Lake Marion
depth
Get directions
Depth scale
Survey readout
Lake Marion is mapped to a depth of 15 ft on the Minnesota DNR survey and covers about 527 acres in McLeod County, Minnesota. Depths come from the Minnesota DNR survey of 1995.
Measured from the Minnesota DNR lake bathymetric contour survey.
- Deepest mapped contour
- 15 ft
- Survey year
- 1995
- Surface area
- 527 acres
- Shoreline
- 4.51 mi · irregular
- Aquatic vegetation
- 1% of surface · NDVI estimate
- Public access
- Trailer Launch · Marion Lake (E) Public Water Access Site · Minnesota DNR site · 3 more
Additional depth details3 contours
- Contour depths
- 0–15 ft
- Recorded point soundings
- 15 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
- 44.78979, -94.38652
- MN DNR lake ID
- 43008400
- Vertical exaggeration
- 3.0×
- Basemap
- USDA NAIP · public domain
- Model size
- 2.0 MB
Paddling
Paddling Index methodology v1.0 · calculated 2026-09-25Lake Marion has a mixed natural and developed setting, moderate open-water exposure, nearby higher-volume roads.
Why this score?5 components
Included in the index
| Component | Rating | Points of weight | Measurement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural setting | Mixed | 13.2 of 35 | 44% natural land cover within 150 m of shore (20% forest, 22% wetland; 16% developed) |
| Geometric wind exposure | Good | 13.5 of 29 | mean fetch 1,494 m · 2% 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 | Excellent | 17.6 of 18 | 4 DNR public access sites · carry-in or canoe launch · boat ramp · fishing pier |
| Road isolation | Mixed | 5.9 of 18 | nearby higher-volume roads · 6 MnDOT-classified segments within 1.2 km, peak 4,955 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 — 20% forest and 22% wetland cover within 150 m of shore
Compare Minnesota lakes by Paddling Index →
Fish you might catch
from DNR surveys & active stocking12 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
Golden ShinerAbout these fish → the Fish of Minnesota guide
Fishery
surveyed 2019Gamefish Walleye 316 · Channel Catfish 47 · Largemouth Bass 36 · Northern Pike 10
Panfish Black Crappie 96 · Yellow Perch 83 · Bluegill 31
All survey species12 species
Gamefish
Panfish
Bullhead & catfish
Forage & nongame
DNR stocking
state stocking record · 2016–2019Fish 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
Lake Marion — common questions
How deep is Lake Marion?
The deepest contour on the Minnesota DNR bathymetric survey of Lake Marion is 15 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 Lake Marion?
Lake Marion covers about 527 acres in McLeod County, Minnesota.
What fish are in Lake Marion?
Species with survey, catch or recent-stocking evidence include channel catfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, walleye, black bullhead, black crappie. The page lists all 12 species and the evidence behind each.
Is there public access to Lake Marion?
Yes. The Minnesota DNR lists 4 public access sites on Lake Marion: Marion Lake (E) Public Water Access Site (boat ramp); Marion Lake (SE) Public Water Access Site (carry-in launch); Marion Lake Fishing Pier (public fishing pier); Marion Lake Fishing Site (shoreline fishing site).
