Safest Lakes to Swim Near Minneapolis
Minnesota
27 lakes within driving distance of Minneapolis, Minnesota pass our swim-safety screen — grade A/B water, low algae, and public access. 2 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.
Minneapolis sits in a lake-rich part of the upper Midwest: 27 graded lakes within reach, average grade A. Lost Lake (A) leads the cluster.
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 | Lost Lake | Hennepin | A | Low algae | 8.2 mi | 3.2 ft | 6 ft |
| 2 | Snail Lake | Ramsey | A | Low algae | 9.5 mi | 11 ft | 30 ft |
| 3 | Rogers Lake | Dakota | A | Limited data | 9.6 mi | 6.6 ft | 8 ft |
| 4 | Turtle Lake | Ramsey | A | Bacteria B | 10.3 mi | 7.5 ft | 28 ft |
| 5 | Bush Lake | Hennepin | A | Limited data | 11.3 mi | 13 ft | 28 ft |
| 6 | Otter Lake | Ramsey | A | Low algae | 14.8 mi | 11.5 ft | 21 ft |
| 7 | White Bear Lake | Washington | A | Bacteria C | 15.3 mi | 14.4 ft | 83 ft |
| 8 | Riley Lake | Hennepin | A | Low algae | 15.8 mi | 11.5 ft | 49 ft |
| 9 | Jane Lake | Washington | A | Limited data | 16.8 mi | 13 ft | 39 ft |
| 10 | Lac Lavon Lake | Dakota | A | Limited data | 17.8 mi | 12.1 ft | 32 ft |
| 11 | Minnewashta Lake | Carver | A | Limited data | 17.9 mi | 11.5 ft | 70 ft |
| 12 | Elmo Lake | Washington | A | Limited data | 18.6 mi | 11.1 ft | 140 ft |
| 13 | Round Lake | Anoka | A | Low algae | 18.7 mi | 8.9 ft | - |
| 14 | St Joe Lake | Carver | A | Limited data | 18.9 mi | 8.4 ft | 52 ft |
| 15 | Grass Lake | Anoka | A | Low algae | 19.6 mi | 4.3 ft | - |
| 16 | Netta Lake | Anoka | A | Low algae | 20.8 mi | 11.3 ft | - |
| 17 | Fireman'S Lake | Carver | A | Low algae | 21 mi | 10.7 ft | 23 ft |
| 18 | Marion Lake | Dakota | A | Limited data | 22 mi | 7 ft | 21 ft |
| 19 | Lily Lake | Washington | A | Limited data | 22.1 mi | 10.5 ft | 51 ft |
| 20 | Howard Lake | Anoka | A | Low algae | 22.4 mi | 3.3 ft | - |
| 21 | Piersons Lake | Carver | A | Limited data | 23.5 mi | 9.9 ft | 40 ft |
| 22 | Big Carnelian Lake | Washington | A | Limited data | 24.7 mi | 14.5 ft | 66 ft |
| 23 | Big Marine Lake | Washington | A | Low algae | 25.2 mi | 12 ft | - |
| 24 | Square Lake | Washington | A | Low algae | 25.6 mi | 17 ft | 68 ft |
| 25 | Halfbreed Lake | Washington | A | Limited data | 25.9 mi | 5.2 ft | 34 ft |
| 26 | Charlotte Lake | Wright | A | Low algae | 26.3 mi | 17.1 ft | 46 ft |
| 27 | East Twin Lake | Anoka | A | Low algae | 27.3 mi | 10.7 ft | 68 ft |
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.