West Pike Lake
West Pike Lake in Cook County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 19 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 120 ft. Surface area: 788.2 acres.
- Clarity
- 19 ft
- Max depth
- 120 ft
- Area
- 788 acres
- Public access
- No
Next lake in Cook County
Why West Pike Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when its monitoring record clears the evidence bar: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For West Pike Lake, no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by MPCA and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
West Pike Lake is a 788-acre lake in Cook County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 120 feet. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including burbot, lake trout, and smallmouth bass. No public access — the lake is private or restricted.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-08-21. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch West Pike Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for West Pike Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Crystal clear, you can see 19 ft down. Trophic State Index: 35.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 19 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 35 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near West Pike Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near West Pike 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 West Pike 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 →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 120 ft |
| Surface Area | 788 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 10 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 28% |
| Public Access | No |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing West Pike Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
5 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-08-12 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| White Sucker | 4.12 | 2.41 lb |
| BUB | 3.18 | 1.42 lb |
| Lake Trout | 2.24 | 3.75 lb |
| Smallmouth Bass | 1.37 | 1.61 lb |
| Tullibee (Cisco) | 0.54 | 0.11 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.
White Sucker
BUB
Lake Trout
Smallmouth Bass
From the 2025-08-12 survey
Temperature and dissolved oxygen measurements were collected from the deepest basin in West Pike Lake on August 11th, 2025. This was done to evaluate the quantity and quality of cold, oxygenated water (i.e., oxythermal habitat) available to Lake Trout, the most sensitive coldwater species present in this lake (Cisco,…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for West Pike Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — West PikeFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
EPA Impairment Status
West Pike 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 MN16-0086-00 · Official waterbody report
Graded lakes near West Pike Lake
West Pike Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Cook County
Frequently asked questions about West Pike Lake
What is the water quality grade for West Pike Lake?
- West Pike Lake in Cook County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 19 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 120 ft. Surface area: 788.2 acres.
Is West Pike Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. West Pike Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is West Pike Lake?
- West Pike Lake has a maximum depth of 120 feet. The lake covers 788.2 acres.
What fish are in West Pike Lake?
- Fish species found in West Pike Lake include burbot, lake trout, smallmouth bass, tullibee (cisco), white sucker. West Pike Lake is located in Cook County, Minnesota.
Explore West Pike Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded 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 grade
Lakes in the Lake Superior Basin (MN+WI), ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near West Pike Lake
Other Lakes in Minnesota
Oligotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
1 measurement from 1 monitoring station, 2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA1 sample · 2024
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
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