Snail Lake
Ramsey County, Minnesota158 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Snail Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- Eurasian watermilfoil
- 30 ft max depth
- Public access
Snail Lake in Ramsey County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 11 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 30 ft. Surface area: 158.43 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 12, 2016 caught 15.00 northern pike per gill net at Snail Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 15–34 inches. DNR survey details →
Snail Lake is a 158-acre mesotrophic lake in Ramsey County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 30 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 11 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 43 other monitored lakes in Ramsey County, Snail Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-18. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Snail Lake covers about 160 acres in Ramsey County. It has one public boat landing. The median ice-out date is April 4, which is when the open-water season begins. Vrbo is where to look for cabins and lake homes around Snail Lake, and Booking.com and Expedia search hotels near the lake for your dates.
What Snail Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water11 ft of visibility
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing11 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 4
- Deep water30 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLow algae
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Snail Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Snail Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota DNR and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Snail Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Snail Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Good clarity, visible to about 11 ft. Phosphorus 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 4.5 µg/L. TSI 45.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 11ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 20µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 4.5µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 45 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Snail Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Snail Lake typically sits around 52°F at the surface in October. Summer average is about 65°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 67°F) and coldest in Mar (about 41°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (41°F) to its warmest (67°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 742 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Snail Lake water temperature breakdown →
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 12, 2016 caught 15.00 northern pike per gill net at Snail Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 15–34 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Snail Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
8 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2016-07-12 (Standard Survey).
8 surveys on file · most recent 2016-07-12 (Standard Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 26.42 | 2–7 in 2016-07-12 | 0.1 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 14.76 | 8–10 in 2004-07-12 | 0.31 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 10.62 | 5–12 in 2016-07-12 | 0.39 lb |
| Northern Pike | 8.07 | 15–34 in 2016-07-12 | 1.68 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 6.33 | 2–8 in 2016-07-12 | 0.13 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and is not a weekly bite report.
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
Brown Bullhead
Black Bullhead
Northern Pike
From the 2016-07-12 survey
Snail Lake is a 148 acre class 38 lake located in northern Ramsey County. Snail Lake is primarily managed for Largemouth Bass and Northern Pike, with Walleye and Bluegill as secondary management species. Walleye fry are stocked biennially at a rate of 2,000 per littoral acre (260,000 fry). Snail Lake experienced a…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Snail Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — SnailFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — SnailFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — SnailPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
30 ft
Surface area
158 acres
Shoreline
2.4 mi
Littoral zone
82%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
2 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
876 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Snail LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Snail Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Snail Lake in Ramsey 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 Snail Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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 →
Follow Snail Lake’s readings
Email me when new measurements post for this lake. Updates stay free.
Or email
Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Snail Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
Water Quality Trend: Worsening
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Worsening6 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+0.91 µg/L/yr6 years
Chlorophyll-a
Worsening+0.55 µg/L/yr6 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 4
Earliest Mar 3, 2024 · Latest Apr 21, 2014
Typical ice-in
Nov 29
Earliest Nov 21, 2014 · Latest Dec 14, 2004
Most recent ice-out
Mar 3
2024
23 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
EPA Impairment Status
Snail Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Fish consumption.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN62-0073-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Ramsey County
Frequently asked questions about Snail Lake
Where is Snail Lake?
- Snail Lake is a lake in Ramsey County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Snail Lake?
- Snail Lake in Ramsey County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 11 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 30 ft. Surface area: 158.43 acres.
Is Snail Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Snail Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Snail Lake?
- Snail Lake typically sits around 52°F at the surface in October, from 742 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Snail Lake?
- Snail Lake has a maximum depth of 30 feet. The lake covers 158.43 acres.
What fish are in Snail Lake?
- Fish species found in Snail Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Snail Lake is located in Ramsey County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Snail Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 12, 2016 caught 15.00 northern pike per gill net at Snail Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 15–34 inches. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Snail Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does Snail Lake thaw?
- Snail Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 4. Ice typically forms around Nov 29. The open water season is approximately 239 days.
Are there boat ramps on Snail Lake?
- Snail Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Snail Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Snail Lake?
- Snail Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Minnesota's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Snail Lake across LakeQuality
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Ramsey County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
More lakes in Minnesota
State Parks Near Snail Lake
Other Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
758 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
MNPCA758 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- 2130 B ~ Nephelometric Method
- Turbidity, Nephelometric Method
- Turbidity by Nephelometry
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from 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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate