Side Lake Water Temperature
Side Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota typically sits around 61°F at the surface in September — warmest in Aug (~63°F) and coldest in May (~51°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 72 field readings (2018–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. Months with too few readings are left blank.
Is Side Lake warm enough to swim?
Brisk but swimmable for short dips — most people acclimate after the first few minutes.
Want more than temperature? Side 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 ~70°F
Summer average ~56°F
Summer average ~68°F
Summer average ~55°F
Summer average ~68°F
Summer average ~54°F
Explore water temperatures
Where to stay near Side Lake
Planning a swim or lake trip? Compare cabins, lodges, and vacation rentals near Side 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 Side Lake
Prices for Sep 4–6, 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.
Planning a trip to Side Lake?
Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Side Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Frequently asked questions
What is the water temperature of Side Lake?
Side Lake typically sits around 61°F at the surface in September, from 72 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2018–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
When is Side Lake warmest?
Surface water at Side Lake is typically warmest in August, reaching about 63°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 Side Lake warm enough to swim?
At its typical summer peak of about 61°F, Side Lake rates as "cool" for swimming. Brisk but swimmable for short dips — most people acclimate after the first few minutes.
Where does this Side 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 — 72 readings from 3 monitoring stations between 2018 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.