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LakeQuality

Horseshoe Lake Water Temperature

Horseshoe Lake in Washington County, Minnesota averages about 75°F at the surface in summer — warmest in Jul (~78°F) and coldest in May (~51°F). These are typical values by month, not a live reading.

Typical in July
78°F
Comfortable
Summer average
75°F
Warmest (Jul)
78°F
Coldest (May)
51°F

Typical water temperature by month

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
51°
Jun
68°
Jul
78°
Aug
78°
Sep
70°
Oct
59°
Nov
Dec

Typical surface water temperature by month, from 59 field readings (20102024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. Months with too few readings are left blank.

Is Horseshoe Lake warm enough to swim?

At its summer peak (~75°F): Comfortable

Pleasant for swimming — the range most people find enjoyable without a wetsuit.

Want more than temperature? Horseshoe Lake scored D on water quality — clarity, algae, phosphorus, depth, fish species, and swimming safety, all on one report card.

Where to stay near Horseshoe Lake

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Frequently asked questions

What is the water temperature of Horseshoe Lake?

Horseshoe Lake has a typical summer surface temperature of about 75°F. It is usually warmest in July (around 78°F) and coldest in May (around 51°F). These are typical values by month from 59 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2024), not a live reading.

When is Horseshoe Lake warmest?

Surface water at Horseshoe Lake is typically warmest in July, reaching about 78°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 Horseshoe Lake warm enough to swim?

At its typical summer peak of about 75°F, Horseshoe Lake rates as "comfortable" for swimming. Pleasant for swimming — the range most people find enjoyable without a wetsuit.

Where does this Horseshoe 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 — 59 readings from 1 monitoring station between 2010 and 2024. 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.