Best Lakes Near Fargo, ND
50 lakes within 50 miles of Fargo ranked by water quality grade.
Within reasonable driving distance of Fargo sit 50 graded lakes — a lake-dense area that gives residents real choice on any given weekend. The average grade across the nearby set is A.
The lakes below are sorted by composite LakeGrade rubric score. If you have a specific activity in mind — swimming, kayaking, ice-fishing, family-fishing — the activity-specific sub-pages will filter further.
| Lake | Distance | County | Grade | Depth | Fish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnesville Lake | 23.3 mi | Clay | A | 17 ft | 4 |
| Turtle Lake | 29.9 mi | Becker | A | 73 ft | 13 |
| Middle Cormorant Lake | 33.1 mi | Becker | A | 40 ft | 13 |
| Big Cormorant Lake | 35.7 mi | Becker | A | 75 ft | 16 |
| Pelican Lake | 38.3 mi | Otter Tail | A | 55 ft | 20 |
| Maud Lake | 39.1 mi | Becker | A | 32 ft | 15 |
| Bass Lake | 39.2 mi | Otter Tail | A | - | 0 |
| Fish Lake | 39.8 mi | Otter Tail | A | 69 ft | 17 |
| Lizzie Lake | 39.9 mi | Otter Tail | A | 66 ft | 21 |
| Long Lake | 42.4 mi | Becker | A | 61 ft | 16 |
| Long Lake | 42.7 mi | Becker | A | 61 ft | 16 |
| Otter Lake | 45.1 mi | Otter Tail | A | 64 ft | 7 |
| Jewett Lake | 47.7 mi | Otter Tail | A | 75 ft | 13 |
| Hospital Lake | 47.7 mi | Becker | A | - | 0 |
| West Silent Lake | 48.6 mi | Otter Tail | A | 58 ft | 9 |
| Big Sugar Bush Lake | 49.2 mi | Becker | A | 42 ft | 13 |
| Six Lake | 49.2 mi | Otter Tail | A | 140 ft | 11 |
| Mule Lake | 49.3 mi | Otter Tail | A | 31 ft | 0 |
| Scalp Lake | 49.6 mi | Otter Tail | A | 90 ft | 13 |
| Eunice Lake | 40.1 mi | Becker | A | 30 ft | 17 |
| Pearl Lake | 40.8 mi | Becker | A | 54 ft | 11 |
| Little Pelican Lake | 41.2 mi | Otter Tail | A | 25 ft | 2 |
| Franklin Lake | 41.5 mi | Otter Tail | A | 48 ft | 18 |
| Fox Lake | 42.2 mi | Becker | A | 24 ft | 13 |
| Melissa Lake | 43.3 mi | Becker | A | 37 ft | 16 |
| Meadow Lake | 44.3 mi | Becker | A | 72 ft | 11 |
| Cottage Lake | 44.3 mi | Becker | A | - | 0 |
| Floyd Lake | 44.5 mi | Becker | A | 34 ft | 16 |
| Sands Lake | 44.5 mi | Becker | A | - | 0 |
| Lind Lake | 44.5 mi | Becker | A | - | 0 |
| Glawe Lake | 44.8 mi | Becker | A | 24 ft | 0 |
| Detroit Lake | 45.3 mi | Becker | A | 89 ft | 19 |
| Leek Lake | 45.8 mi | Otter Tail | A | - | 0 |
| Trowbridge Lake | 46.4 mi | Otter Tail | A | 76 ft | 13 |
| Long Lake | 46.6 mi | Otter Tail | A | 73 ft | 17 |
| East Loon Lake | 48.8 mi | Otter Tail | A | 105 ft | 17 |
| Ida Lake | 34.4 mi | Becker | B | 20 ft | 14 |
| Bullhead Lake | 37.8 mi | Becker | B | 34 ft | 14 |
| Prairie Lake | 38.9 mi | Otter Tail | B | 22 ft | 15 |
| Spear Lake | 40 mi | Becker | B | - | 0 |
| Loon Lake | 41.2 mi | Becker | B | - | 0 |
| Sallie Lake | 43.1 mi | Becker | B | 50 ft | 16 |
| Mill Lake | 43.2 mi | Becker | B | 10 ft | 14 |
| Crystal Lake | 43.3 mi | Otter Tail | B | 55 ft | 17 |
| Muskrat Lake | 43.6 mi | Becker | B | 18 ft | 12 |
| Mud Lake | 43.9 mi | Becker | B | 34 ft | 16 |
| Lida Lake | 44.6 mi | Otter Tail | B | 58 ft | 20 |
| Curfman Lake | 44.7 mi | Becker | B | 24 ft | 0 |
| Little Floyd Lake | 45.2 mi | Becker | B | 34 ft | 16 |
| Hook Lake | 45.5 mi | Otter Tail | B | - | 0 |
Top-Rated Lakes Near Fargo
Lakes Near Other Cities
Frequently Asked Questions
How many lakes are near Fargo?
There are 50 graded lakes within 50 miles of Fargo, North Dakota. 36 of these have an A water quality grade (excellent).
What are the best lakes near Fargo for fishing?
38 lakes near Fargo have documented fish species data. The best fishing lakes combine good water quality grades with diverse fish populations. 36 lakes within 50 miles have 5 or more documented fish species.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.