Alton Lake
Cook County, Minnesota - DNR stocking history, depth and survey data
Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 16062200
Alton Lake has no DNR stocking rows in LakeFinder; this page carries its DNR depth, access and survey data.
- Alton Lake shows no stocking records in Minnesota DNR LakeFinder as of .
- Maximum depth 72 ft; surface area 969 acres, 320 littoral acres, 15.4 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
- Average water clarity (Secchi depth) 14.2 ft.
- Fish species DNR lists here: northern pike, rock bass, smallmouth bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow perch.
- 4 public accesses on the DNR list.
- Most recent DNR fish survey: (targeted survey).
- Cook County, nearest town Tofte; DNR lake number (DOW) 16062200.
Depth map
Bathymetric contours from the Minnesota DNR lake survey mapped 9/13/1976 (orig map); depths in feet. Simplified for the web; not for navigation.
Public accesses
| Type | Owner | Where |
|---|---|---|
| PO | USF | A 30 rod portage from Sawbill Lake. This is the main access route and is used as an entry point to other lakes in the BWCA. - 30 rod portage from Sawbill Lake |
| PO | USF | The Kelso Lake portage is approximately 10 rods; found on the north end of Alton Lake. - 10 rod portage from Kelso Lake |
| PO | USF | The Beth Lake portage is approximately 120 rods; on the southwest end of Alton Lake. - 120 rod portage from Beth Lake |
| PO | USF | Portage trail to Wonder Lake on the southeast shore of the southern most bay. The portage trail is approximately 220 rods and leads to the northeast corner of Wonder Lake. - 220 rod portage from Wonder Lake |
DNR fish survey, 2025
Temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) measurements were collected from the deepest basin in Alton Lake on August 4th, 2025, to evaluate the quantity and quality of cold, oxygenated water (i.e., oxythermal habitat) available to Cisco, also known as Tullibee, the most sensitive coldwater species present in this lake. During the summer, Cisco require a layer of oxythermal habitat that contains water temperatures below 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) and dissolved oxygen concentrations above 3.0 mg/L. Based on the profile from the deepest basin (maximum sampled depth 55.8 feet), the water temperature decreased below 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) at 23.0 feet and the dissolved oxygen concentration decreased to 3.0 mg/L at 39.8 feet at the time of sampling. The thickness of this layer of water in the water column was 16.9 feet, indicating that oxythermal habitat was present for Cisco. Further, the temperature at which dissolved oxygen decreased to 3.0 mg/L (i.e., TDO3, a single variable to characterize oxythermal habitat) was 9.7 degrees C (49.5 degrees F). TDO3 values cooler than 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) indicate that oxythermal conditions were suitable for Cisco at the time of the survey. Data collected by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources during the late summer period of maximum oxythermal stress (July 26th to Aug 24th) in 2008, 2023, and 2024 also indicate suitable oxythermal habitat in all years surveyed. When inadequate oxythermal habitat is available, Cisco are squeezed into unfavorable, warmer water conditions and experience higher levels of stress.
Minnesota DNR survey narrative, .
All Minnesota stockings · every Minnesota lake with a page · state CSV · this lake on DNR LakeFinder
Stocking rows, depths, accesses and survey figures are Minnesota DNR LakeFinder data as of 2026-09-02; contours are the DNR bathymetric survey. Regulations, slot limits and special rules are on the DNR page linked above, not here.
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