Skull Lake
Skull Lake in Lake County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 11 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 38 ft. Surface area: 28.94 acres.
- Clarity
- 11 ft
- Max depth
- 38 ft
- Area
- 29 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- No
Next lake in Lake County
Why Skull 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 Skull 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.
Skull Lake is a 29-acre lake in Lake County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 38 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including brook trout, largemouth bass, and white sucker. No public access — the lake is private or restricted.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-07-08. 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 Skull Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 11 ft. Trophic State Index: 43.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 11 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 43 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Skull Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Skull Lake in Lake 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 Skull Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 38 ft |
| Surface Area | 29 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 38% |
| 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 Skull Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
11 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-05-10 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Brook Trout | 4.97 | 1.36 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 2.88 | 1.07 lb |
| White Sucker | 1.56 | 3.62 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.
Brook Trout
Largemouth Bass
White Sucker
From the 2023-05-10 survey
Skull Lake is located 18 miles northeast of Ely in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The lake can be accessed by a 27-rod portage from Newfound Lake. Summer visitors are reminded to obtain the proper day use permits from the US Forest Service, which are available in advance or at the public access on Moose…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Skull Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — SkullFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — SkullFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.135 m/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Skull 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 MN38-0619-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.11 km)
Graded lakes near Skull Lake
Skull Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Lake County
Frequently asked questions about Skull Lake
What is the water quality grade for Skull Lake?
- Skull Lake in Lake County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 11 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 38 ft. Surface area: 28.94 acres.
Is Skull Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Skull Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Skull Lake?
- Skull Lake has a maximum depth of 38 feet. The lake covers 28.94 acres.
What fish are in Skull Lake?
- Fish species found in Skull Lake include brook trout, largemouth bass, white sucker. Skull Lake is located in Lake County, Minnesota.
Explore Skull Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
4 measurements from 3 monitoring stations, 2022–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA4 samples · 2022–2025
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder