Wolf Lake
Wolf Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 28 ft. Surface area: 288.94 acres.
- Clarity
- 9 ft
- Max depth
- 28 ft
- Area
- 289 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in St. Louis County
Why Wolf 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 Wolf Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, 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.
Wolf Lake is a 289-acre lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 28 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 8 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and largemouth bass. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-07-27. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Wolf Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 9 ft. Phosphorus level: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 5.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 47.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 20 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 5.4 µg/L | Not graded |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 47 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Wolf Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Wolf Lake in St. Louis 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 Wolf Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 28 ft |
| Surface Area | 289 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 4.5 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 50% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Wolf LakePublic
- Burntside Lake (South)Public
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Wolf Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
9 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-07-22 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 12.27 | 1.14 lb |
| Smallmouth Bass | 8.35 | 1.26 lb |
| Bluegill | 7.33 | 0.24 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 5.79 | 0.13 lb |
| Northern Pike | 4.06 | 2.25 lb |
| Walleye | 3.09 | 1.49 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.
Largemouth Bass
Smallmouth Bass
Bluegill
Yellow Perch
From the 2024-07-22 survey
Wolf is a 289-acre lake located eight miles west of Ely. It comparable to Armstrong and Low lakes in the Tower area. Water levels were moderate during the 2024 survey and maximum depth is 28 feet. Wolf was stratified during the survey, and a thermocline had developed at 12 feet. Oxygen levels were insufficient for…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Wolf Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — WolfFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — WolfFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — WolfPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.477 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +3.35 µg/L/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.3 µg/L/yr | 2 |
EPA Impairment Status
Wolf Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN69-0161-00 · Official waterbody report
Graded lakes near Wolf Lake
Wolf Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in St. Louis County
Frequently asked questions about Wolf Lake
What is the water quality grade for Wolf Lake?
- Wolf Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 28 ft. Surface area: 288.94 acres.
Is Wolf Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Wolf Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 5.4 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Wolf Lake?
- Wolf Lake has a maximum depth of 28 feet. The lake covers 288.94 acres.
What fish are in Wolf Lake?
- Fish species found in Wolf Lake include black crappie, bluegill, largemouth bass, northern pike, smallmouth bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch. Wolf Lake is located in St. Louis County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Wolf Lake?
- Wolf Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Wolf Lake, Burntside Lake (South). Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
38 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA37 samples · 2020–2025 - Minnesota Department of Agriculture - Pesticide Monitoring
MNDA_PESTICIDE1 sample · 2022
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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