Upper Lake
Upper Lake in Ramsey County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 6.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 188 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 9.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 19 ft. Surface area: 69.3 acres.
- Clarity
- 6.2 ft
- Typical in August
- 59°F
- Max depth
- 19 ft
- Area
- 69 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Upper Lake →
Next lake in Ramsey County
Upper Lake is a 69-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Ramsey County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 19 feet (3-foot average). Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 11 documented fish species including black bullhead, bluegill, and bowfin (dogfish). Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 43 other monitored lakes in Ramsey County, Upper Lake ranks #29 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-02. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Upper Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyElevated nutrients
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.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Murky, only visible to about 6.2 ft. Phosphorus level: 188 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 9.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 61.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 188 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 9.7 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 61 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Upper Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Upper Lake in Ramsey 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Upper Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Upper 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 whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Upper Lake typically sits around 59°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 57°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 59°F) and coldest in Mar (about 41°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 913 field readings (2011–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Upper Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 19 ft |
| Average Depth | 3 ft |
| Surface Area | 69 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.7 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 68% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- Hidden FallsPublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Upper Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
8 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2014-06-23 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 23.40 | 0.33 lb |
| Bluegill | 16.98 | 0.13 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 7.02 | 0.14 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 4.38 | 0.43 lb |
| Northern Pike | 3.72 | 1.76 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 3.69 | 0.09 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.
Black Bullhead
Bluegill
Yellow Perch
Largemouth Bass
From the 2014-06-23 survey
Crosby Lake lies in the Mississippi River floodplain and is occasionally flooded by the river during high water periods. The surrounding property is a City of Saint Paul park (Crosby Farm Park). Shorefishing is available at many locations and carry-in access is also available (electric motor only). Summertime…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Upper Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — CrosbyFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.053 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +3.74 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | -0.19 µg/L/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Upper 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 MN19-0081-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.41 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #29 of 44 lakes in Ramsey County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Upper Lake holds Grade D. 2 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Ramsey County
Frequently asked questions about Upper Lake
What is the water quality grade for Upper Lake?
- Upper Lake in Ramsey County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 6.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 188 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 9.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 19 ft. Surface area: 69.3 acres.
Is Upper Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Upper Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 9.7 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Upper Lake?
- Upper Lake typically sits around 59°F at the surface in August, from 913 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Upper Lake?
- Upper Lake has a maximum depth of 19 feet and an average depth of 3 feet. The lake covers 69.3 acres.
What fish are in Upper Lake?
- Fish species found in Upper Lake include black bullhead, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), common carp, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, white crappie, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Upper Lake is located in Ramsey County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Upper Lake?
- Upper Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Hidden Falls. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Upper Lake across LakeGrade
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Fish species and best lakes in Ramsey County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Where this data comes from
745 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
MNPCA745 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- 2130 B ~ Nephelometric Method
- Turbidity by Nephelometry
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 details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory