Is it safe to swim in lakes near Grand Rapids?

That is a call for Minnesota's water agency and the county health department, who post current advisories. 29 lakes within driving distance of Grand Rapids 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 Little Jay Gould Lake in Itasca County, 3.9 miles away. Bacteria can spike after heavy rain, so always check the current advisories before you swim.

Which lakes near Grand Rapids have bacteria testing?

None of the lakes near Grand Rapids 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 Grand Rapids?

Little Jay Gould Lake (Itasca County) is the cleanest swim lake near Grand Rapids on measured clarity and nutrients, with 21.5 ft of water clarity.

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

29 lakes within driving distance of Grand Rapids, 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 Grand Rapids sit 29 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	Little Jay Gould Lake	Itasca	Limited data	3.9 mi	21.5 ft	56 ft
2	Jay Gould Lake	Itasca	Limited data	4.5 mi	13 ft	33 ft
3	Pokegama Lake	Itasca	Low algae	4.6 mi	16.1 ft	112 ft
4	Long Lake	Itasca	Limited data	5.9 mi	16.9 ft	85 ft
5	Siseebakwet Lake	Itasca	Low algae	8.9 mi	19 ft	105 ft
6	Deer Lake	Itasca	Low algae	11.4 mi	13.1 ft	121 ft
7	Bluewater Lake	Itasca	Limited data	12.6 mi	18.5 ft	120 ft
8	Wabana Lake	Itasca	Limited data	12.8 mi	18 ft	115 ft
9	Shallow Lake	Itasca	Low algae	13.1 mi	16.4 ft	85 ft
10	Little Trout Lake	Itasca	Limited data	13.9 mi	22 ft	80 ft
11	Johnson Lake	Itasca	Low algae	14.6 mi	15.7 ft	88 ft
12	Sugar Lake	Cass	Low algae	16 mi	13.5 ft	44 ft
13	Swan Lake	Itasca	Low algae	16.6 mi	13.5 ft	65 ft
14	Helen Lake	Itasca	Limited data	21 mi	8 ft	33 ft
15	Dead Horse Lake	Itasca	Limited data	21.4 mi	9.8 ft	30 ft
16	North Star Lake	Itasca	Limited data	22.9 mi	19 ft	90 ft
17	Little Sand Lake	Cass	Low algae	22.9 mi	7.5 ft	12 ft
18	Big Ole Lake	Itasca	Limited data	23.1 mi	21.8 ft	65 ft
19	Island Lake	St. Louis	Limited data	23.4 mi	14.5 ft	65 ft
20	Big Island Lake	Itasca	Limited data	23.4 mi	16.4 ft	42 ft
21	Burns Lake	Itasca	Limited data	26.8 mi	16.1 ft	100 ft
22	Schoolhouse Lake	Itasca	Limited data	27.8 mi	5.2 ft	-
23	Turtle Lake	Itasca	Low algae	28.6 mi	17.1 ft	54 ft
24	Thunder Lake	Cass	Low algae	28.8 mi	16.5 ft	95 ft
25	Six Mile Lake	Cass	Low algae	28.9 mi	11.5 ft	68 ft
26	Maple Lake	Itasca	Limited data	29.4 mi	15.3 ft	39 ft
27	Upper Trelipe Lake	Cass	Low algae	29.8 mi	14 ft	69 ft
28	Little Wabana Lake	Itasca	Limited data	11.5 mi	24 ft	57 ft
29	Gunn Lake	Itasca	Limited data	22 mi	14.3 ft	-

Other activities near Grand Rapids

Fishing near Grand Rapids →Kayaking near Grand Rapids →Boating near Grand Rapids →All lakes near Grand Rapids →

Where to stay near Grand Rapids

Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Grand Rapids — book a place close to the best-rated lakes in the area.

Top-rated places to stay near Grand Rapids

Prices for Oct 30–Nov 1, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.

Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.

Planning a trip to Grand Rapids?

Get lake water-quality updates plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Grand Rapids — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.