Safest Lakes to Swim Near Detroit Lakes
Minnesota
30 lakes within driving distance of Detroit Lakes, Minnesota pass our swim-safety screen — grade A/B water, low algae, and public access. 3 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.
Detroit Lakes sits in a lake-rich part of the upper Midwest: 30 graded lakes within reach, average grade A. Long Lake (A) leads the cluster.
Filtered for swimming, the nearby-lake list narrows further. swimming-specific signals — fish species, public access, depth profile, motor-boat congestion — interact with the LakeGrade rubric in different ways depending on the use case.
| # | Lake | County | Grade | Swim Safety | Distance | Clarity | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Long Lake | Becker | A | Low algae | 2.2 mi | 19.3 ft | 61 ft |
| 2 | Long Lake | Becker | A | Limited data | 2.6 mi | 15.1 ft | 61 ft |
| 3 | Pickerel Lake | Becker | A | Low algae | 6.6 mi | 18 ft | 74 ft |
| 4 | Maud Lake | Becker | A | Low algae | 8 mi | 17 ft | 32 ft |
| 5 | Six Lake | Otter Tail | A | Low algae | 8 mi | 21 ft | 140 ft |
| 6 | Scalp Lake | Otter Tail | A | Low algae | 9.3 mi | 20 ft | 90 ft |
| 7 | Big Cormorant Lake | Becker | A | Low algae | 10.5 mi | 24.8 ft | 75 ft |
| 8 | Rose Lake | Otter Tail | A | Limited data | 11.1 mi | 16 ft | 137 ft |
| 9 | Pelican Lake | Otter Tail | A | Low algae | 11.5 mi | 16.4 ft | 55 ft |
| 10 | Fish Lake | Otter Tail | A | Low algae | 12 mi | 18 ft | 69 ft |
| 11 | Bass Lake | Otter Tail | A | Low algae | 12 mi | 17.4 ft | - |
| 12 | Little Toad Lake | Becker | A | Low algae | 13.3 mi | 15 ft | 65 ft |
| 13 | Middle Cormorant Lake | Becker | A | Low algae | 13.4 mi | 15.1 ft | 40 ft |
| 14 | Sybil Lake | Otter Tail | A | Low algae | 13.4 mi | 20 ft | 74 ft |
| 15 | Otter Lake | Otter Tail | A | Limited data | 13.5 mi | 18 ft | 64 ft |
| 16 | Lizzie Lake | Otter Tail | A | Low algae | 14.7 mi | 16.4 ft | 66 ft |
| 17 | Kerbs Lake | Otter Tail | A | Low algae | 15.1 mi | 27.7 ft | - |
| 18 | Big Sugar Bush Lake | Becker | A | Low algae | 15.7 mi | 16.5 ft | 42 ft |
| 19 | Turtle Lake | Becker | A | Low algae | 15.7 mi | 23 ft | 73 ft |
| 20 | Little Mcdonald Lake | Otter Tail | A | Low algae | 15.7 mi | 26.5 ft | 109 ft |
| 21 | Island Lake | Becker | A | Low algae | 16.6 mi | 15 ft | 38 ft |
| 22 | Big Mcdonald Lake | Otter Tail | A | Low algae | 17 mi | 17.4 ft | 46 ft |
| 23 | West Mcdonald Lake | Otter Tail | A | Limited data | 17 mi | 16.2 ft | 62 ft |
| 24 | East Silent Lake | Otter Tail | A | Low algae | 18.3 mi | 19.2 ft | 48 ft |
| 25 | Strawberry Lake | Becker | A | Bacteria A | 18.6 mi | 17.5 ft | 40 ft |
| 26 | West Silent Lake | Otter Tail | A | Low algae | 18.7 mi | 18 ft | 58 ft |
| 27 | Star Lake | Otter Tail | A | Low algae | 19.9 mi | 17 ft | 94 ft |
| 28 | White Earth Lake | Becker | A | Bacteria A | 22.3 mi | 15 ft | 120 ft |
| 29 | Mule Lake | Otter Tail | A | Low algae | 26.1 mi | 17.1 ft | 31 ft |
| 30 | Juggler Lake | Becker | A | Bacteria A | 28.5 mi | 18 ft | 78 ft |
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.