Rabbit Lake
Rabbit Lake in Aitkin County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 9.3 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 51 ft. Surface area: 211.61 acres.
- Clarity
- 9.3 ft
- Typical in August
- 57°F
- Max depth
- 51 ft
- Area
- 212 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 14
- Open water
- 230 days
Next lake in Aitkin County
Why Rabbit 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 Rabbit 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.
Rabbit Lake is a 212-acre lake in Aitkin County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 51 feet (19-foot average). Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 13 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-24. 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 Rabbit Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 9.3 ft. Trophic State Index: 45.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 9.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 45 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Rabbit Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Rabbit Lake in Aitkin 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 Rabbit Lake
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Water Temperature
Rabbit Lake typically sits around 57°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 56°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 58°F) and coldest in May (about 48°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 139 field readings (2016–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Rabbit Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 51 ft |
| Average Depth | 19 ft |
| Surface Area | 212 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 4.6 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 36% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Rabbit LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Rabbit Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
13 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-05-27 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 29.59 | 0.11 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 5.03 | 0.25 lb |
| Green Sunfish | 4.30 | 0.1 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 3.87 | — |
| Pumpkinseed | 3.58 | 0.2 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 3.20 | 0.88 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
Hybrid Sunfish
Green Sunfish
Pumpkinseed
From the 2025-05-27 survey
Daytime electrofishing was carried out on 5/27/2025 at Rabbit Lake to monitor the Largemouth Bass population. This was the first time Largemouth Bass have been targeted on Rabbit Lake during an electrofishing survey. Two netters were used, and sampling occurred for 2 hours. A total of 68 Largemouth Bass were captured,…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Rabbit Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — RabbitFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Rabbit (0009)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — RabbitPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.275 m/yr | 5 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (24 observations).
Estimated open water season: 230 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2012-03-21 (2012) | 2013-05-09 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 2003-11-25 (2003) | 2001-12-20 (2001) |
Most recent ice-out: 2024-03-31
Graded lakes near Rabbit Lake
Rabbit Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Aitkin County
Frequently asked questions about Rabbit Lake
What is the water quality grade for Rabbit Lake?
- Rabbit Lake in Aitkin County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 9.3 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 51 ft. Surface area: 211.61 acres.
Is Rabbit Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Rabbit 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 Rabbit Lake?
- Rabbit Lake typically sits around 57°F at the surface in August, from 139 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2016–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Rabbit Lake?
- Rabbit Lake has a maximum depth of 51 feet and an average depth of 19 feet. The lake covers 211.61 acres.
What fish are in Rabbit Lake?
- Fish species found in Rabbit Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, walleye, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Rabbit Lake is located in Aitkin County, Minnesota.
When does Rabbit Lake thaw?
- Rabbit Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 14. Ice typically forms around Nov 30. The open water season is approximately 230 days.
Are there boat ramps on Rabbit Lake?
- Rabbit Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Rabbit Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Rabbit Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
114 measurements from 3 monitoring stations, 2021–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA114 samples · 2021–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
Monitoring station identifiers (3)
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