Safest Lakes to Swim Near Bemidji
Minnesota
30 lakes within driving distance of Bemidji, Minnesota pass our swim-safety screen — grade A/B water, low algae, and public access. 0 have direct bacteria (E. coli) testing on record. Filtered for grade A or B water quality, low algae (chlorophyll-a under 15 µg/L), and public access. Always check local advisories on the day you swim.
Within reasonable driving distance of Bemidji sit 30 graded lakes — a lake-dense area that gives residents real choice on any given weekend. The average grade across the nearby set is A.
The swimming-specific ranking layered on top of the letter grade is what produces the list below: a grade-good lake that does not also support the swimming use case is less useful than a grade-decent lake that does.
| # | Lake | County | Grade | Swim Safety | Distance | Clarity | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bemidji Lake | Beltrami | A | Low algae | 4.6 mi | 12.5 ft | 76 ft |
| 2 | Plantagenet Lake | Hubbard | A | Low algae | 5.8 mi | 7 ft | 65 ft |
| 3 | Stump Lake | Beltrami | A | Low algae | 6 mi | 13 ft | 24 ft |
| 4 | Grant Lake | Beltrami | A | Low algae | 6 mi | 10.7 ft | 92 ft |
| 5 | Big Bass Lake | Beltrami | A | Low algae | 6.1 mi | 10.5 ft | 17 ft |
| 6 | Newman Lake | Hubbard | A | Low algae | 7 mi | 17.1 ft | 63 ft |
| 7 | Movil Lake | Beltrami | A | Low algae | 8.2 mi | 14 ft | 50 ft |
| 8 | Beltrami Lake | Beltrami | A | Low algae | 8.8 mi | 11.2 ft | 50 ft |
| 9 | Turtle Lake | Beltrami | A | Low algae | 9.8 mi | 10.2 ft | 45 ft |
| 10 | Wolf Lake | Beltrami | A | Limited data | 9.8 mi | 9 ft | 57 ft |
| 11 | Midge Lake | Hubbard | A | Low algae | 9.9 mi | 18 ft | 24 ft |
| 12 | Three Island Lake | Beltrami | A | Low algae | 10.4 mi | 11.8 ft | 25 ft |
| 13 | Andrusia Lake | Beltrami | A | Low algae | 10.6 mi | 15.1 ft | 60 ft |
| 14 | Jessie Lake | Beltrami | A | Limited data | 10.9 mi | 4.6 ft | 35 ft |
| 15 | Black Lake | Beltrami | A | Low algae | 11.4 mi | 10.3 ft | 42 ft |
| 16 | Hennepin Lake | Hubbard | A | Limited data | 11.9 mi | 10 ft | 14 ft |
| 17 | Big Lake | Beltrami | A | Low algae | 12.2 mi | 9.7 ft | 35 ft |
| 18 | Little Big Lake | Beltrami | A | Limited data | 12.4 mi | 9.3 ft | 35 ft |
| 19 | Julia Lake | Beltrami | A | Low algae | 13 mi | 9.2 ft | 43 ft |
| 20 | Whitefish Lake | Beltrami | A | Limited data | 14.1 mi | 12.5 ft | 30 ft |
| 21 | Deer Lake | Beltrami | A | Low algae | 14.2 mi | 11 ft | 42 ft |
| 22 | Long Lake | Beltrami | A | Low algae | 15.4 mi | 10 ft | 83 ft |
| 23 | South Twin Lake | Beltrami | A | Low algae | 15.7 mi | 16.7 ft | 45 ft |
| 24 | North Twin Lake | Beltrami | A | Low algae | 15.8 mi | 17.4 ft | 59 ft |
| 25 | Buzzle Lake | Beltrami | A | Low algae | 15.8 mi | 17.1 ft | 83 ft |
| 26 | Sandy Lake | Beltrami | A | Limited data | 15.9 mi | 14 ft | 32 ft |
| 27 | Hattie Lake | Hubbard | A | Low algae | 16.4 mi | 12.5 ft | 39 ft |
| 28 | Cass Lake | Beltrami | A | Limited data | 16.5 mi | 18.5 ft | 120 ft |
| 29 | Lasalle Lake | Hubbard | A | Limited data | 16.6 mi | 6.9 ft | 213 ft |
| 30 | Cass Lake Pike Bay | Cass | A | Limited data | 17.4 mi | 13.6 ft | 95 ft |
Other activities near Bemidji
Where to stay near Bemidji
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.