Best Lakes Near Minneapolis, MN
50 lakes within 50 miles of Minneapolis ranked by water quality grade.
Minneapolis sits in a lake-rich part of the upper Midwest: 50 graded lakes within reach, average grade A. Grass Lake (A) leads the cluster.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grass Lake | 9.1 mi | Ramsey | A | - | 0 |
| White Bear Lake | 15.3 mi | Washington | A | 83 ft | 18 |
| Jane Lake | 16.8 mi | Washington | A | 39 ft | 11 |
| Krenz Lake | 19.1 mi | Scott | A | - | 0 |
| Courthouse Lake | 20.6 mi | Carver | A | 57 ft | 10 |
| Brickyard Lake | 20.7 mi | Carver | A | 43 ft | 0 |
| Big Carnelian Lake | 24.8 mi | Washington | A | 66 ft | 12 |
| Little Carnelian Lake | 24.9 mi | Washington | A | 68 ft | 10 |
| Square Lake | 25.6 mi | Washington | A | 68 ft | 9 |
| Charlotte Lake | 26.3 mi | Wright | A | 46 ft | 10 |
| Bass Lake Pump Site | 30.7 mi | St. Croix | A | 33 ft | 4 |
| Bass Lake | 30.8 mi | St. Croix | A | - | 0 |
| Pulaski Lake | 32.5 mi | Wright | A | - | 0 |
| Big Lake | 34.5 mi | Sherburne | A | 48 ft | 14 |
| Birch Lake | 37.2 mi | Wright | A | 52 ft | 9 |
| Upper Maple Lake | 38.3 mi | Wright | A | 76 ft | 15 |
| Lower Pine Lake | 38.7 mi | Polk | A | 102 ft | 3 |
| Pine Lake | 39.2 mi | Polk | A | 34 ft | 3 |
| Swede Lake | 40 mi | Polk | A | 32 ft | 2 |
| Paulsen Lake | 40.9 mi | Polk | A | - | 0 |
| Church Pine Lake | 41.2 mi | Polk | A | 45 ft | 4 |
| Wind Lake | 41.4 mi | Polk | A | - | 4 |
| Round Lake | 41.4 mi | Polk | A | 26 ft | 3 |
| Poplar Lake | 42.8 mi | Polk | A | - | 0 |
| Sand Lake | 44.1 mi | Polk | A | - | 0 |
| Sugar Lake | 44.3 mi | Wright | A | 69 ft | 16 |
| Deer Lake | 46.5 mi | Polk | A | 46 ft | 5 |
| Bridget Lake | 47.7 mi | Polk | A | - | 0 |
| East Sylvia Lake | 49 mi | Wright | A | 78 ft | 14 |
| South Twin Lake | 49.1 mi | Polk | A | - | 0 |
| West Sylvia Lake | 49.6 mi | Wright | A | 97 ft | 15 |
| North Twin Lake | 49.6 mi | Polk | A | 27 ft | 4 |
| Pike Lake | 49.9 mi | Polk | A | 33 ft | 4 |
| Holland Lake | 14.4 mi | Dakota | A | 55 ft | 6 |
| Lower Birch Lake | 33.5 mi | Isanti | A | - | 0 |
| East Hunter Lake | 33.6 mi | Sherburne | A | - | 2 |
| Netta Lake | 20.8 mi | Anoka | A | - | 0 |
| Little Long Lake | 21.7 mi | Hennepin | A | 45 ft | 13 |
| Piersons Lake | 23.5 mi | Carver | A | 40 ft | 14 |
| Big Marine Lake | 25.2 mi | Washington | A | - | 0 |
| Upper Birch Lake | 34 mi | Isanti | A | - | 0 |
| Big Lake | 34.6 mi | Sherburne | A | 48 ft | 14 |
| Mitchell Lake | 35 mi | Sherburne | A | 33 ft | 13 |
| Ann Lake | 37.2 mi | Sherburne | A | 26 ft | 10 |
| Sandy Lake | 37.3 mi | Sherburne | A | 41 ft | 7 |
| Ida Lake | 38.5 mi | Wright | A | 60 ft | 10 |
| Big Lake | 41.5 mi | Polk | A | 24 ft | 4 |
| Spectacle Lake | 41.8 mi | Isanti | A | 51.5 ft | 12 |
| Ember Lake | 43 mi | Wright | A | 45 ft | 9 |
| Cedar Lake | 44.1 mi | Wright | A | 108 ft | 16 |
Lakes Near Other Cities
Frequently Asked Questions
How many lakes are near Minneapolis?
There are 50 graded lakes within 50 miles of Minneapolis, Minnesota. 50 of these have an A water quality grade (excellent).
What are the best lakes near Minneapolis for fishing?
36 lakes near Minneapolis have documented fish species data. The best fishing lakes combine good water quality grades with diverse fish populations. 25 lakes within 50 miles have 5 or more documented fish species.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.