Ellen Lake Water Temperature
Ellen Lake in Iron County, Michigan typically sits around 53°F at the surface in August — warmest in Aug (~53°F) and coldest in Jun (~49°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 167 field readings (2023–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. Months with too few readings are left blank.
Is Ellen Lake warm enough to swim?
Wetsuit territory. Brief exposure is tolerable but prolonged swimming without protection risks hypothermia.
Want more than temperature? Ellen Lake scored A on water quality — clarity, algae, phosphorus, depth, fish species, and swimming safety, all on one report card.
Water temperatures at nearby Michigan lakes
Summer average ~64°F
Summer average ~60°F
Summer average ~70°F
Summer average ~71°F
Summer average ~68°F
Summer average ~70°F
Explore water temperatures
Where to stay near Ellen Lake
Planning a swim or lake trip? Compare cabins, lodges, and vacation rentals near Ellen 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 Ellen 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 Ellen Lake?
Ellen Lake typically sits around 53°F at the surface in August, from 167 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2023–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
When is Ellen Lake warmest?
Surface water at Ellen Lake is typically warmest in August, reaching about 53°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 Ellen Lake warm enough to swim?
At its typical summer peak of about 51°F, Ellen Lake rates as "cold" for swimming. Wetsuit territory. Brief exposure is tolerable but prolonged swimming without protection risks hypothermia.
Where does this Ellen 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 — 167 readings from 1 monitoring station between 2023 and 2023. 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.