When Does Mountain Lake Freeze? Typical Ice-In Dec 2, Ice-Out Mar 30
Mountain Lake in Cottonwood County, Minnesota usually freezes over around Dec 2, and usually has ice-out around Mar 30, based on Minnesota DNR ice observations recorded between 2004-2018. That works out to roughly 247 days of open water a year. These are typical dates across many winters, not a forecast — individual years swing by weeks in either direction.
Ice record for Mountain Lake
| Typical freeze-up (ice-in) | Dec 2 |
| Typical ice-out | Mar 30 |
| Earliest freeze-up on record | Nov 9, 2018 |
| Latest freeze-up on record | Dec 19, 2004 |
| Earliest ice-out on record | Mar 15, 2016 |
| Latest ice-out on record | Apr 29, 2018 |
| Open-water season | ~247 days |
| Winters observed | 15 |
| Location | Cottonwood County, Minnesota |
These are dates, not an ice-safety reading
A typical freeze-up date tells you when Mountain Lake has usually iced over — it does not tell you the ice is safe, and we hold no thickness measurement for this or any lake. The Minnesota DNR is explicit that no ice is ever completely safe: thickness varies across a single lake, and current, springs, aerators, and insulating snow all weaken it. Ice that held a truck last week may not hold a person today.
Read the ice-thickness guidelines before going out, and check current conditions with the Minnesota DNR ice-safety page and local bait shops, which track conditions lake by lake.
How much the timing varies
Ice-out on Mountain Lake has landed as early as Mar 15, 2016 and as late as Apr 29, 2018 — a spread of weeks around the Mar 30 median. Freeze-up has ranged from Nov 9, 2018 to Dec 19, 2004. That year-to-year swing is why a median date is a planning tool, not a schedule. Freeze-up is driven by accumulated cold after the lake turns over in fall; ice-out by late-winter air temperature, sun angle, and how much snow sits on top of the ice reflecting it. The full nutrient and algae breakdown for Mountain Lake is on the lake report.
Source: Minnesota DNR Climate Office ice-in / ice-out records, observations from 2004-2018.
Stays via Stay22
Where to stay near Mountain Lake
Compare cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Mountain Lake in Cottonwood County, Minnesota. Live availability and prices for your nights. Switch the map to Satellite to see how close each stay is to the water.
Top-rated places to stay near Mountain Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a trip to Mountain Lake?
Get lake water-quality updates plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Mountain Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Watch Mountain Lake water quality
Get an email when the clarity or algae readings change. Unsubscribe anytime.