Sandy Lake
Sandy Lake in Sherburne County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 14 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 12.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 41 ft. Surface area: 64.14 acres.
- Clarity
- 14 ft
- Typical in August
- 81°F
- Max depth
- 41 ft
- Area
- 64 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 9
- Open water
- 232 days
Next lake in Sherburne County
Sandy Lake is a 64-acre mesotrophic lake in Sherburne County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 41 feet (14-foot average). Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. The lake supports 7 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and hybrid sunfish. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 17 other monitored lakes in Sherburne County, Sandy Lake ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-10. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Sandy 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.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 14 ft. Phosphorus level: 12.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 3.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 40.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 14 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 12.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.1 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 40 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Sandy Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Sandy Lake in Sherburne 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 Sandy 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
Sandy Lake typically sits around 81°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 78°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 81°F) and coldest in Jun (about 73°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 16 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Sandy Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 41 ft |
| Average Depth | 13.9 ft |
| Surface Area | 64 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 65% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Sandy LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Sandy Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
5 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2012-08-21 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 18.66 | 0.11 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 11.63 | 0.93 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 7.97 | 0.44 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 7.14 | 0.39 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 5.35 | 0.12 lb |
| Northern Pike | 4.93 | 1.2 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
Yellow Bass
Brown Bullhead
From the 2012-08-21 survey
Sandy Lake is located in northeastern Sherburne County, 4 miles northeast of Zimmerman. The lake has a surface area of 62 acres, maximum depth of 41 feet, and two small public accesses are located on both the north and south shore. The lake is primarily managed for largemouth bass and northern pike. A population…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Sandy Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — SandyFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Sandy (2001)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — SandyPublic 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 | +0.025 m/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (12 observations).
Estimated open water season: 232 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2003-04-03 (2003) | 2008-04-22 (2008) |
| Ice-In | 2002-11-16 (2002) | 2006-11-30 (2006) |
Most recent ice-out: 2023-04-21
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 18 lakes in Sherburne County
Nearby Lakes in Sherburne County
Frequently asked questions about Sandy Lake
What is the water quality grade for Sandy Lake?
- Sandy Lake in Sherburne County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 14 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 12.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 41 ft. Surface area: 64.14 acres.
Is Sandy Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Sandy 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 Sandy Lake?
- Sandy Lake typically sits around 81°F at the surface in August, from 16 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Sandy Lake?
- Sandy Lake has a maximum depth of 41 feet and an average depth of 13.9 feet. The lake covers 64.14 acres.
What fish are in Sandy Lake?
- Fish species found in Sandy Lake include black crappie, bluegill, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, yellow bullhead. Sandy Lake is located in Sherburne County, Minnesota.
When does Sandy Lake thaw?
- Sandy Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 9. Ice typically forms around Nov 27. The open water season is approximately 232 days.
Are there boat ramps on Sandy Lake?
- Sandy Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Sandy Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Sandy Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Sherburne County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Sandy Lake
Other Grade A Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
71 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA71 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 (2)
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