Lake Okoboji covers 3,847 acres in Iowa and drops to 136 feet at its deepest point. It is a natural lake, which generally means a more stable shoreline and fewer drawdown surprises than an impoundment. Level is unusually stable, which protects dock usability and shoreline appearance year round. Short-term rental posture: Dickinson County rules. Confirm at the municipal level before underwriting rental income.
What stands out
Very stable water level year-round
Boating
Sailing
Score breakdown
Water8.1
Recreation6.4
Value5.0
Access6.1
Investment6.6
Each axis is computed by published formula from this lake's own
attributes. How we score.
Water quality grade
Water A
ExcellentClear, low-nutrient water. Typically oligotrophic with high clarity and little seasonal algae.
Water B
GoodHealthy water with moderate clarity. Some seasonal variation, no persistent problems.
Water C
FairProductive water — good fishing, reduced clarity. Algae possible in late summer.
Water D
PoorNutrient-rich or heavily drawn down. Swimmable conditions vary; check before you rely on them.
Computed from measured clarity, trophic state, and drawdown magnitude —
not an opinion. See the formula.
Overall score, 1–10
8.0+
ExceptionalStrong on every axis we measure.
7.0–7.9
StrongClearly above average, usually with one standout axis.
6.0–6.9
SolidA good lake with a trade-off worth understanding.
5.0–5.9
MixedReal strengths and real compromises.
Under 5
CompromisedSomething material — volatility, water quality, or access.
Weighted: water 26% · recreation 22% · investment 20% · value 18% · access 14%.
Fishery
WalleyeYellow perchSmallmouth bassNorthern pike
On the water
BoatingSailingFishingAmusement park
Live from West Okoboji Lake at Lakeside Lab near Milford, IA.
This is a lake or reservoir station measuring
gage height on this water body — direct sensor
readings, not estimates.
4.09 ft
Gage height
2026-08-04
Gauge history
Daily values from USGS. Loading up to one year.
Where it is
Location
No NHD boundary matched this water body, so the marker shows the mapped centre point.
Depth profile
Idealized cross-section. Max depth 136 ft,
average 44 ft. Depth at a specific dock depends on local bathymetry —
verify at the property.
Modeled estimates. Market figures are derived from
lake attributes and regional patterns, not from MLS data. Treat them as a starting point, not a comp.
$635,000
Median waterfront
$2,742
Per shoreline foot
-0.9%
Year over year
333
Est. inventory
54
Avg days on market
$831
Est. nightly rate
Rental snapshot
Modeled occupancy47%Booked nights / yr124Gross revenue$109,783Net operating income$56,726Yield on median price8.93%
We bought in 2005 and have never regretted it. The lake is busy on holiday weekends and quiet the rest of the time. Get a dock on the main channel if you can — the coves warm up and weed over by August.
