What are the clearest lakes in the BWCAW? For example, you can see a long way down on Rose Lake, while Snipe's water is the color of a fine brown ale and you can see only a few inches down. Also, what causes the brown color? I still plan to scuba dive in one of the lakes some day.

Ester Lake gets a vote for clarity. And some dandy fishing.!! Water color has so many variants. I'm familiar with rose but not snipe. I'm guessing vegetation creates tannins which create color .

I have used some scuba gear in Cherokee lake and you can see 25 to 30 feet there easy

I have never measured it, but, like plumbob, I always thought Cherokee was very clear. Just by looking. And Clearwater. Maybe that is an obvious one. And I remember thinking Kawishiwi looked very clear--I photographed some rocks under the water there. Love those clear lakes!

The clearest, softest water I ever remember (made my hair feel so good when I shampooed it!) was when we took a canoe trip in Temagami years ago. You could see down forever!

The best I've seen is clearwater as someone else mentioned. Although the lazt few times I've been there it seems like the clarity isn't as great as it used to be.

Outside the BW (saltwater excluded) some of the lakes I've seen backpacking in the rockies are truly crystal clear.

Knife gets my vote in the BW. Something about the surrounding rocks. Outside the BW in MN-- CAriobu N ok Grand Rapids has a Sechii reading of 31' UNREAL..

Cariobu N of Grand Rapids

Clearwater is very clear, as is Rose. The Clearest water Ive ever seen is the minepits near crosby ironton, with disc readings between 30 and 40 feet on some of them. p.s. And most of lake Superior.

Greenstone (Stone) is the clearest I can recall seeing.

Alton is pretty clear.

Of all of the lakes I have been to, I would have to say that Fat Lake on the West side was the clearest water I have seen. I was very surprised how clear it was. It was clearer than some of the clear water lakes we have here it Arkansas.

Bruce

Clearwater (the one by Turtle/Bald Eagle) is very clear!

Many good mentions already, especially Knife Lake & Clearwater Lake, but I was always impressed with the clarity of Kekekabic Lake.

Hans Solo

Clearwater Lake is clear? Never would have guessed.

quote SaganagaJoe: "Clearwater Lake is clear? Never would have guessed. "

As I said above, it does seem sort of obvious, doesn't it? :-)

Beartrack (south of LLC) is very clear. It was truly awesome to swim in. The eastern campsite has a kind of "zero-entry" rock slab at the shore. So much fun.

I was extremely impressed with Argo's clarity!! Have only been to Quetico.

oops, couldn't turn the last picture

quote Arkansas Man: "Of all of the lakes I have been to, I would have to say that Fat Lake on the West side was the clearest water I have seen. I was very surprised how clear it was. It was clearer than some of the clear water lakes we have here it Arkansas.


Bruce"

Fat gets my vote too. :)

I think tannin causes the brown water in the lakes of the BW.

quote Jeriatric: "I think tannin causes the brown water in the lakes of the BW."

Agreed. Any smaller lake that is fed by large boggy creeks or rivers will be tannin stained. Tannin is a dye like substance caused by rotting vegetation. It is harmless and does not effect the drinking quality of the water, however, it will affect visibility. If you are into scuba, choose very large lakes which are resistant to tannin obscurity due to volume, or those with no inflow. Use your maps to choose lakes with these features.

quote plumbbob: "I have used some scuba gear in Cherokee lake and you can see 25 to 30 feet there easy
"

Which way did you come in? How was it portaging tanks?

The clearest in MN. is South Lake off Gunflint, I think 27' don't quote me.
Either Grindstone or Green outside cities close 2nd.
Deepest is Gabigichigami, no total known depth due to holes and
lack of data. Always cold!!

The root bear color of some lakes is found in waters originating in sphagnum (peat) bogs.

quote fontierman: "The clearest in MN. is South Lake off Gunflint, I think 27' don't quote me.
Either Grindstone or Green outside cities close 2nd.
Deepest is Gabigichigami, no total known depth due to holes and
lack of data. Always cold!!


"

That's if your excluding the mine pits, Mahnomen is 525 feet deep and Huntington and a couple of others have disc readings over 30 ft.

quote Scout64: "

quote plumbbob: "I have used some scuba gear in Cherokee lake and you can see 25 to 30 feet there easy
"

Which way did you come in? How was it portaging tanks?"

I went with a group and we all took turns carrying it in. We started at Sawbill and Ada and Skoop then into Cherokee creek.
We carried 4 tanks & two suits weights and all the other gear.

I agree with Junebug4fish, Argo is the clearest lake that I have seen. I also have only been to Quetico.

Clearest ones I've seen.

Argo, Burt and a secret lake in the Quetico.

Gabimichigami in the BWCA.

Mountain is the clearest I know of in the BWCA. I looked up the historical lake clarity for Mountain and some other very clear lakes; West Pike, Clearwater, Little Knife, Kekekabic, Duncan, etc. I couldn't find anything that topped the 8.46 m that Mountain got. Mountain

Never mind- looks like South got a reading of 9.55 m.

I haven't been to some of the lakes that others mentioned but fat lake is the clearest that I have personally seen!

Clearest lake on the last Quetico Secchi survey I saw..

Map showing some lake clarity readings by Secchi depth.

Secchi disk is a black and white plate used to measure the clarity of the lake. Clarity is determined by depth at which the plate can be seen.

Ahsub on North of Disappointment Lake is crystal clear. It's the clearest Lake I've seen in the bwca.