Lac Qui Parle Lake (N.W. Bay)
depth
Get directions
Depth scale
Survey readout
Lac Qui Parle Lake (N.W. Bay) is mapped to a depth of 10 ft on the Minnesota DNR survey and covers about 2,153 acres in Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota. Depths come from the Minnesota DNR survey of 1957.
Measured from the Minnesota DNR lake bathymetric contour survey.
- Deepest mapped contour
- 10 ft
- Survey year
- 1957
- Surface area
- 2,153 acres
- Shoreline
- 15.47 mi · irregular
- Aquatic vegetation
- 0% of surface · NDVI estimate
- Public access
- Trailer Launch · Lac Qui Parle Lake, Milan Bridge Public Water Access Site · Minnesota DNR site · 4 more
Additional depth details2 contours
- Contour depths
- 0–10 ft
- Recorded point soundings
- 10 ft
Provenance
Sources: MN DNR Lake Bathymetric Contours, USGS 3DEP, USDA NAIP (public domain), OpenStreetMap (ODbL).
⚠ Not for navigationSpot an error? Send a correction
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
- 45.12803, -96.02142
- MN DNR lake ID
- 37004602
- Basemap
- USDA NAIP · public domain
- Model size
- 2.2 MB
Paddling
Paddling Index methodology v1.0 · calculated 2026-09-25Lac Qui Parle Lake (N.W. Bay) has a mostly natural, lightly developed setting, long open-water fetch, some nearby classified roads.
Why this score?5 components
Included in the index
| Component | Rating | Points of weight | Measurement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural setting | Very Good | 27.4 of 35 | 74% natural land cover within 150 m of shore (1% forest, 66% wetland; 3% developed) |
| Geometric wind exposure | Modest | 3.0 of 29 | mean fetch 3,513 m · 0% of sampled water within 500 m of shelter · long 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 | 5 DNR public access sites · boat ramp |
| Road isolation | Good | 7.7 of 18 | some nearby classified roads · 14 MnDOT-classified segments within 1.2 km, peak 1,505 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 — 1% forest and 66% wetland cover within 150 m of shore
- State water trail
- On a state water trail — Part of a designated Minnesota State Water Trail: Minnesota River. · MN DNR State Water Trails
Compare Minnesota lakes by Paddling Index →
Fish you might catch
from DNR surveys & active stocking32 species with recent evidence in this lake — sized relative to each other. Illustrations are AI-generated representative adults in everyday colors, not photographs (provenance).
Common Carp
Bigmouth Buffalo
Silver Redhorse
Freshwater Drum
Golden Redhorse
SuckerWhite Sucker
Quillback
Shorthead Redhorse
White Bass
Hybrid Sunfish
Sunfish
Emerald Shiner
Minnow
Spotfin Shiner
Spottail Shiner
Johnny DarterAbout these fish → the Fish of Minnesota guide
Fishery
surveyed 2016Gamefish Walleye 291 · Channel Catfish 174 · Northern Pike 81 · Largemouth Bass 14
Panfish Black Crappie 830 · Bluegill 42 · White Crappie 15
All survey species32 species
Gamefish
Panfish
Bullhead & catfish
Forage & nongame
DNR stocking
state stocking record · 2016–2025Fish the Minnesota DNR has planted in this lake — what was added, distinct from what a survey netted above.
Infested waters listing
1 confirmedMussels & snails
Zebra MusselConfirmed in this water in 2016 (listed 2016).
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
Lac Qui Parle Lake (N.W. Bay) — common questions
How deep is Lac Qui Parle Lake (N.W. Bay)?
The deepest contour on the Minnesota DNR bathymetric survey of Lac Qui Parle Lake (N.W. Bay) is 10 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 Lac Qui Parle Lake (N.W. Bay)?
Lac Qui Parle Lake (N.W. Bay) covers about 2,153 acres in Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota.
What fish are in Lac Qui Parle Lake (N.W. Bay)?
Species with survey, catch or recent-stocking evidence include channel catfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, walleye, black bullhead, black crappie. The page lists all 32 species and the evidence behind each.
Is there public access to Lac Qui Parle Lake (N.W. Bay)?
Yes. The Minnesota DNR lists 5 public access sites on Lac Qui Parle Lake (N.W. Bay): Lac Qui Parle Lake, Milan Bridge Public Water Access Site (boat ramp); Lac qui Parle Lake, Hantho Landing Public Water Access Site (boat ramp); Minnesota River, Twin Bridges Public Water Access Site (boat ramp); Lac Qui Parle Lake Fishing Platform (shoreline fishing site) and 1 more.
