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Square Lake,
Stillwater, Minnesota
 Square
Lake near Stillwater, Minnesota, is a popular diving destination in the
Twin Cities area. Underwater attractions include sunken boats and canoes,
and the tail section of a plane. Shallow depths and easy lake access from
two neighboring parks help make Square Lake an active year-round dive
site. The Washington County, Minnesota, government Web site has a map
specifying an entry spot for divers, plus lots of other pertinent
information.
Vehicle
permits are required on all vehicles entering the park. Permits can be
purchased from staff at the park gatehouse, however, staff is only present
during peak summer hours. In the absence of staff, deposit the permit fee
into the envelope and payment box next to the gatehouse building. Visitors
should follow the instructions on the envelope.
Depths to: 68
feet (21 m).
Visibility:
15-20 feet (4.5-6 m).
Water
temperature: About 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) in the
summer.
Aquatic life:
Northern pike, bluegill, yellow perch, trout.
Fees: None for
recreational diving but county park vehicle permits cost $5 per day or $25
for an annual pass. Scuba instructor permits cost $100.
On-site
amenities: Picnic tables, restrooms, swimming beach, canoe launch, and
fishing pier.
More info:
Call Washington County at (651) 430-6000. You can also visit
www.co.washington.mn.us, click on the "Department and Services
Directory" on the left side of the page, scroll down and click on
"Parks," and then click on Square Lake Park on the right.
Open: Park
hours are from 7 a.m. to one-half hour after sunset, year-round.
Getting there:
From Minnesota Highway 36, follow County Road 15 (Manning Avenue North) to
the north. Stay on County Road 15 for 7 miles to County Road 7 (Square
Lake Trail). Turn right (east) on to County Road 7 and follow for 4 miles.
Turn left in to the park. From State Highway 95, follow County Road 59
(Square Lake Trail North) to the west for 2 miles to County Road 7. Turn
left (west) on County Road 7 and immediately turn right into the park.
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