Lake Pepin
depth
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Survey readout
Lake Pepin is mapped to a depth of 50 ft on the Minnesota DNR survey and covers about 25,326 acres in Goodhue County, Minnesota. Depths come from the Minnesota DNR survey of 1959.
Measured from the Minnesota DNR lake bathymetric contour survey.
- Deepest mapped contour
- 50 ft
- Survey year
- 1959
- Surface area
- 25,326 acres
- Shoreline
- 71.79 mi · irregular
- Aquatic vegetation
- 2% of surface · NDVI estimate
- Public access
- Trailer Launch · Mississippi River, Hok-Si-La Park Public Water Access Site · Minnesota DNR site · 8 more
Additional depth details9 contours
- Contour depths
- 0–50 ft
- Recorded point soundings
- 50 ft, 20 ft, 20 ft, 20 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
- 44.49719, -92.29984
- MN DNR lake ID
- 25000100
- Basemap
- USDA NAIP · public domain
- Model size
- 2.4 MB
Paddling
Paddling Index methodology v1.0 · calculated 2026-09-25Lake Pepin has a mixed natural and developed setting, long open-water fetch, substantial nearby higher-volume roads.
Why this score?5 components
Included in the index
| Component | Rating | Points of weight | Measurement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural setting | Mixed | 13.8 of 35 | 50% natural land cover within 150 m of shore (21% forest, 28% wetland; 24% developed) |
| Geometric wind exposure | Modest | 1.5 of 29 | mean fetch 9,788 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 | Excellent | 17.6 of 18 | 9 DNR public access sites · carry-in or canoe launch · boat ramp · fishing pier |
| Road isolation | Modest | 0.9 of 18 | substantial nearby higher-volume roads · 88 MnDOT-classified segments within 1.2 km, peak 7,094 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
- Moderate — 21% forest and 28% wetland cover within 150 m of shore
- State water trail
- On a state water trail — Part of a designated Minnesota State Water Trail: Mississippi River. · MN DNR State Water Trails
Compare Minnesota lakes by Paddling Index →
Fish you might catch
from DNR surveys41 species with recent evidence in this lake — sized relative to each other. Illustrations are AI-generated representative adults in everyday colors, not photographs (provenance).
Lake Sturgeon
Flathead Catfish
Longnose Gar
Common Carp
Bigmouth Buffalo
Shortnose Gar
Smallmouth Buffalo
Silver Redhorse
Freshwater Drum
Golden Redhorse
White Sucker
Quillback
Sauger
Shorthead Redhorse
Highfin Carpsucker
Chestnut Lamprey
Gizzard Shad
Mooneye
White Bass
Brook Silverside
Logperch
Trout-Perch
Emerald Shiner
Shiner
Spotfin Shiner
Spottail Shiner
Tadpole Madtom
Iowa Darter
Johnny Darter
Mimic ShinerAbout these fish → the Fish of Minnesota guide
Fishery
surveyed 2024Gamefish Sauger 912 · Smallmouth Bass 385 · Walleye 356 · Largemouth Bass 126
Panfish Bluegill 728 · Yellow Perch 464 · Black Crappie 69
All survey species41 species
Gamefish
Panfish
Forage & nongame
Infested waters listing
3 confirmed, 1 via connectionMussels & snails
Zebra MusselConfirmed in this water in 1992 (listed 2012).
Plants & algae
Eurasian WatermilfoilConfirmed in this water; year of confirmation not given (listed 2012).
Fish
- Bighead CarpConfirmed in this water in 2003 (listed 2012).
- Silver CarpListed in 2012 because this water is connected to other Mississippi River pools. The species has not necessarily been found in this lake.
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
Lake Pepin — common questions
How deep is Lake Pepin?
The deepest contour on the Minnesota DNR bathymetric survey of Lake Pepin is 50 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 Pepin?
Lake Pepin covers about 25,326 acres in Goodhue County, Minnesota.
What fish are in Lake Pepin?
Species with survey, catch or recent-stocking evidence include channel catfish, flathead catfish, lake sturgeon, largemouth bass, northern pike, smallmouth bass. The page lists all 41 species and the evidence behind each.
Is there public access to Lake Pepin?
Yes. The Minnesota DNR lists 9 public access sites on Lake Pepin: Mississippi River, Hok-Si-La Park Public Water Access Site (boat ramp); Mississippi River, Maple Springs Public Water Access Site (boat ramp); Mississippi River, Ohuta Municipal Park Public Water Access Site (boat ramp); Mississippi River, Roschen Park Public Water Access Site (boat ramp) and 5 more.
