Park Lake
Park Lake in Carlton County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 16 ft. Surface area: 381.27 acres.
- Clarity
- 7 ft
- Typical in August
- 75°F
- Max depth
- 16 ft
- Area
- 381 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 21
- Open water
- 212 days
Next lake in Carlton County
Park Lake is a 381-acre mesotrophic lake in Carlton County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 16 feet (5-foot average). Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 13 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 21 other monitored lakes in Carlton County, Park Lake ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-18. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7 ft. Phosphorus level: 14 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 3.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 44.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 14 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.1 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 44 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Park Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Park 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.
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Water Temperature
Park Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 75°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 21 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Park Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 16 ft |
| Average Depth | 5 ft |
| Surface Area | 381 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.4 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 99% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Park LakePublic
- Bob LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Park Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
8 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-07-22 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 35.99 | 0.19 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 12.06 | — |
| Largemouth Bass | 11.74 | 1.56 lb |
| CNM | 9.22 | — |
| Pumpkinseed | 7.62 | 0.26 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 6.03 | 0.21 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
Largemouth Bass
Pumpkinseed
Yellow Perch
From the 2025-07-22 survey
Duluth Area fisheries staff conducted a targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Park Lake, located within the 1854 Ceded Territory, on July 22-23, 2025. Sampling sites were sampled for fish using backpack electrofishing and beach seines, depending on habitat conditions. Backpack electrofishing was completed at 10…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Park Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — ParkFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Park (0257)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Park (2070)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — ParkPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.052 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | -0.23 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | -0.03 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (53 observations).
Estimated open water season: 212 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-16 (2024) | 2005-05-12 (2005) |
| Ice-In | 1991-11-02 (1991) | 1998-12-09 (1998) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-04-20
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Park Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Park Lake (completed 1963), built primarily for other on the Park Lake Creek; earth-type dam, 8 ft tall and 40 ft long.
- Surface area
- 376 ac
- Normal storage
- 4,800 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 4,800 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 2.4 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- County of Carlton
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MN00752 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Park Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN09-0029-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 22 lakes in Carlton County
Nearby Lakes in Carlton County
Frequently asked questions about Park Lake
What is the water quality grade for Park Lake?
- Park Lake in Carlton County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 16 ft. Surface area: 381.27 acres.
Is Park Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Park Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 3.1 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Park Lake?
- Park Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August, from 21 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Park Lake?
- Park Lake has a maximum depth of 16 feet and an average depth of 5 feet. The lake covers 381.27 acres.
What fish are in Park Lake?
- Fish species found in Park Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Park Lake is located in Carlton County, Minnesota.
When does Park Lake thaw?
- Park Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 21. Ice typically forms around Nov 19. The open water season is approximately 212 days.
Are there boat ramps on Park Lake?
- Park Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Park Lake, Bob Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Park Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Carlton County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Lakes in the Lake Superior Basin (MN+WI), ranked by water quality
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Park Lake
Other Grade A Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
93 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
MNPCA93 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)
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