Walker Bay Lake
Walker Bay Lake in Cass County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 16.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.7 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 16.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 56°F
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 28
- Open water
- 200 days
Next lake in Cass County
Walker Bay Lake is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Cass County, Minnesota. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 103 other monitored lakes in Cass County, Walker Bay Lake ranks #74 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2023-09-07. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Walker Bay Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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)
Crystal clear, you can see 16.5 ft down. Phosphorus level: 10 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 1.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 37.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 16.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 10 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 1.7 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 37 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Walker Bay Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Walker Bay Lake in Cass 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 Walker Bay 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
Walker Bay Lake typically sits around 56°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 55°F. Usually warmest in Sep (about 60°F) and coldest in Jun (about 53°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 971 field readings (2022–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Walker Bay Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Walker City ParkPublic
Fishing Walker Bay 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 Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Walker Bay Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Public Water Access Sites — Leech (Main Basin)Public Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.15 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -1 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -1.6 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (74 observations).
Estimated open water season: 200 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 1945-04-09 (1945) | 1950-05-23 (1950) |
| Ice-In | 2018-11-13 (2018) | 2021-11-25 (2021) |
Most recent ice-out: 2022-05-08
County Ranking
Ranked #74 of 104 lakes in Cass County
Nearby Lakes in Cass County
Frequently asked questions about Walker Bay Lake
What is the water quality grade for Walker Bay Lake?
- Walker Bay Lake in Cass County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 16.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.7 µg/L.
Is Walker Bay Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Walker Bay Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 1.7 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Walker Bay Lake?
- Walker Bay Lake typically sits around 56°F at the surface in August, from 971 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2022–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Walker Bay Lake?
- The available depth estimate for Walker Bay Lake is shallower than its measured water clarity, which cannot be right, so no depth is shown.
When does Walker Bay Lake thaw?
- Walker Bay Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 28. Ice typically forms around Nov 14. The open water season is approximately 200 days.
Are there boat ramps on Walker Bay Lake?
- Walker Bay Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Walker City Park. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Walker Bay Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Cass County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Brainerd Lakes area
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Mississippi Headwaters, ranked by water quality
Lakes in the Pine River Watersheds (Brainerd Lakes), ranked by water quality
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
Other Grade A Lakes in Minnesota
Oligotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
24 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
LEECHLAK_WQX24 samples · 2022–2023
Analytical methods
- 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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate