Two Island Lake
Two Island Lake in Cook County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). 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.
- Clarity
- 9 ft
- Typical in August
- 69°F
- Max depth
- 27 ft
- Area
- 754 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Cook County
Two Island Lake is a 754-acre mesotrophic lake in Cook County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 27 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. 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. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 9 ft. Phosphorus level: 12 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 3.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 43.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 12 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.4 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 43 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay 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.
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Water Temperature
Two Island Lake typically sits around 69°F at the surface in August. 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.
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 →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 27 ft |
| Surface Area | 754 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 13.1 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 93% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Two Island LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Two Island Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
11 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-06-26 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Smallmouth Bass | 3.77 | 1.03 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 3.19 | 0.17 lb |
| Walleye | 3.18 | 1.58 lb |
| Bluegill | 1.60 | 0.16 lb |
| White Sucker | 1.45 | 2.97 lb |
| Northern Pike | 1.29 | 2.8 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
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
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.13 m/yr | 3 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -5 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -1.6 µg/L/yr | 2 |
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
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN16-0156-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #22 of 44 lakes in Cook County
Nearby Lakes in Cook County
Frequently asked questions about Two Island Lake
What is the water quality grade for Two Island Lake?
- Two Island Lake in Cook County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). 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?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Two Island Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 3.4 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Two Island Lake?
- Two Island Lake typically sits around 69°F at the surface in August, 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.
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.
Explore Two Island Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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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)
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