Iowa Great Lakes
A cluster of natural lakes in Dickinson County left by the Wisconsinan glaciation, including Spirit Lake — Iowa's largest natural lake — and deep, spring-fed West Lake Okoboji. The chain is Iowa's premier lake resort area, anchored by the town of Okoboji and the historic Arnolds Park amusement park on West Okoboji's shore.
| Lake | County | Clarity | Depth | Fish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Okoboji Lake | Dickinson | 15.7 ft | - | 0 |
| Lake Minnewashta | Dickinson | 2.8 ft | - | 0 |
| Upper Gar Lake | Dickinson | 3.9 ft | - | 0 |
| Big Spirit Lake | Dickinson | 5.5 ft | - | 0 |
| Lower Gar Lake | Dickinson | 2.6 ft | - | 0 |
| East Okoboji Lake | Dickinson | 3.9 ft | - | 0 |
| Silver Lake Max Depth | Dickinson | 2.7 ft | - | 0 |
| Center Lake | Dickinson | 2.3 ft | - | 0 |
| Triboji Beach Lake | Dickinson | - | - | 0 |
| Orleans City Beach Lake | Dickinson | - | - | 0 |
| Crandalls Beach Lake | Dickinson | - | - | 0 |
| Pikes Point Beach Lake | Dickinson | - | - | 0 |
| Marble Beach Lake | Dickinson | - | - | 0 |
| Gull Point Beach Lake | Dickinson | - | - | 0 |
| Emerson Bay Beach Lake | Dickinson | - | - | 0 |
Ways to pick a Iowa Great Lakes lake
Cleanest water
- West Okoboji Lake — 15.7 ft clarity
- Lake Minnewashta — 2.8 ft clarity
- Upper Gar Lake — 3.9 ft clarity
- Big Spirit Lake — 5.5 ft clarity
Cleanest Lakes in Iowa Great Lakes
Other Lake Regions
Plan a trip in Iowa
Iowa's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Iowa's top lakes, each with its readings
Cleanest lakes within 50 miles of Des Moines
Cleanest lakes within 50 miles of Cedar Rapids
Frequently Asked Questions
The Iowa Great Lakes area has 15 lakes with water-quality records from state and federal monitoring. 8 of them have a clarity reading and 0 have documented fish species.
Cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals around Iowa Great Lakes are on the map below with live availability. A lake with low nutrient and algae readings is the better swim and cabin pick when water quality is part of the trip.
The lakes with the lowest nutrient and algae readings lead the table above. Each lake page shows its own phosphorus, chlorophyll-a and clarity readings beside the EPA condition class; none of it is a same-day swim clearance.
Where to stay near Iowa Great Lakes
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Iowa Great Lakes — then explore the interactive map to find a place to stay close to the water.
Top-rated places to stay near Iowa Great Lakes
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.