Big Sand Lake
depth
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Survey readout
Big Sand Lake is mapped to a depth of 130 ft on the Minnesota DNR survey and covers about 1,635 acres in Hubbard County, Minnesota. Depths come from the Minnesota DNR survey of 1941.
Measured from the Minnesota DNR lake bathymetric contour survey.
- Deepest mapped contour
- 130 ft
- Survey year
- 1941
- Surface area
- 1,635 acres
- Shoreline
- 8.29 mi · lobed
- Aquatic vegetation
- 1% of surface · NDVI estimate
- Public access
- Trailer Launch · Big Sand Lake Public Water Access Site · Minnesota DNR site
Additional depth details26 contours
- Contour depths
- 0–130 ft
- Recorded point soundings
- 130 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
- 47.00022, -94.96999
- MN DNR lake ID
- 29018500
- Vertical exaggeration
- 1.4×
- Basemap
- USDA NAIP · public domain
- Model size
- 2.4 MB
Paddling
Paddling Index methodology v1.0 · calculated 2026-09-25Big Sand Lake has a partly natural setting, notable open-water exposure, some nearby classified roads.
Why this score?5 components
Included in the index
| Component | Rating | Points of weight | Measurement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural setting | Good | 19.8 of 35 | 64% natural land cover within 150 m of shore (56% forest, 7% wetland; 24% developed) |
| Geometric wind exposure | Mixed | 5.4 of 29 | mean fetch 2,893 m · 0% of sampled water within 500 m of shelter · long fetch in some directions |
| 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 · ADA-accessible |
| Road isolation | Good | 7.9 of 18 | some nearby classified roads · 10 MnDOT-classified segments within 1.2 km, peak 2,633 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
- Moderate — 56% forest and 7% wetland cover within 150 m of shore
Compare Minnesota lakes by Paddling Index →
Fish you might catch
from DNR surveys13 species with recent evidence in this lake — sized relative to each other. Illustrations are AI-generated representative adults in everyday colors, not photographs (provenance).
White Sucker
Hybrid Sunfish
About these fish → the Fish of Minnesota guide
Fishery
surveyed 2020Gamefish Walleye 198 · Northern Pike 52 · Smallmouth Bass 28 · Largemouth Bass 22
Panfish Rock Bass 378 · Bluegill 132 · Yellow Perch 98
All survey species13 species
Gamefish
Panfish
Bullhead & catfish
Forage & nongame
Infested waters listing
1 confirmedMussels & snails
Zebra MusselConfirmed in this water in 2025 (listed 2025).
How to identify invasive species in Minnesota lakes →
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
Big Sand Lake — common questions
How deep is Big Sand Lake?
The deepest contour on the Minnesota DNR bathymetric survey of Big Sand Lake is 130 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 Big Sand Lake?
Big Sand Lake covers about 1,635 acres in Hubbard County, Minnesota.
What fish are in Big Sand Lake?
Species with survey, catch or recent-stocking evidence include largemouth bass, northern pike, smallmouth bass, walleye, black crappie, bluegill. The page lists all 13 species and the evidence behind each.
Is there public access to Big Sand Lake?
Yes. The Minnesota DNR lists a public access site on Big Sand Lake: a boat ramp with restrooms and ADA access. It is administered by the DNR Division of Parks and Trails. DNR directions: "4.5 mi E of Park Rapids on Mn Hwy 34, then 1.3 mi N on Mn Hwy 226, then 1.6 mi N on Cnty Rd 7, then .6 mi W on Cnty Rd 87 to SE shore."
