Bay Lake Water Temperature
Bay Lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota averages about 61°F at the surface in summer — warmest in Jul (~62°F) and coldest in May (~52°F). These are typical values by month, not a live reading.
Typical water temperature by month
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 269 field readings (2016–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. Months with too few readings are left blank.
Is Bay Lake warm enough to swim?
Brisk but swimmable for short dips — most people acclimate after the first few minutes.
Want more than temperature? Bay Lake scored A on water quality — clarity, algae, phosphorus, depth, fish species, and swimming safety, all on one report card.
Water temperatures at nearby Minnesota lakes
Explore water temperatures
Where to stay near Bay Lake
Planning a swim or lake trip? Compare cabins, lodges, and vacation rentals near Bay Lake — live availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Bay Lake
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 Bay Lake?
Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Bay Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Frequently asked questions
What is the water temperature of Bay Lake?
Bay Lake has a typical summer surface temperature of about 61°F. It is usually warmest in July (around 62°F) and coldest in May (around 52°F). These are typical values by month from 269 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2016–2025), not a live reading.
When is Bay Lake warmest?
Surface water at Bay Lake is typically warmest in July, reaching about 62°F. Lake surface temperature lags air temperature by several weeks, so the warmest water usually arrives in mid-to-late summer even though the hottest air can come earlier.
Is Bay Lake warm enough to swim?
At its typical summer peak of about 61°F, Bay Lake rates as "cool" for swimming. Brisk but swimmable for short dips — most people acclimate after the first few minutes.
Where does this Bay Lake water temperature data come from?
Every temperature on this page is a typical (climatological) value computed from real surface-water field readings collected by state and federal agencies and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal — 269 readings from 1 monitoring station between 2016 and 2025. They describe what is typical for each month, not the temperature right now.
About this data
Water temperatures are a climatology — the typical value for each month, averaged from real surface-water field readings collected by state and federal agencies and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. They tell you what to expect, not the temperature at this moment. Actual conditions vary with recent weather, depth, and time of day.