Elk Lake Water Temperature
Elk Lake in Clearwater County, Minnesota typically sits around 52°F at the surface in September — warmest in Aug (~54°F) and coldest in Mar (~38°F). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Typical water temperature by month
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 1,808 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. Months with too few readings are left blank.
Is Elk Lake warm enough to swim?
Wetsuit territory. Brief exposure is tolerable but prolonged swimming without protection risks hypothermia.
Want more than temperature? Elk 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
Summer average ~56°F
Summer average ~64°F
Summer average ~73°F
Summer average ~69°F
Summer average ~73°F
Summer average ~59°F
Explore water temperatures
Where to stay near Elk Lake
Planning a swim or lake trip? Compare cabins, lodges, and vacation rentals near Elk Lake — live availability and prices. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.
Top-rated places to stay near Elk Lake
Prices for Sep 4–6, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the water temperature of Elk Lake?
Elk Lake typically sits around 52°F at the surface in September, from 1,808 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
When is Elk Lake warmest?
Surface water at Elk Lake is typically warmest in August, reaching about 54°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 Elk Lake warm enough to swim?
At its typical summer peak of about 52°F, Elk Lake rates as "cold" for swimming. Wetsuit territory. Brief exposure is tolerable but prolonged swimming without protection risks hypothermia.
Where does this Elk 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 — 1,808 readings from 6 monitoring stations between 2010 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.