Upper Red Lake Water Temperature
Upper Red Lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota typically sits around 52°F at the surface in October — warmest in Jul (~73°F) and coldest in Jan (~32°F). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Typical water temperature by month
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (32°F) to its warmest (73°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 150 field readings (2011–2026) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. Months with too few readings are left blank.
Is Upper Red Lake warm enough to swim?
Pleasant for swimming — the range most people find enjoyable without a wetsuit.
Want more than temperature? Upper Red Lake water quality: clarity, algae, phosphorus, depth, fish species, and current advisories, all on one page.
Water temperatures at nearby Minnesota lakes
Summer average ~72°F
Summer average ~69°F
Summer average ~73°F
Summer average ~73°F
Summer average ~72°F
Summer average ~73°F
Explore water temperatures
Where to stay near Upper Red Lake
Planning a swim or lake trip? Compare cabins, lodges, and vacation rentals near Upper Red 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 Upper Red Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the water temperature of Upper Red Lake?
Upper Red Lake typically sits around 52°F at the surface in October, from 150 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2026). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
When is Upper Red Lake warmest?
Surface water at Upper Red Lake is typically warmest in July, reaching about 73°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 Upper Red Lake warm enough to swim?
At its typical summer peak of about 70°F, Upper Red Lake rates as "comfortable" for swimming. Pleasant for swimming — the range most people find enjoyable without a wetsuit.
Where does this Upper Red 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 — 150 readings from 1 monitoring station between 2011 and 2026. 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.