Chain Lake Water Temperature
Chain Lake in Chisago County, Minnesota averages about 79°F at the surface in summer — warmest in Jul (~83°F) and coldest in Sep (~71°F). These are typical values by month, not a live reading.
Typical water temperature by month
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 15 field readings (2023–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. Months with too few readings are left blank.
Is Chain Lake warm enough to swim?
Pleasant for swimming — the range most people find enjoyable without a wetsuit.
Want more than temperature? Chain Lake scored B on water quality — clarity, algae, phosphorus, depth, fish species, and swimming safety, all on one report card.
Water temperatures at nearby Minnesota lakes
Summer average ~75°F
Summer average ~75°F
Summer average ~76°F
Summer average ~74°F
Summer average ~76°F
Summer average ~76°F
Explore water temperatures
Where to stay near Chain Lake
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Frequently asked questions
What is the water temperature of Chain Lake?
Chain Lake has a typical summer surface temperature of about 79°F. It is usually warmest in July (around 83°F) and coldest in September (around 71°F). These are typical values by month from 15 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2023–2025), not a live reading.
When is Chain Lake warmest?
Surface water at Chain Lake is typically warmest in July, reaching about 83°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 Chain Lake warm enough to swim?
At its typical summer peak of about 79°F, Chain Lake rates as "comfortable" for swimming. Pleasant for swimming — the range most people find enjoyable without a wetsuit.
Where does this Chain 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 — 15 readings from 2 monitoring stations between 2023 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.