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LakeQuality
A wave breaking on the cobble beach of Lake Superior at Duluth, Minnesota, with a wooded headland beyond

Little Rice Lake Water Temperature

Little Rice Lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota typically sits around 54°F at the surface in October — warmest in Aug (~68°F) and coldest in May (~54°F). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.

Typical in October
54°F
Cold
Summer average
65°F
Warmest (Aug)
68°F
Coldest (May)
54°F

Typical water temperature by month

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
54°
May
62°
Jun
65°
Jul
68°
Aug
60°
Sep
54°
Oct
Nov
Dec

Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (54°F) to its warmest (68°F).

Typical surface water temperature by month, from 49 field readings (2025–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. Months with too few readings are left blank.

Is Little Rice Lake warm enough to swim?

At its summer peak (~65°F): Cool

Brisk but swimmable for short dips — most people acclimate after the first few minutes.

Want more than temperature? Little Rice Lake water quality: clarity, algae, phosphorus, depth, fish species, and current advisories, all on one page.

Where to stay near Little Rice Lake

Planning a swim or lake trip? Compare cabins, lodges, and vacation rentals near Little Rice 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 Little Rice Lake

Prices for Oct 23–25, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.

Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the water temperature of Little Rice Lake?

Little Rice Lake typically sits around 54°F at the surface in October, from 49 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2025–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.

When is Little Rice Lake warmest?

Surface water at Little Rice Lake is typically warmest in August, reaching about 68°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 Little Rice Lake warm enough to swim?

At its typical summer peak of about 65°F, Little Rice Lake rates as "cool" for swimming. Brisk but swimmable for short dips — most people acclimate after the first few minutes.

Where does this Little Rice 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 — 49 readings from 1 monitoring station between 2025 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.