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 |
| Holland Lake | 14.4 mi | Dakota | A | 55 ft | 6 |
| 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 |
| East Boot Lake | 24.8 mi | Washington | A | 27 ft | 7 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Ember Lake | 43 mi | Wright | A | 45 ft | 9 |
| 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 |
| East Sylvia Lake | 49 mi | Wright | A | 78 ft | 14 |
| South Twin Lake | 49.2 mi | Polk | A | 9 ft | 3 |
| 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 |
| Bush Lake | 11.3 mi | Hennepin | A | 28 ft | 12 |
| O'Brien Lake | 15 mi | Dakota | A | - | 0 |
| Olson Lake | 15.9 mi | Washington | A | 15 ft | 11 |
| Jane Lake | 16.8 mi | Washington | A | 39 ft | 11 |
| Lac Lavon Lake | 17.8 mi | Dakota | A | 32 ft | 9 |
| Minnewashta Lake | 17.9 mi | Carver | A | 70 ft | 14 |
| Elmo Lake | 18.6 mi | Washington | A | 140 ft | 13 |
| West Boot Lake | 24.5 mi | Washington | A | 34 ft | 8 |
| Big Carnelian Lake | 24.7 mi | Washington | A | 66 ft | 12 |
| Clear Lake | 25.2 mi | Washington | A | 27 ft | 6 |
| Mays Lake | 25.4 mi | Washington | A | 25 ft | 0 |
| Twin Lake | 25.9 mi | Washington | A | - | 0 |
| White Bear Lake | 15.3 mi | Washington | A | 83 ft | 18 |
| 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 |
| East Twin Lake | 27.3 mi | Anoka | A | 68 ft | 12 |
| Bass Lake | 30.8 mi | St. Croix | 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 |
| Pine Lake | 39.2 mi | Polk | A | 34 ft | 3 |
| Paulsen Lake | 40.9 mi | Polk | A | - | 0 |
Top-Rated Lakes Near Minneapolis
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?
38 lakes near Minneapolis have documented fish species data. The best fishing lakes combine good water quality grades with diverse fish populations. 33 lakes within 50 miles have 5 or more documented fish species.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.