Best Lakes Near Brainerd, MN, 50 Lakes Within 50 Miles

50 lakes within 50 miles of Brainerd have nutrient and algae readings on record. Gilbert Lake in Crow Wing County leads the set on measured water quality, with about 14.6 ft of clarity. 41 of the 50 have a recorded public access point.

Brainerd sits in a lake-rich part of the upper Midwest: 50 measured lakes within reach. Gilbert Lake carries the lowest nutrient and algae readings of the cluster.

The lakes below are sorted on measured water quality. If you have a specific activity in mind, swimming, kayaking, ice-fishing, family-fishing, the activity-specific sub-pages will filter further.

Lakes Within 50 mi

With Clarity Readings

With Fish Data

Public Access

Lake	Distance	County	Clarity	Depth	Fish
Gilbert Lake	1.8 mi	Crow Wing	14.6 ft	45 ft	9
White Sand Lake	4.3 mi	Crow Wing	13 ft	27 ft	14
Red Sand Lake	4.4 mi	Crow Wing	9 ft	23 ft	10
Middle Whipple Lake	5.1 mi	Crow Wing	10 ft	28.7 ft	11
North Long Lake	6.7 mi	Crow Wing	15.1 ft	97 ft	18
Sorenson Lake	7.1 mi	Crow Wing	16.1 ft	46 ft	0
Round Lake	7.8 mi	Crow Wing	13.5 ft	51 ft	20
Dade Lake	8.1 mi	Cass	5.2 ft	-	4
Little Hubert Lake	8.3 mi	Crow Wing	18 ft	41 ft	0
Gladstone Lake	8.3 mi	Crow Wing	10.5 ft	36 ft	15
Hubert Lake	9.1 mi	Crow Wing	17.1 ft	83 ft	16
Gull Lake	9.2 mi	Cass	15 ft	80 ft	22
Sylvan Lake	9.6 mi	Cass	19.5 ft	-	0
Clark Lake	11.1 mi	Crow Wing	11 ft	31 ft	14
Edward Lake	11.2 mi	Crow Wing	15.5 ft	75 ft	15
Nisswa Lake	12.2 mi	Crow Wing	11.5 ft	23 ft	17
Perch Lake	12.3 mi	Crow Wing	5.9 ft	-	0
Roy Lake	12.4 mi	Crow Wing	11.7 ft	26 ft	16
Ray Lake	12.8 mi	Cass	10.3 ft	27 ft	17
Bass Lake	13 mi	Crow Wing	13 ft	27 ft	14
Lougee Lake	13.2 mi	Crow Wing	16.1 ft	53 ft	11
Pillager Lake	13.2 mi	Cass	15.1 ft	39 ft	12
Upper Gull Lake	13.4 mi	Cass	9.5 ft	54 ft	20
Lower Cullen Lake	13.4 mi	Crow Wing	17.4 ft	39 ft	16
Edna Lake	13.4 mi	Crow Wing	18 ft	63 ft	10
Portage Lake	13.5 mi	Crow Wing	11.5 ft	37 ft	15
Clearwater Lake	13.8 mi	Crow Wing	13 ft	54 ft	16
Little Pelican Lake	13.8 mi	Crow Wing	17.2 ft	34 ft	12
Middle Cullen Lake	13.8 mi	Crow Wing	13.5 ft	48 ft	15
West Twin Lake	14.3 mi	Crow Wing	13.3 ft	42 ft	12
Hanks Lake	14.3 mi	Crow Wing	12.5 ft	45 ft	14
Crooked Lake	14.4 mi	Crow Wing	15 ft	54 ft	16
Pelican Lake	14.5 mi	Crow Wing	14.3 ft	104 ft	17
Upper Mission Lake	14.5 mi	Crow Wing	11 ft	36 ft	13
East Twin Lake	14.5 mi	Crow Wing	15 ft	45 ft	10
Upper Cullen Lake	14.5 mi	Crow Wing	8.7 ft	40 ft	14
Unnamed Lake	14.9 mi	Crow Wing	6.6 ft	-	0
Serpent Lake	15 mi	Crow Wing	25 ft	65 ft	17
Young Lake	15.2 mi	Crow Wing	10.2 ft	21 ft	0
Placid Lake	15.8 mi	Crow Wing	17 ft	39 ft	0
Horseshoe Lake	16.1 mi	Crow Wing	14.4 ft	56 ft	11
Bay Lake	16.5 mi	Crow Wing	18.5 ft	74 ft	13
Loon Lake	16.8 mi	Cass	12.1 ft	25 ft	12
Borden Lake	17.1 mi	Crow Wing	10.5 ft	84 ft	16
Rabbit Lake	17.6 mi	Crow Wing	12.1 ft	-	0
Round Lake	19.1 mi	Aitkin	14.5 ft	125 ft	18
Alexander Lake	19.3 mi	Morrison	16.5 ft	64 ft	19
Ossawinnamakee Lake	19.6 mi	Crow Wing	20 ft	63 ft	18
Pine Lake	19.7 mi	Crow Wing	10 ft	16.9 ft	14
Sullivan Lake	19.8 mi	Morrison	10.8 ft	57 ft	18

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Cleanest Lakes Near Brainerd

Gilbert Lake

1.8 mi · Crow Wing County · 14.6 ft clarity

White Sand Lake

4.3 mi · Crow Wing County · 13 ft clarity

Red Sand Lake

4.4 mi · Crow Wing County · 9 ft clarity

Middle Whipple Lake

5.1 mi · Crow Wing County · 10 ft clarity

North Long Lake

6.7 mi · Crow Wing County · 15.1 ft clarity

Sorenson Lake

7.1 mi · Crow Wing County · 16.1 ft clarity

Plan a lake trip in Minnesota

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many lakes are near Brainerd?

There are 50 lakes with water-quality readings on record within 50 miles of Brainerd, Minnesota. 41 of them have a recorded public access point and 50 have a clarity reading.

What are the best lakes near Brainerd for fishing?

42 lakes near Brainerd have documented fish species data. The best fishing lakes combine favourable water-quality readings with diverse fish populations. 41 lakes within 50 miles have 5 or more documented fish species.

Where to stay near Brainerd

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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.