Safest Lakes to Swim Near Ely
Minnesota
19 lakes within driving distance of Ely, 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.
A moderate cluster of 19 graded lakes lies within reach of Ely, averaging a grade of A. White Iron Lake (A) is the cleanest of the set.
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 | Grade | Swim Safety | Distance | Clarity | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | White Iron Lake | Lake | A | Low algae | 4.1 mi | 4.5 ft | 47 ft |
| 2 | Garden Lake | Lake | A | Low algae | 6 mi | 5 ft | 55 ft |
| 3 | Burntside Lake | St. Louis | A | Low algae | 6 mi | 16 ft | 126 ft |
| 4 | Farm Lake | Lake | A | Low algae | 6.5 mi | 5.5 ft | 56 ft |
| 5 | Fenske Lake | St. Louis | A | Limited data | 6.5 mi | 11.5 ft | 43 ft |
| 6 | Fall Lake | Lake | A | Low algae | 6.7 mi | 5.5 ft | 32 ft |
| 7 | Bear Island Lake | St. Louis | A | Limited data | 10.2 mi | 7 ft | 62 ft |
| 8 | Ed Shave Lake | St. Louis | A | Limited data | 12.4 mi | 11.5 ft | 17 ft |
| 9 | Bear Head Lake | St. Louis | A | Low algae | 12.9 mi | 11 ft | 46 ft |
| 10 | Big Lake | St. Louis | A | Limited data | 13.7 mi | 8.2 ft | 22 ft |
| 11 | August Lake | Lake | A | Limited data | 15.5 mi | 4.7 ft | 19 ft |
| 12 | Dunnigan Lake | Lake | A | Limited data | 17.5 mi | 11.4 ft | 14 ft |
| 13 | Slate Lake | Lake | A | Limited data | 18.2 mi | 4.4 ft | 7 ft |
| 14 | Middle Mcdougal Lake | Lake | A | Limited data | 24.1 mi | 3.6 ft | 7 ft |
| 15 | Isabella Lake | Lake | A | Limited data | 27.5 mi | 4.4 ft | 19 ft |
| 16 | Colby Lake | St. Louis | A | Limited data | 29 mi | 3 ft | 30 ft |
| 17 | Eagles Nest Lake | St. Louis | B | Limited data | 12 mi | 15.5 ft | 49 ft |
| 18 | Snowbank Lake | Lake | B | Limited data | 21.4 mi | 15.1 ft | 150 ft |
| 19 | Dragon Lake | Lake | B | Limited data | 21.8 mi | 7.5 ft | 15 ft |
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.