Lower Mission Lake
depth
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Depth scale
Survey readout
Lower Mission Lake is mapped to a depth of 25 ft on the Minnesota DNR survey and covers about 725 acres in Crow Wing County, Minnesota. Depths come from the Minnesota DNR survey of 1968.
Measured from the Minnesota DNR lake bathymetric contour survey.
- Deepest mapped contour
- 25 ft
- Survey year
- 1968
- Surface area
- 725 acres
- Shoreline
- 6.25 mi · irregular
- Aquatic vegetation
- 3% of surface · NDVI estimate
- Public access
- Trailer Launch · Lower Mission Lake (W) Public Water Access Site · Minnesota DNR site · 1 more
Additional depth details5 contours
- Contour depths
- 0–25 ft
- Recorded point soundings
- 25 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
- 46.53098, -94.10322
- MN DNR lake ID
- 18024300
- Vertical exaggeration
- 2.83×
- Basemap
- USDA NAIP · public domain
- Model size
- 2.3 MB
Paddling
Paddling Index methodology v1.0 · calculated 2026-09-25Lower Mission Lake has a heavily wooded and largely undeveloped setting, notable open-water exposure, some nearby classified roads.
Why this score?5 components
Included in the index
| Component | Rating | Points of weight | Measurement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural setting | Excellent | 31.1 of 35 | 88% natural land cover within 150 m of shore (54% forest, 33% wetland; 9% developed) |
| Geometric wind exposure | Mixed | 8.5 of 29 | mean fetch 2,249 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 | Excellent | 17.6 of 18 | 2 DNR public access sites · carry-in or canoe launch · boat ramp |
| Road isolation | Good | 10.0 of 18 | some nearby classified roads · 2 MnDOT-classified segments within 1.2 km, peak 709 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 3% 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 — 54% forest and 33% wetland cover within 150 m of shore
Compare Minnesota lakes by Paddling Index →
Fish you might catch
from DNR surveys13 species with recent evidence in this lake — sized relative to each other. Illustrations are AI-generated representative adults in everyday colors, not photographs (provenance).
White Sucker
Hybrid Sunfish
About these fish → the Fish of Minnesota guide
Fishery
surveyed 2022Gamefish Northern Pike 200 · Largemouth Bass 67 · Walleye 18 · Bowfin 17
Panfish Bluegill 360 · Yellow Perch 97 · Hybrid Sunfish 31
All survey species13 species
Gamefish
Panfish
Bullhead & catfish
Forage & nongame
Infested waters listing
1 confirmedPlants & algae
Eurasian WatermilfoilConfirmed in this water in 2008 (listed 2008).
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
Lower Mission Lake — common questions
How deep is Lower Mission Lake?
The deepest contour on the Minnesota DNR bathymetric survey of Lower Mission Lake is 25 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 Lower Mission Lake?
Lower Mission Lake covers about 725 acres in Crow Wing County, Minnesota.
What fish are in Lower Mission Lake?
Species with survey, catch or recent-stocking evidence include largemouth bass, northern pike, walleye, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin. The page lists all 13 species and the evidence behind each.
Is there public access to Lower Mission Lake?
Yes. The Minnesota DNR lists 2 public access sites on Lower Mission Lake: Lower Mission Lake (W) Public Water Access Site (boat ramp); Lower Mission Lake (SE) Public Water Access Site (carry-in launch).
