Sunshine Lake
Sunshine Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 20 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 37 ft. Surface area: 79.45 acres.
- Clarity
- 20 ft
- Typical in August
- 65°F
- Max depth
- 37 ft
- Area
- 79 acres
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- No
- Ice-out
- Apr 24
- Open water
- 209 days
Next lake in St. Louis County
Why Sunshine 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 Sunshine 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.
Sunshine Lake is a 79-acre lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 37 feet. Limited fish-species data available. No public access — the lake is private or restricted.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-08-11. 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 Sunshine Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Crystal clear, you can see 20 ft down. Trophic State Index: 34.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 20 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 34 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Sunshine Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Sunshine 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 Sunshine Lake
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Water Temperature
Sunshine Lake typically sits around 65°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 62°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 65°F) and coldest in May (about 53°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 235 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Sunshine Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 37 ft |
| Surface Area | 79 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 42% |
| Public Access | No |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fishing Sunshine Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
1 survey on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 1991-08-29 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 12.25 | 0.23 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 8.00 | 0.51 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 5.00 | 0.19 lb |
| Northern Pike | 4.63 | 3.78 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 2.38 | 0.45 lb |
| Rock Bass | 2.38 | 0.23 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
From the 1991-08-29 survey
ALL FISH POPULATIONS SAMPLED IN SUNSHINE LAKE ARE NATURALLY REPRODUCING NOP GILLNET CATCH RATE OF 8.5 PER LIFT IS WELL ABOVE THE MEDIAN OF 2.7 PER LIFT FOR THIS LAKE CLASS. NOP SIZE STRUCTURE IS EXCELLENT WITH A MEAN LENGTH OF 24.1 INCHES AND 41% OF THE FISH IN OUR SAMPLE LONGER THAN 28.0 INCHES. NOP GROWTH RATES ARE…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Sunshine Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — SunshineFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Sunshine (0461)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.022 m/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (14 observations).
Estimated open water season: 209 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2005-04-16 (2005) | 2022-05-27 (2022) |
| Ice-In | 2003-11-08 (2003) | 2001-12-07 (2001) |
Most recent ice-out: 2022-05-27
Nearby Lakes in St. Louis County
Frequently asked questions about Sunshine Lake
What is the water quality grade for Sunshine Lake?
- Sunshine Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 20 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 37 ft. Surface area: 79.45 acres.
Is Sunshine Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Sunshine Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Sunshine Lake?
- Sunshine Lake typically sits around 65°F at the surface in August, from 235 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Sunshine Lake?
- Sunshine Lake has a maximum depth of 37 feet. The lake covers 79.45 acres.
When does Sunshine Lake thaw?
- Sunshine Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 24. Ice typically forms around Nov 19. The open water season is approximately 209 days.
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Where this data comes from
75 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
MNPCA75 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate