Is it safe to swim in lakes near Detroit Lakes?

That is a call for Minnesota's water agency and the county health department, who post current advisories. 30 lakes within driving distance of Detroit Lakes 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 Detroit Lake in Becker County, 1.8 miles away. Bacteria can spike after heavy rain, so always check the current advisories before you swim.

Which lakes near Detroit Lakes have bacteria testing?

None of the lakes near Detroit Lakes 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 Detroit Lakes?

Detroit Lake (Becker County) is the cleanest swim lake near Detroit Lakes on measured clarity and nutrients, with 14 ft of water clarity.

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

30 lakes within driving distance of Detroit Lakes, 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.

Detroit Lakes sits in a lake-rich part of the upper Midwest: 30 graded lakes within reach, average grade A. Detroit 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 letter grade in different ways depending on the use case.

#	Lake	County	Bacteria	Distance	Clarity	Depth
1	Detroit Lake	Becker	Low algae	1.8 mi	14 ft	89 ft
2	Long Lake	Becker	Low algae	2.2 mi	19.5 ft	61 ft
3	Glawe Lake	Becker	Low algae	3.1 mi	10.8 ft	24 ft
4	Sallie Lake	Becker	Low algae	3.7 mi	13 ft	50 ft
5	Floyd Lake	Becker	Low algae	3.8 mi	13.1 ft	34 ft
6	Little Floyd Lake	Becker	Low algae	3.9 mi	11 ft	34 ft
7	Tamarac Lake	Becker	Limited data	4.5 mi	6.9 ft	34 ft
8	Mud Lake	Becker	Low algae	4.6 mi	12.5 ft	34 ft
9	Meadow Lake	Becker	Low algae	4.6 mi	14 ft	72 ft
10	Cottage Lake	Becker	Limited data	5.1 mi	12 ft	-
11	Pearl Lake	Becker	Low algae	5.4 mi	10 ft	54 ft
12	Melissa Lake	Becker	Low algae	5.7 mi	13.1 ft	37 ft
13	Loon Lake	Becker	Low algae	6.2 mi	7.4 ft	-
14	Pickerel Lake	Becker	Low algae	6.6 mi	18 ft	74 ft
15	Mill Lake	Becker	Limited data	7 mi	8.5 ft	10 ft
16	Maud Lake	Becker	Low algae	8 mi	17 ft	32 ft
17	Six Lake	Otter Tail	Low algae	8 mi	21 ft	140 ft
18	Eunice Lake	Becker	Low algae	8.1 mi	13.5 ft	30 ft
19	Trowbridge Lake	Otter Tail	Low algae	9.1 mi	13.5 ft	76 ft
20	Little Pelican Lake	Otter Tail	Low algae	9.1 mi	11.5 ft	25 ft
21	Scalp Lake	Otter Tail	Low algae	9.3 mi	20 ft	90 ft
22	Leek Lake	Otter Tail	Low algae	9.6 mi	13.1 ft	-
23	South Tamarac Lake	Becker	Low algae	9.9 mi	6 ft	-
24	Wimer Lake	Otter Tail	Low algae	10 mi	10.2 ft	58 ft
25	Big Cormorant Lake	Becker	Low algae	10.5 mi	24.8 ft	75 ft
26	Pelican Lake	Otter Tail	Low algae	11.5 mi	16.4 ft	55 ft
27	Pine Lake	Becker	Low algae	11.8 mi	8.9 ft	-
28	Long Lake	Otter Tail	Low algae	12 mi	12.3 ft	128 ft
29	Franklin Lake	Otter Tail	Low algae	12.8 mi	13.1 ft	48 ft
30	East Loon Lake	Otter Tail	Low algae	12.9 mi	13.5 ft	105 ft

Other activities near Detroit Lakes

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Where to stay near Detroit Lakes

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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.