Ryan Lake
Ryan Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 9.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 17.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 13 ft. Surface area: 33.87 acres.
- Clarity
- 9.2 ft
- Typical in August
- 71°F
- Max depth
- 13 ft
- Area
- 34 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- No
Next lake in St. Louis County
Ryan Lake is a 34-acre mesotrophic lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 13 feet (7-foot average). Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 4 documented fish species including northern pike, pumpkinseed, and white sucker. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 67 other monitored lakes in St. Louis County, Ryan Lake ranks #37 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-08-21. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Ryan Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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.
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 9.2 ft. Phosphorus level: 17.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 45.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 9.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 17.2 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 45 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Ryan Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Ryan Lake in St. Louis 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 Ryan Lake
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 →
Water Temperature
Ryan Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 70°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 71°F) and coldest in Jun (about 68°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 284 field readings (2010–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Ryan Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 13 ft |
| Average Depth | 7 ft |
| Surface Area | 34 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.5 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | No |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Ryan Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
3 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-07-22 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Pike | 8.75 | 1.08 lb |
| White Sucker | 1.42 | 2.57 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 1.08 | 0.09 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 0.50 | 0.04 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.
Northern Pike
White Sucker
Yellow Perch
Pumpkinseed
From the 2024-07-22 survey
Ryan Lake is a small, bog-stained lake on the Kabetogama Peninsula within Voyageurs National Park (VNP). Ryan is a Class 14 lake with a total surface area of 37 acres and a maximum depth of 13 feet. The shoreline is undeveloped, except for a campsite on the east shore. Ryan is a soft-water lake with low fertility.…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Ryan Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — UnnamedFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.135 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +2.58 µg/L/yr | 3 |
EPA Impairment Status
Ryan 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 MN69-0835-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.05 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #37 of 68 lakes in St. Louis County
Nearby Lakes in St. Louis County
Frequently asked questions about Ryan Lake
What is the water quality grade for Ryan Lake?
- Ryan Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 9.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 17.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 13 ft. Surface area: 33.87 acres.
Is Ryan Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Ryan Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Ryan Lake?
- Ryan Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August, from 284 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Ryan Lake?
- Ryan Lake has a maximum depth of 13 feet and an average depth of 7 feet. The lake covers 33.87 acres.
What fish are in Ryan Lake?
- Fish species found in Ryan Lake include northern pike, pumpkinseed, white sucker, yellow perch. Ryan Lake is located in St. Louis County, Minnesota.
Explore Ryan Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in St. Louis County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Lake Vermilion Area area
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Lake Superior Basin (MN+WI), ranked by water quality
Lakes in the Rainy Lake Watershed, ranked by water quality
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
19 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- National Park Service Water Resources Division
11NPSWRD_WQX19 samples · 2020–2024
Analytical methods
- Secchi Disk
- Alkaline Persulfate Digestion for Total N and P in Water
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