Upper Twin Lake
Upper Twin Lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 6.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 25.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 12 ft. Surface area: 212.5 acres.
- Clarity
- 6.9 ft
- Typical in August
- 72°F
- Max depth
- 12 ft
- Area
- 213 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Hubbard County
Upper Twin Lake is a 213-acre mesotrophic lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 12 feet (6-foot average). Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 18 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and bowfin (dogfish). Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 67 other monitored lakes in Hubbard County, Upper Twin Lake ranks #61 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-22. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Upper Twin Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 6.9 ft. Phosphorus level: 25.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 1.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 46.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 25.5 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 1.9 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 46 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Upper Twin Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Upper Twin Lake in Hubbard 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
Upper Twin Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 78°F) and coldest in May (about 58°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 12 field readings (2018–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Upper Twin Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 12 ft |
| Average Depth | 6 ft |
| Surface Area | 213 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- South Twin LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Upper Twin Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
8 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-07-17 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 16.97 | 0.17 lb |
| White Sucker | 7.19 | 1.98 lb |
| Shorthead Redhorse | 7.17 | 3.04 lb |
| Northern Pike | 4.66 | 2.31 lb |
| Bluegill | 4.46 | 0.26 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 2.96 | 0.19 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.
Yellow Perch
White Sucker
Shorthead Redhorse
Northern Pike
From the 2023-07-17 survey
Upper Twin (North Twin) is located in southern Hubbard County on the Hubbard-Wadena County line. Upper Twin is a very shallow lake with a maximum depth of only 12 feet. Due to its shallow depth, Upper Twin has abundant growth of both submerged and emergent aquatic vegetation. Upper Twin is connected to Lower Twin…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Upper Twin Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Upper TwinFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Upper Twin (1282)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Upper TwinFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.034 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.64 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.43 µg/L/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Upper Twin 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 MN29-0157-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #61 of 68 lakes in Hubbard County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Upper Twin Lake holds Grade C. 3 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 Hubbard County
Frequently asked questions about Upper Twin Lake
What is the water quality grade for Upper Twin Lake?
- Upper Twin Lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 6.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 25.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 12 ft. Surface area: 212.5 acres.
Is Upper Twin Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Upper Twin Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 1.9 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Upper Twin Lake?
- Upper Twin Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August, from 12 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2018–2021). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Upper Twin Lake?
- Upper Twin Lake has a maximum depth of 12 feet and an average depth of 6 feet. The lake covers 212.5 acres.
What fish are in Upper Twin Lake?
- Fish species found in Upper Twin Lake include black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, greater redhorse, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, river redhorse, rock bass, shorthead redhorse, silver redhorse, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Upper Twin Lake is located in Hubbard County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Upper Twin Lake?
- Upper Twin Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include South Twin Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Upper Twin Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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Fish species and best lakes in Hubbard County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Other Grade C Lakes in Minnesota
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Where this data comes from
83 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
MNPCA83 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