Skunk Lake
Skunk Lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 16.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 55 ft. Surface area: 218.43 acres.
- Clarity
- 16.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 75°F
- Max depth
- 55 ft
- Area
- 218 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 24
- Open water
- 217 days
Next lake in Hubbard County
Skunk Lake is a 218-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 55 feet (10-foot average). Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 9 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and largemouth bass. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 67 other monitored lakes in Hubbard County, Skunk Lake ranks #24 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-22. 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.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Crystal clear, you can see 16.5 ft down. Phosphorus level: 11.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 2.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 38.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 16.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 11.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.3 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 38 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Skunk Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Skunk Lake in Hubbard 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.
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Water Temperature
Skunk Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 74°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 78°F) and coldest in May (about 57°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 25 field readings (2016–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Skunk Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 55 ft |
| Average Depth | 10 ft |
| Surface Area | 218 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 5.1 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 56% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Blacksmith LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Skunk Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
4 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2007-05-29 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 39.48 | 0.1 lb |
| Northern Pike | 5.22 | 2 lb |
| Black Crappie | 5.07 | 0.32 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 3.81 | 0.11 lb |
| Rock Bass | 1.29 | 0.22 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 1.17 | 0.14 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
Northern Pike
Black Crappie
Yellow Perch
From the 2007-05-29 survey
Skunk Lake is located in central Hubbard County, thirteen miles north of Park Rapids. Skunk Lake has a surface area of 198 acres and a maximum depth of 55 feet. There is no developed public access located on Skunk Lake. The Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources (DNR) has classified Minnesota's lakes into 43 different…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Skunk Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — SkunkFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.018 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.14 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.07 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (11 observations).
Estimated open water season: 217 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2016-03-31 (2016) | 2022-05-06 (2022) |
| Ice-In | 2021-11-25 (2021) | 2024-11-30 (2024) |
Most recent ice-out: 2022-05-06
County Ranking
Ranked #24 of 68 lakes in Hubbard County
Nearby Lakes in Hubbard County
Frequently asked questions about Skunk Lake
What is the water quality grade for Skunk Lake?
- Skunk Lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 16.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 55 ft. Surface area: 218.43 acres.
Is Skunk Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Skunk Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 2.3 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Skunk Lake?
- Skunk Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August, from 25 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2016–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Skunk Lake?
- Skunk Lake has a maximum depth of 55 feet and an average depth of 10 feet. The lake covers 218.43 acres.
What fish are in Skunk Lake?
- Fish species found in Skunk Lake include black crappie, bluegill, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch. Skunk Lake is located in Hubbard County, Minnesota.
When does Skunk Lake thaw?
- Skunk Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 24. Ice typically forms around Nov 27. The open water season is approximately 217 days.
Are there boat ramps on Skunk Lake?
- Skunk Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Blacksmith Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Skunk Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Hubbard County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Park Rapids Area area
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Mississippi Headwaters, ranked by water quality
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Skunk Lake
Other Grade A Lakes in Minnesota
Oligotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
95 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA95 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 (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
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