surveys, fall electrofishing, and angler reports of small fish by the mid-2000s. Spring, night electrofishing to capture juvenile Muskie was conducted…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for North Star Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — North StarFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — North Star (0738)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — North StarFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — North StarPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
90 ft
Surface area
832 acres
Shoreline
10.2 mi
Littoral zone
38%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
7 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,355 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- North Star LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Public campgrounds near North Star Lake
- North Star0.7 km
Nearest public campgrounds in the USGS National Map inventory, within about 3 miles. An empty list means USGS records no campground that close, which is not the same as camping being unavailable. Where the source gives an official reservation link, it is used; the cabin and hotel search does not cover campsites. More camping lakes
Stays via Stay22
Stays near North Star Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near North Star 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 North Star Lake
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 whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Follow North Star Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing North Star Lake
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: Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Improving6 years
EPA Impairment Status
North Star Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Fish consumption.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN31-0653-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Itasca County
Frequently asked questions about North Star Lake
Where is North Star Lake?
- North Star Lake is a lake in Itasca County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of North Star Lake?
- North Star Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 19 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 90 ft. Surface area: 831.62 acres.
Is North Star Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. North Star Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of North Star Lake?
- North Star Lake typically sits around 58°F at the surface in September, from 145 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2021–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is North Star Lake?
- North Star Lake has a maximum depth of 90 feet. The lake covers 831.62 acres.
What fish are in North Star Lake?
- Fish species found in North Star Lake include black crappie, bluegill, largemouth bass, muskellunge, northern pike, northern sunfish, pumpkinseed, rock bass, smallmouth bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow perch. North Star Lake is located in Itasca County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at North Star Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on August 15, 2022 caught 2.25 walleye per gill net at North Star Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows North Star Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Does North Star Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for North Star Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was moderate (50,119 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Minnesota's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on North Star Lake?
- North Star Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include North Star Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at North Star Lake?
- North Star Lake has 1 documented boat landing 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.
Are there campgrounds on North Star Lake?
- North Star Lake has 1 public campground from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including North Star. This is a location join, not a booking. Cabins and hotels are listed separately; campsite reservations use the official link when the source provides one.
Explore North Star Lake 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 Itasca County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the Mississippi Headwaters, ranked by water quality
Lakes in the Rainy Lake Watershed, ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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Where this data comes from
64 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
MNPCA64 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 (1)
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
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
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles