Two Island Lake
Cook County, Minnesota754 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Two Island Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- 27 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Two Island Lake in Cook County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 12 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 27 ft. Surface area: 753.82 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on September 5, 2023 caught 8.57 walleye per gill net at Two Island Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 8–24 inches. DNR survey details →
Two Island Lake is a 754-acre mesotrophic lake in Cook County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 27 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 7 documented fish species including bluegill, northern pike, and pumpkinseed. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 43 other monitored lakes in Cook County, Two Island Lake ranks #22 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-10. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Two Island Lake covers about 750 acres in Cook County. It has one public boat landing. If you are planning to stay, you can search lake houses and cabins around Two Island Lake on Vrbo, or look for a hotel room near the lake on Booking.com or Expedia.
What Two Island Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing7 species recorded
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLimited data
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. Two Island Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Two Island 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 Two Island Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Two Island Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 9 ft. Phosphorus 12 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 3.4 µg/L. TSI 43.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 9ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 12µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 3.4µg/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. | 43 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Two Island Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Two Island Lake typically sits around 60°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 67°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 70°F) and coldest in May (about 56°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (56°F) to its warmest (70°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 90 field readings (2016–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Two Island Lake water temperature breakdown →
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on September 5, 2023 caught 8.57 walleye per gill net at Two Island Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 8–24 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Two Island Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 3 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
11 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-06-26 (Targeted Survey).
11 surveys on file · most recent 2025-06-26 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smallmouth Bass | 3.77 | 7–17 in 2025-06-26 | 1.03 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 3.19 | 5–10 in 2023-09-05 | 0.17 lb |
| Walleye | 3.18 | 8–24 in 2023-09-05 | 1.58 lb |
| Bluegill | 1.60 | 3–9 in 2023-09-05 | 0.16 lb |
| White Sucker | 1.45 | 10–22 in 2023-09-05 | 2.97 lb |
| Northern Pike | 1.29 | 9–27 in 2023-09-05 | 2.8 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.
Smallmouth Bass
Yellow Perch
Walleye
Bluegill
From the 2025-06-26 survey
Two Island Lake is a medium-sized, 758-acre lake located off Ball Club Road, approximately 10 miles northwest of Grand Marais in Cook County, Minnesota. There is a small boat access with a concrete ramp and dock located on the northeastern side of the lake. Two Island Lake has a maximum depth of 27.0 feet, and bottom…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Two Island Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Two IslandFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Two Island (1668)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Two IslandPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
27 ft
Surface area
754 acres
Shoreline
13.1 mi
Littoral zone
93%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
11 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,765 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Two Island 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 Two Island Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Two Island Lake in Cook 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 Two Island Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Two Island Lake
Water quality readings over time
3 seasons of samples on record (2020–2025). Calling a direction takes at least 4 years of the same measurement.
Water clarity
Worsening3 years
Phosphorus
Improving-5 µg/L/yr2 years
Chlorophyll-a
Improving-1.6 µg/L/yr2 years
EPA Impairment Status
Two Island 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 MN16-0156-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Cook County
Frequently asked questions about Two Island Lake
Where is Two Island Lake?
- Two Island Lake is a lake in Cook County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Two Island Lake?
- Two Island Lake in Cook County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 12 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 27 ft. Surface area: 753.82 acres.
Is Two Island Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Two Island 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 Two Island Lake?
- Two Island Lake typically sits around 60°F at the surface in September, from 90 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2016–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Two Island Lake?
- Two Island Lake has a maximum depth of 27 feet. The lake covers 753.82 acres.
What fish are in Two Island Lake?
- Fish species found in Two Island Lake include bluegill, northern pike, pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch. Two Island Lake is located in Cook County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Two Island Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on September 5, 2023 caught 8.57 walleye per gill net at Two Island Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 8–24 inches. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Two Island Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 3 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Two Island Lake?
- Two Island Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Two Island Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Two Island Lake?
- Two Island 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 Two Island Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Cook County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the Lake Superior Basin (MN+WI), ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Compare Two Island Lake With Nearby Lakes
Where this data comes from
28 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
MNPCA28 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)
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