Is Upper Red Lake safe to swim?

As of August 20, 2026, Upper Red Lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota carries a swim caution. EPA's CyAN satellite estimated a possible blue-green algae bloom here (August 19, 2026); this is a satellite estimate, not a water sample or an official advisory. Modeled rainfall over the past week was about 0.5 in (Open-Meteo, a gridded estimate that can differ from a local gauge), which can wash bacteria and nutrients into the water.

How this read is built

Upper Red Lake is a lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota covering about 186.4 sq mi, the 3rd-largest of the 975 lakes SwimZone monitors in Minnesota. EPA's CyAN satellite estimated a possible blue-green algae bloom here (August 19, 2026); this is a satellite estimate, not a water sample or an official advisory. Larger, warmer waters like this can hold a bloom for weeks once nutrients and calm weather line up.

Blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) blooms are most common from midsummer into early fall, when the water is warm, calm, and rich in nutrients from runoff. They can produce toxins that make people sick and can be rapidly fatal to dogs, so skip water that looks green, scummy, or like spilled paint, and keep children and pets out of it.

Over 7 summers of EPA CyAN satellite imagery since 2020, Upper Red Lake has shown a satellite-estimated bloom-level signal in 7 of them, most recently in June 2026. It shows a bloom-level signal most summers. Its highest satellite estimate was about 680,000 cells/mL in September 2021. These are satellite estimates, not water samples or posted advisories; check your state or county health department for official status.

It is currently peak season for blue-green algae, when warm, calm water lets blooms form fastest. This lake has bloomed in most monitored summers (7 of 7), historically peaking around September. Early summer, before the water fully warms, has generally been the safer window here; check the current read before you go either way.

Is it safe to swim in Upper Red Lake right now?

Upper Red Lake carries a swim caution today. EPA's CyAN satellite estimated a possible blue-green algae bloom here (August 19, 2026); this is a satellite estimate, not a water sample or an official advisory. Conditions can change quickly with wind, heat, and rain, so check the posted signs and look at the water before you get in.

Does Upper Red Lake have blue-green algae (cyanobacteria)?

Possibly. EPA's CyAN satellite estimated a possible blue-green algae bloom at Upper Red Lake on August 19, 2026. This is a satellite estimate, not a water sample or an official advisory, so treat it as a reason to be careful: avoid discolored or scummy water and check your state or county health department for the official status.

Can dogs swim in Upper Red Lake?

Use caution. EPA's CyAN satellite estimated elevated blue-green algae at Upper Red Lake on August 19, 2026 (a satellite estimate, not confirmed by sampling). Dogs are far more sensitive to cyanobacteria than people, so keep them out of the water and away from surface scum, and check local advisories.

How often does Upper Red Lake have blue-green algae blooms?

Over 7 summers of EPA CyAN satellite imagery since 2020, Upper Red Lake has shown a satellite-estimated bloom-level signal in 7 of them, most recently in June 2026. It shows a bloom-level signal most summers. Its highest satellite estimate was about 680,000 cells/mL in September 2021. These are satellite estimates, not water samples or posted advisories; check your state or county health department for official status.

How many Minnesota lakes and beaches are unsafe for swimming today?

Today, 0 Minnesota waters are above a safe-contact threshold and 451 more warrant caution, out of 1178 monitored waters SwimZone tracks in the state.

How is Upper Red Lake's water quality measured?

SwimZone builds this read from EPA CyAN satellite imagery for blue-green algae, official beach and fecal-bacteria advisories where a program monitors Upper Red Lake, and a recent-rainfall overlay, all refreshed daily. It was last updated August 20, 2026.

• Blue-green algae and dogs→
• What does blue-green algae look like?→
• When is algae season?→