Balsam Lake
depth
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Depth scale
Survey readout
Balsam Lake is mapped to a depth of 35 ft on the Minnesota DNR survey and covers about 714 acres in Itasca County, Minnesota. Depths come from the Minnesota DNR survey of 1940.
Measured from the Minnesota DNR lake bathymetric contour survey.
- Deepest mapped contour
- 35 ft
- Survey year
- 1940
- Surface area
- 714 acres
- Shoreline
- 10.15 mi · irregular
- Aquatic vegetation
- 1% of surface · NDVI estimate
- Public access
- Trailer Launch · Balsam Lake Public Water Access Site · Minnesota DNR site
Additional depth details7 contours
- Contour depths
- 0–35 ft
- Recorded point soundings
- 35 ft, 25 ft, 25 ft, 20 ft, 20 ft, 20 ft
Provenance
Sources: MN DNR Lake Bathymetric Contours, USGS 3DEP, USDA NAIP (public domain), OpenStreetMap (ODbL).
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Map details & sources4 sources
All layers registered to one bounding box; positions in WGS 84.
Survey-derived depth contours drape over USGS 3DEP elevation, with a USDA NAIP aerial basemap and OpenStreetMap shoreline. Color shows surveyed depth; dark lines are the survey's own isobaths.
- Coordinates
- 47.53375, -93.42861
- MN DNR lake ID
- 31025900
- Vertical exaggeration
- 2.49×
- Basemap
- USDA NAIP · public domain
- Model size
- 2.4 MB
Paddling
Paddling Index methodology v1.0 · calculated 2026-09-25Balsam Lake has a mostly natural, lightly developed setting, moderate open-water exposure, limited nearby major-road exposure.
Why this score?5 components
Included in the index
| Component | Rating | Points of weight | Measurement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural setting | Very Good | 27.7 of 35 | 81% natural land cover within 150 m of shore (61% forest, 17% wetland; 12% developed) |
| Geometric wind exposure | Good | 16.1 of 29 | mean fetch 1,207 m · 5% of sampled water within 500 m of shelter · moderate open-water fetch |
| Motor & speed rules | Not modeled | — | Minnesota’s lake-by-lake motor, speed and no-wake rules are mostly county and city ordinances, not map data, so they are not part of the Minnesota index. Check local signage and ordinances before going out. |
| Public access | Good | 15.0 of 18 | 1 DNR public access site · boat ramp |
| Road isolation | Very Good | 12.6 of 18 | limited nearby major-road exposure · 5 MnDOT-classified segments within 1.2 km, peak 171 vehicles/day |
Additional paddling considerations
These describe the lake but are not part of the v1 Paddling Index and do not change the number above.
- Wake sensitivity
- Low — wide enough that wakes disperse over most of the lake
- Aquatic vegetation
- Low — approximately 1% mapped coverage · NAIP aerial imagery (NDVI)
- Observed motorized activity
- Unknown — No lake-level measurement of boat traffic is available. Legal permission to operate motors is not evidence of use.
- Wildlife habitat potential
- High — 61% forest and 17% wetland cover within 150 m of shore
Compare Minnesota lakes by Paddling Index →
Fish you might catch
from DNR surveys12 species with recent evidence in this lake — sized relative to each other. Illustrations are AI-generated representative adults in everyday colors, not photographs (provenance).
Hybrid Sunfish
About these fish → the Fish of Minnesota guide
Fishery
surveyed 2022Gamefish Northern Pike 74 · Largemouth Bass 5 · Walleye 1
Panfish Bluegill 321 · Black Crappie 83 · Yellow Perch 56
All survey species12 species
Gamefish
Panfish
Bullhead & catfish
Forage & nongame
Infested waters listing
Not on the Minnesota DNR’s infested waters list as of September 9, 2026. This does not mean the lake is free of invasive species: the list covers certain species only, and a species can be present before anyone finds it.
What does the infested waters list mean?
The Minnesota DNR lists a lake, river, pond or wetland as infested when it contains an aquatic invasive species that could spread to other waters, or when it is connected to a water where one is present. Activities such as bait harvest and water use are managed differently on infested waters. Check the current list before moving water, bait or equipment.
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. List of Infested Waters, September 9, 2026. https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/ais/infested.html
Balsam Lake — common questions
How deep is Balsam Lake?
The deepest contour on the Minnesota DNR bathymetric survey of Balsam Lake is 35 ft. That is the deepest depth the historical survey map records, which may differ from the deepest point of the lake itself.
How big is Balsam Lake?
Balsam Lake covers about 714 acres in Itasca County, Minnesota.
What fish are in Balsam Lake?
Species with survey, catch or recent-stocking evidence include largemouth bass, northern pike, walleye, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead. The page lists all 12 species and the evidence behind each.
Is there public access to Balsam Lake?
Yes. The Minnesota DNR lists a public access site on Balsam Lake: a boat ramp with a boat dock. It is administered by the DNR Division of Parks and Trails. DNR directions: "16 mi N of Taconite on Cnty Rd 7, then 2 mi W on Cnty Rd 51 to S shore."
