Is it safe to swim in lakes near Alexandria?

That is a call for Minnesota's water agency and the county health department, who post current advisories. 30 lakes within driving distance of Alexandria pass the low-algae screen (favourable clarity and nutrient readings, chlorophyll-a under 15 µg/L, public access). The top pick on those readings is Cowdry Lake in Douglas County, 2.2 miles away. Bacteria can spike after heavy rain, so always check the current advisories before you swim.

Which lakes near Alexandria have bacteria testing?

None of the lakes near Alexandria have enough recent bacteria samples on record, so these lakes are screened on water clarity and algae (chlorophyll-a) instead. Always check posted advisories before swimming.

What is the cleanest swimming lake near Alexandria?

Cowdry Lake (Douglas County) is the cleanest swim lake near Alexandria on measured clarity and nutrients, with 17.1 ft of water clarity.

Swimming Lakes Near Alexandria, MN: Clarity, Algae and Bacteria Readings (2026)

30 lakes within driving distance of Alexandria, Minnesota pass the low-algae screen — favourable clarity and nutrient readings, low algae, and public access. 0 have direct bacteria (E. coli) testing on record. Filtered for the clearest, lowest-nutrient readings in the sampling record, low algae (chlorophyll-a under 15 µg/L), and public access. Not a swimming clearance: always check local advisories on the day you swim.

Within reasonable driving distance of Alexandria sit 30 measured lakes, a lake-dense area that gives residents real choice on any given weekend.

The swimming-specific ranking layered on top of the readings is what produces the list below: a lake with clean readings that does not also support the swimming use case is less useful than a decent one that does.

#	Lake	County	Bacteria	Distance	Clarity	Depth
1	Cowdry Lake	Douglas	Low algae	2.2 mi	17.1 ft	52 ft
2	Geneva Lake	Douglas	Low algae	2.6 mi	14.1 ft	63 ft
3	Lottie Lake	Douglas	Low algae	2.6 mi	16.1 ft	31 ft
4	Latoka Lake	Douglas	Low algae	2.9 mi	19 ft	108 ft
5	Burgen Lake	Douglas	Limited data	3.3 mi	12 ft	43 ft
6	Brophy Lake	Douglas	Low algae	3.5 mi	15.4 ft	44 ft
7	Louise Lake	Douglas	Limited data	3.5 mi	14.5 ft	33 ft
8	Le Homme Dieu Lake	Douglas	Low algae	3.6 mi	13.1 ft	85 ft
9	Andrew Lake	Douglas	Low algae	4.8 mi	13.9 ft	83 ft
10	Carlos Lake	Douglas	Low algae	5.3 mi	18 ft	163 ft
11	Lobster Lake	Douglas	Low algae	7.1 mi	13 ft	65 ft
12	Mary Lake	Douglas	Low algae	7.1 mi	10.5 ft	40 ft
13	Maple Lake	Douglas	Low algae	7.5 mi	14.1 ft	78 ft
14	Ida Lake	Douglas	Low algae	7.8 mi	16.4 ft	106 ft
15	Crooked Lake	Douglas	Limited data	8.9 mi	14 ft	35 ft
16	Blackwell Lake	Douglas	Limited data	9.4 mi	11.5 ft	42 ft
17	Rachel Lake	Douglas	Low algae	10.1 mi	7.9 ft	65 ft
18	Chippewa Lake	Douglas	Low algae	10.8 mi	14.8 ft	95 ft
19	Miltona Lake	Douglas	Low algae	10.8 mi	18.7 ft	105 ft
20	Moon Lake	Douglas	Limited data	11.2 mi	21 ft	38 ft
21	South Oscar Lake	Douglas	Limited data	11.4 mi	16.7 ft	-
22	Vermont Lake	Douglas	Low algae	13.8 mi	14.1 ft	59 ft
23	Scandinavian Lake	Pope	Low algae	16.3 mi	7.9 ft	-
24	Minnewaska Lake	Pope	Low algae	18 mi	11 ft	32 ft
25	Nelson Lake	Otter Tail	Limited data	18.9 mi	10 ft	-
26	Eagle Lake	Otter Tail	Low algae	24.8 mi	22.6 ft	46 ft
27	Signalness Lake	Pope	Low algae	24.8 mi	10.7 ft	14 ft
28	Crane Lake	Otter Tail	Low algae	26.5 mi	9 ft	43 ft
29	Linka Lake	Pope	Low algae	27.2 mi	10.2 ft	50 ft
30	Little Birch Lake	Todd	Low algae	28.9 mi	13 ft	89 ft

Other activities near Alexandria

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Where to stay near Alexandria

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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.