Best Lakes Near Rochester, MN
30 lakes within 50 miles of Rochester ranked by water quality grade.
Within reasonable driving distance of Rochester sit 30 graded lakes — a lake-dense area that gives residents real choice on any given weekend. The average grade across the nearby set is D.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bamber Lake | 1.5 mi | Olmsted | A | - | 0 |
| North Lake 3 | 48.2 mi | Goodhue | B | - | 0 |
| Beaver Lake | 44 mi | Steele | B | 27 ft | 13 |
| Nugget Lake | 46.7 mi | Pierce | B | - | 0 |
| Kelly Lake | 50 mi | Rice | B | - | 0 |
| Sturgeon Lake 2 | 44.8 mi | Goodhue | C | - | 0 |
| North Lake 2 | 47.3 mi | Goodhue | C | - | 0 |
| Sturgeon Lake 1 | 43.4 mi | Goodhue | C | - | 0 |
| Sturgeon Lake 3 | 44.6 mi | Goodhue | C | - | 0 |
| North Lake 1 | 45.6 mi | Goodhue | C | - | 0 |
| Clear Lake 2 | 46.7 mi | Goodhue | C | - | 0 |
| Dudley Lake | 49.7 mi | Rice | C | 60 ft | 11 |
| Goose Lake | 42.5 mi | Goodhue | D | - | 0 |
| Clear Lake 1 | 45.4 mi | Goodhue | D | - | 0 |
| Shady Lake | 11 mi | Olmsted | D | 13 ft | 0 |
| Zumbro Lake | 12.4 mi | Olmsted | D | 43 ft | 24 |
| Halfmoon Lake | 32 mi | Wabasha | D | - | 0 |
| Robinson Lake | 34.5 mi | Wabasha | D | - | 0 |
| Winona Lake | 41.5 mi | Winona | D | 38 ft | 24 |
| St. Olaf Lake | 47 mi | Waseca | D | 33 ft | 11 |
| Fox Lake | 49.4 mi | Rice | D | 47 ft | 17 |
| Silver Lake | 1.7 mi | Olmsted | F | 11 ft | 13 |
| Manor Woods Pond | 1.8 mi | Olmsted | F | - | 0 |
| Pepin Lake | 33.9 mi | Pepin | F | 60 ft | 47 |
| Pepin Lake | 34.2 mi | Pepin | F | 60 ft | 3 |
| Byllesby Lake | 42.6 mi | Dakota | F | 50 ft | 19 |
| Nelson Lake | 44 mi | Goodhue | F | - | 0 |
| Wells Lake | 46.6 mi | Rice | F | 4 ft | 15 |
| Roberds Lake | 48.1 mi | Rice | F | 43 ft | 18 |
| Watkins Lake | 48.5 mi | Waseca | F | - | 0 |
Lakes Near Other Cities
Frequently Asked Questions
How many lakes are near Rochester?
There are 30 graded lakes within 50 miles of Rochester, Minnesota. 1 of these have an A water quality grade (excellent).
What are the best lakes near Rochester for fishing?
12 lakes near Rochester have documented fish species data. The best fishing lakes combine good water quality grades with diverse fish populations. 11 lakes within 50 miles have 5 or more documented fish species.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.