Lake Minnewawa
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Survey readout
Lake Minnewawa is mapped to a depth of 20 ft on the Minnesota DNR survey and covers about 2,356 acres in Aitkin County, Minnesota. Depths come from the Minnesota DNR survey of 1956.
Measured from the Minnesota DNR lake bathymetric contour survey.
- Deepest mapped contour
- 20 ft
- Survey year
- 1956
- Surface area
- 2,356 acres
- Shoreline
- 18.65 mi · irregular
- Aquatic vegetation
- 2% of surface · NDVI estimate
- Public access
- Trailer Launch · Minnewawa Lake (E) Public Water Access Site · Minnesota DNR site · 2 more
- Borders
- Savanna State Forest · Minnesota DNR · 11% of shoreline
- Borders
- Mille Lacs Reservation · Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe · 2% of shoreline · tribal rules may apply
Additional depth details4 contours
- Contour depths
- 0–20 ft
- Recorded point soundings
- 20 ft, 5 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
- 46.70649, -93.26548
- MN DNR lake ID
- 01003300
- Basemap
- USDA NAIP · public domain
- Model size
- 2.3 MB
Paddling
Paddling Index methodology v1.0 · calculated 2026-09-25Lake Minnewawa has a mostly natural, lightly developed setting, notable open-water exposure, nearby higher-volume roads.
Why this score?5 components
Included in the index
| Component | Rating | Points of weight | Measurement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural setting | Very Good | 23.4 of 35 | 72% natural land cover within 150 m of shore (31% forest, 40% wetland; 24% developed) |
| Geometric wind exposure | Mixed | 8.3 of 29 | mean fetch 2,275 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 | 3 DNR public access sites · boat ramp |
| Road isolation | Mixed | 7.3 of 18 | nearby higher-volume roads · 9 MnDOT-classified segments within 1.2 km, peak 3,084 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 2% 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 — 31% forest and 40% wetland cover within 150 m of shore
Compare Minnesota lakes by Paddling Index →
Fish you might catch
from DNR surveys & active stocking14 species with recent evidence in this lake — sized relative to each other. Illustrations are AI-generated representative adults in everyday colors, not photographs (provenance).
Bigmouth Buffalo
White Sucker
Hybrid Sunfish
About these fish → the Fish of Minnesota guide
Fishery
surveyed 2024Gamefish Northern Pike 178 · Walleye 54 · Largemouth Bass 33 · Bowfin 19
Panfish Bluegill 337 · Yellow Perch 135 · Black Crappie 79
All survey species14 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
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 Minnewawa — common questions
How deep is Lake Minnewawa?
The deepest contour on the Minnesota DNR bathymetric survey of Lake Minnewawa is 20 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 Minnewawa?
Lake Minnewawa covers about 2,356 acres in Aitkin County, Minnesota.
What fish are in Lake Minnewawa?
Species with survey, catch or recent-stocking evidence include largemouth bass, northern pike, walleye, black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill. The page lists all 14 species and the evidence behind each.
Is there public access to Lake Minnewawa?
Yes. The Minnesota DNR lists 3 public access sites on Lake Minnewawa: Minnewawa Lake (E) Public Water Access Site (boat ramp); Minnewawa Lake (SE) Public Water Access Site (boat ramp); Minnewawa Lake (W) Public Water Access Site (boat ramp).
Do tribal rules apply on Lake Minnewawa?
Lake Minnewawa has 2% of its shoreline in the Mille Lacs Reservation. Fishing, boating and access on reservation and trust-land waters can be governed by the tribe's own regulations as well as the state's, and they can differ for tribal members and non-members. Check with the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe before fishing or launching.
