What is the water quality grade for Spiritwood Lake?

Spiritwood Lake in Stutsman County, North Dakota received a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 31 ft visibility. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 54.7 ft. Surface area: 493.3 acres.

Is Spiritwood Lake safe to swim in?

Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Spiritwood Lake has an overall water quality grade of A. Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 5.5 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.

How deep is Spiritwood Lake?

Spiritwood Lake has a maximum depth of 54.7 feet and an average depth of 29.9 feet. The lake covers 493.3 acres.

Stutsman County, North Dakota

Spiritwood Lake

Grade AExcellent · 31 ft clarity

Find places to stay →

Oligotrophic

Spiritwood Lake is a 493-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Stutsman County, North Dakota with a maximum depth of 55 feet (30-foot average). Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Water clarity is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, and Yellow Perch. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings. Compared to the 6 other monitored lakes in Stutsman County, Spiritwood Lake ranks #1 for water quality.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, North Dakota DNR, last sampled 2025-09-23. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.

Watch Spiritwood Lake water quality

Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

Swimming Safety

Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae

Compare the safest swimming lakes near Devils Lake →

Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent

Crystal clear, you can see 31 ft down. Chlorophyll-a: 5.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 37.

Metric	Value	Grade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)	31 ft	A
Phosphorus	No data
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)	5.5 µg/L	B
Trophic State Index (TSI)	37	Oligotrophic

Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming

Lake Details

Characteristic	Value
Maximum Depth	54.7 ft
Average Depth	29.9 ft
Surface Area	493 acres
Shoreline Length	5.1 mi
Public Access	Yes

Where to stay near Spiritwood Lake

Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Spiritwood Lake in Stutsman County, North Dakota — 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 Spiritwood 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 trip to Spiritwood Lake?

Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Spiritwood Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at North Dakota’s top lakes →

Fish Species

Smallmouth Bass Walleye Yellow Perch Northern Pike Bluegill

Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.

Fishing Spiritwood 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.

Grass Carp(since 1998)Zander(since 1989)

Source: USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) Database. Hover a chip to see scientific name, ecological context, status, and first-observed year.

Water Quality Trend: → Stable

Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).

Metric	Trend	Change/Year	Years
Water Clarity	↓ Declining	-0.359 m/yr	6
Chlorophyll-a	↑ Improving	-0.34 µg/L/yr	5

See year-by-year chart →

Recreation & Access

Boat Landings

Yes

Public Access

Water Temperature

Spiritwood Lake averages about 60°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 61°F) and coldest in Dec (about 35°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.