Trestle Lake
Trestle Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 12 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 48 ft. Surface area: 87.56 acres.
- Clarity
- 12 ft
- Max depth
- 48 ft
- Area
- 88 acres
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Itasca County
Why Trestle 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 Trestle 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.
Trestle Lake is a 88-acre lake in Itasca County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 48 feet. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2020-09-03. 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 Trestle Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 12 ft. Trophic State Index: 41.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 12 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 41 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Trestle Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Trestle Lake in Itasca 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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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 48 ft |
| Surface Area | 88 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.1 mi |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Nashwauk LakePublic
- Crooked LakePublic
Fishing Trestle Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
1 survey on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 1979-07-16 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 5.25 | 0.39 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 5.00 | 1.18 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 4.50 | 0.96 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 2.13 | 0.35 lb |
| Northern Pike | 1.25 | 2.69 lb |
| Smallmouth Bass | 1.13 | 1.25 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
From the 1979-07-16 survey
Bass populations are higher than state and local medians. All other fish populations are within normal limits for this type of lake.
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Trestle Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — TrestleFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
EPA Impairment Status
Trestle Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN31-0193-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.49 km)
Graded lakes near Trestle Lake
Trestle Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Itasca County
Frequently asked questions about Trestle Lake
What is the water quality grade for Trestle Lake?
- Trestle Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 12 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 48 ft. Surface area: 87.56 acres.
Is Trestle Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Trestle 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 Trestle Lake?
- Trestle Lake has a maximum depth of 48 feet. The lake covers 87.56 acres.
Are there boat ramps on Trestle Lake?
- Trestle Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Nashwauk Lake, Crooked Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
6 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA6 samples · 2020
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
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