Lake trip · St. Francois County, Missouri
Where to stay at Hemitite Lake
Hemitite Lake covers 220 acres in St. Francois County and carries a water-quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Compare cabins, resorts, and vacation rentals below. The grade measures nutrients and algae — it is not a stay-or-skip rating. Late spring through early fall, with June through August the peak season for swimming, boating, and fishing.
Places to stay near Hemitite Lake
Cabins, resorts, hotels, and vacation rentals near Hemitite Lake in St. Francois County, Missouri — live availability and prices. Add your dates to see totals.
Top-rated places to stay near Hemitite Lake
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
About the water
Hemitite Lake grades F for nutrients and algae — Algae-prone. Algae and nutrients are often high — check current advisories before swimming. Skip the water if you see scum or a paint-like bloom. Water clarity is about 1.1 ft of visibility. Algae (chlorophyll-a) measures 91.9 µg/L. The letter is not a reason to skip cabins and rentals around the lake.
Best time to visit
Late spring through early fall, with June through August the peak season for swimming, boating, and fishing.
Check the National Weather Service forecast for Hemitite Lake →
About Hemitite Lake
Fishing & license
Missouri fishing license
Anyone age 15 and younger (resident or nonresident) may fish without a permit, so a fishing permit is required starting at age 16. Missouri residents age 65 and older are exempt from the fishing permit entirely (though a Trout Permit or daily trout tag is still required where trout rules apply); resident landowners of 5+ acres (who own all the land around the body of water) and certain residents with qualifying disabilities are also exempt on their own land or with documentation. · Fishing is open year-round for most species in most Missouri waters; annual permits are not calendar-year — they expire at the end of February (2026 permits are valid through the end of February 2027). Key exceptions: the four trout parks have a catch-and-keep season March 1 - Oct 31 (winter catch-and-release Nov 13, 2026 - Feb 8, 2027), and black bass in streams outside the year-round zones (most streams south of the Missouri River) are catch-and-release only March 1 through late May.
Prices as published by Missouri Department of Conservation, 2026.
Camping & RV near Hemitite Lake
Search public campgrounds and RV sites near Hemitite Lake on Recreation.gov, then compare cabins, resorts, and rentals on the map above.
Common questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Cabins, resorts, and vacation rentals around Hemitite Lake in St. Francois County, Missouri are on the map above with live availability and nightly prices. Waterfront rentals put you on the dock; lodging in the nearest town is usually cheaper with more choice.
Hemitite Lake has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Algae and nutrients are often high — check current advisories before swimming. Skip the water if you see scum or a paint-like bloom. Always check local health-department advisories before swimming.
Late spring through early fall, with June through August the peak season for swimming, boating, and fishing.
Explore Hemitite Lake
Every graded lake in Missouri, ranked A–F
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Missouri's top lakes, each with its grade
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Missouri's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
LakeQuality Lake Trip Planner (2026)
Free trip-planning guide for Hemitite Lake: how to pick a clean lake, the water-quality signals that matter, best swimming and fishing windows, and where to stay.
Lodging availability and prices are provided by Stay22 and its booking partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia); LakeQuality may earn a commission from bookings at no extra cost to you. Water-quality grades are independent of lodging listings. Always check current health-department advisories and managing-agency conditions before you travel.