Best Lakes Near Fargo, ND, 50 Lakes Within 50 Miles

50 lakes within 50 miles of Fargo have nutrient and algae readings on record. Barnesville Lake in Clay County leads the set on measured water quality. 38 of the 50 have a recorded public access point.

Within reasonable driving distance of Fargo sit 50 measured lakes, a lake-dense area that gives residents real choice on any given weekend.

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
Barnesville Lake	23.3 mi	Clay	—	17 ft	4
Turtle Lake	29.9 mi	Becker	23 ft	73 ft	13
Middle Cormorant Lake	33.1 mi	Becker	15.1 ft	40 ft	13
Ida Lake	34.4 mi	Becker	12.1 ft	20 ft	14
Big Cormorant Lake	35.7 mi	Becker	24.8 ft	75 ft	16
Pelican Lake	38.3 mi	Otter Tail	16.4 ft	55 ft	20
Maud Lake	39.1 mi	Becker	17 ft	32 ft	15
Bass Lake	39.2 mi	Otter Tail	17.4 ft	-	0
Fish Lake	39.8 mi	Otter Tail	18 ft	69 ft	17
Lizzie Lake	39.9 mi	Otter Tail	16.4 ft	66 ft	21
Eunice Lake	40.1 mi	Becker	13.5 ft	30 ft	17
Pearl Lake	40.8 mi	Becker	10 ft	54 ft	11
Little Pelican Lake	41.2 mi	Otter Tail	11.5 ft	25 ft	2
Loon Lake	41.2 mi	Becker	7.4 ft	-	0
Franklin Lake	41.5 mi	Otter Tail	13.1 ft	48 ft	18
Fox Lake	42.2 mi	Becker	14 ft	24 ft	13
Long Lake	42.7 mi	Becker	19.5 ft	61 ft	16
Sallie Lake	43.1 mi	Becker	13 ft	50 ft	16
Mill Lake	43.2 mi	Becker	8.5 ft	10 ft	14
Melissa Lake	43.3 mi	Becker	13.1 ft	37 ft	16
Tamarac Lake	43.3 mi	Becker	6.9 ft	34 ft	16
Mud Lake	43.9 mi	Becker	12.5 ft	34 ft	16
Meadow Lake	44.3 mi	Becker	14 ft	72 ft	11
Cottage Lake	44.3 mi	Becker	12 ft	-	0
Floyd Lake	44.5 mi	Becker	13.1 ft	34 ft	16
Sands Lake	44.5 mi	Becker	11.5 ft	-	0
Lind Lake	44.5 mi	Becker	12.1 ft	-	0
Lida Lake	44.6 mi	Otter Tail	14 ft	58 ft	20
Curfman Lake	44.7 mi	Becker	12 ft	24 ft	0
Glawe Lake	44.8 mi	Becker	10.8 ft	24 ft	0
Little Floyd Lake	45.2 mi	Becker	11 ft	34 ft	16
Detroit Lake	45.3 mi	Becker	14 ft	89 ft	19
Johnson Lake	45.8 mi	Becker	9.3 ft	30 ft	0
Leek Lake	45.8 mi	Otter Tail	13.1 ft	-	0
Abbey Lake	46.2 mi	Becker	5.5 ft	-	0
Trowbridge Lake	46.4 mi	Otter Tail	13.5 ft	76 ft	13
Long Lake	46.6 mi	Otter Tail	11.6 ft	73 ft	17
Jewett Lake	47.7 mi	Otter Tail	17.7 ft	75 ft	13
Hospital Lake	47.7 mi	Becker	18 ft	-	0
West Silent Lake	48.6 mi	Otter Tail	18 ft	58 ft	9
East Loon Lake	48.8 mi	Otter Tail	13.5 ft	105 ft	17
Big Sugar Bush Lake	49.2 mi	Becker	16.5 ft	42 ft	13
Six Lake	49.2 mi	Otter Tail	21 ft	140 ft	11
Scalp Lake	49.6 mi	Otter Tail	20 ft	90 ft	13
Prairie Lake	38.9 mi	Otter Tail	8.9 ft	22 ft	15
Beseau Lake	30.5 mi	Becker	7.7 ft	27 ft	14
Upper Cormorant Lake	32 mi	Becker	8 ft	29 ft	13
Tamarac Lake	36.8 mi	Otter Tail	6.2 ft	11 ft	11
Spear Lake	40 mi	Becker	10.3 ft	-	0
Wine Lake	42.1 mi	Becker	4.9 ft	61 ft	16

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Cleanest Lakes Near Fargo

Barnesville Lake

23.3 mi · Clay County

Turtle Lake

29.9 mi · Becker County · 23 ft clarity

Middle Cormorant Lake

33.1 mi · Becker County · 15.1 ft clarity

Ida Lake

34.4 mi · Becker County · 12.1 ft clarity

Big Cormorant Lake

35.7 mi · Becker County · 24.8 ft clarity

Pelican Lake

38.3 mi · Otter Tail County · 16.4 ft clarity

Plan a lake trip in North Dakota

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many lakes are near Fargo?

There are 50 lakes with water-quality readings on record within 50 miles of Fargo, North Dakota. 38 of them have a recorded public access point and 49 have a clarity reading.

What are the best lakes near Fargo for fishing?

38 lakes near Fargo have documented fish species data. The best fishing lakes combine favourable water-quality readings with diverse fish populations. 36 lakes within 50 miles have 5 or more documented fish species.

Where to stay near Fargo

Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Fargo — book a place close to the cleanest lakes in the area.

Top-rated places to stay near Fargo

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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.