East Bearskin Lake
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Survey readout
East Bearskin Lake is mapped to a depth of 60 ft on the Minnesota DNR survey and covers about 593 acres in Cook County, Minnesota. Depths come from the Minnesota DNR survey of 1984.
Measured from the Minnesota DNR lake bathymetric contour survey.
- Deepest mapped contour
- 60 ft
- Survey year
- 1984
- Surface area
- 593 acres
- Shoreline
- 13.33 mi · irregular
- Aquatic vegetation
- 0% of surface · NDVI estimate
- Public access
- Trailer Launch · East Bearskin Lake Public Water Access Site · Minnesota DNR site
Additional depth details8 contours
- Contour depths
- 0–60 ft
- Recorded point soundings
- 60 ft, 20 ft, 15 ft, 15 ft, 15 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
- 48.04268, -90.35942
- MN DNR lake ID
- 16014600
- Vertical exaggeration
- 1.64×
- Basemap
- USDA NAIP · public domain
- Model size
- 2.4 MB
Paddling
Paddling Index methodology v1.0 · calculated 2026-09-25East Bearskin Lake has a heavily wooded and largely undeveloped setting, generally sheltered geometry, little nearby major-road exposure.
Why this score?5 components
Included in the index
| Component | Rating | Points of weight | Measurement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural setting | Excellent | 32.2 of 35 | 93% natural land cover within 150 m of shore (87% forest, 4% wetland; 3% developed) |
| Geometric wind exposure | Very Good | 16.4 of 29 | mean fetch 1,177 m · 2% of sampled water within 500 m of shelter · generally short 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 | Excellent | 14.5 of 18 | relatively isolated from major roads · 2 MnDOT-classified segments within 1.2 km, peak 652 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 0% 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 — 87% forest and 4% wetland cover within 150 m of shore
- Wilderness
- Partly inside the BWCAW — About 22% of this lake lies inside the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Federal wilderness rules apply: visitor permits are required, and motors are allowed only on certain lakes, with horsepower limits. Check Superior National Forest rules before going. · MN DNR BWCAW boundary (Public Law 95-495)
Compare Minnesota lakes by Paddling Index →
Fish you might catch
from DNR surveys & active stocking11 species with recent evidence in this lake — sized relative to each other. Illustrations are AI-generated representative adults in everyday colors, not photographs (provenance).
About these fish → the Fish of Minnesota guide
Fishery
surveyed 2023Gamefish Walleye 25 · Smallmouth Bass 23 · Largemouth Bass 18 · Northern Pike 6
Panfish Green Sunfish 25 · Yellow Perch 18 · Hybrid Sunfish 10
All survey species10 species
Gamefish
Panfish
Forage & nongame
DNR stocking
state stocking record · 2017–2025Fish the Minnesota DNR has planted in this lake — what was added, distinct from what a survey netted above.
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
East Bearskin Lake — common questions
How deep is East Bearskin Lake?
The deepest contour on the Minnesota DNR bathymetric survey of East Bearskin Lake is 60 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 East Bearskin Lake?
East Bearskin Lake covers about 593 acres in Cook County, Minnesota.
What fish are in East Bearskin Lake?
Species with survey, catch or recent-stocking evidence include lake trout, largemouth bass, northern pike, smallmouth bass, walleye, black crappie. The page lists all 11 species and the evidence behind each.
Is there public access to East Bearskin Lake?
Yes. The Minnesota DNR lists a public access site on East Bearskin Lake: a boat ramp. It is administered by the U.S. Forest Service. DNR directions: "Follow Hwy 12 north out of Grand Marais for 25 miles to E Bearskin Rd. Follow E Bearskin Rd for 1 mile to access."
