Shoepack Lake
Shoepack Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 4.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 19.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 24 ft. Surface area: 298.85 acres.
- Clarity
- 4.6 ft
- Typical in August
- 68°F
- Max depth
- 24 ft
- Area
- 299 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- No
Next lake in St. Louis County
Shoepack Lake is a 299-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 24 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2024. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including muskellunge, white sucker, and yellow perch. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 67 other monitored lakes in St. Louis County, Shoepack Lake ranks #38 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-08-20. 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.
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
Murky, only visible to about 4.6 ft. Phosphorus level: 19.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 51.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 19.8 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 51 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Shoepack Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Shoepack 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 Shoepack Lake
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Water Temperature
Shoepack Lake typically sits around 68°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 67°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 68°F) and coldest in Jun (about 64°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 347 field readings (2010–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Shoepack Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 24 ft |
| Surface Area | 299 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 7.2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 84% |
| 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 Shoepack Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
2 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-07-22 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 25.94 | 0.08 lb |
| GOS | 18.21 | 0.01 lb |
| CNM | 13.74 | — |
| BNS | 4.97 | — |
| Muskellunge | 2.36 | 3.94 lb |
| IOD | 1.40 | — |
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.
Yellow Perch
GOS
BNS
Muskellunge
From the 2025-07-22 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Shoepack Lake, which is located within Voyageurs National Park, was conducted on July 22 - July 24, 2025, by Lake Biological Monitoring and Assessment (LBMA) Program staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing,…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Shoepack Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — ShoepackFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.06 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +3.55 µg/L/yr | 4 |
EPA Impairment Status
Shoepack 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 MN69-0870-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #38 of 68 lakes in St. Louis County
Nearby Lakes in St. Louis County
Frequently asked questions about Shoepack Lake
What is the water quality grade for Shoepack Lake?
- Shoepack Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 4.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 19.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 24 ft. Surface area: 298.85 acres.
Is Shoepack Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Shoepack Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Shoepack Lake?
- Shoepack Lake typically sits around 68°F at the surface in August, from 347 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Shoepack Lake?
- Shoepack Lake has a maximum depth of 24 feet. The lake covers 298.85 acres.
What fish are in Shoepack Lake?
- Fish species found in Shoepack Lake include muskellunge, white sucker, yellow perch. Shoepack Lake is located in St. Louis County, Minnesota.
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Where this data comes from
24 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_WQX24 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