Lower Whitefish Lake
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Lower Whitefish Lake is mapped to a depth of 130 ft on the Minnesota DNR survey and covers about 7,714 acres in Crow Wing County, Minnesota. Depths come from the Minnesota DNR survey of 1961.
Measured from the Minnesota DNR lake bathymetric contour survey.
- Deepest mapped contour
- 130 ft
- Survey year
- 1961
- Surface area
- 7,714 acres
- Shoreline
- 16.91 mi · irregular
- Aquatic vegetation
- 3% of surface · NDVI estimate
- Public access
- Trailer Launch · Upper Whitefish Lake Public Water Access Site · Minnesota DNR site
Additional depth details14 contours
- Contour depths
- 0–130 ft
- Recorded point soundings
- 130 ft, 80 ft, 60 ft, 60 ft, 50 ft, 40 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
- 46.69155, -94.19457
- MN DNR lake ID
- 18031000
- Vertical exaggeration
- 1.4×
- Basemap
- USDA NAIP · public domain
- Model size
- 2.3 MB
Paddling
Paddling Index methodology v1.0 · calculated 2026-09-25Lower Whitefish Lake has a partly natural setting, long open-water fetch, nearby higher-volume roads.
Why this score?5 components
Included in the index
| Component | Rating | Points of weight | Measurement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural setting | Good | 20.0 of 35 | 61% natural land cover within 150 m of shore (30% forest, 29% wetland; 18% developed) |
| Geometric wind exposure | Modest | 1.5 of 29 | mean fetch 5,446 m · 1% 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 | 1 DNR public access site · boat ramp |
| Road isolation | Mixed | 5.8 of 18 | nearby higher-volume roads · 12 MnDOT-classified segments within 1.2 km, peak 2,934 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
- Moderate — 30% forest and 29% wetland cover within 150 m of shore
- State water trail
- On a state water trail — Part of a designated Minnesota State Water Trail: Pine River. · MN DNR State Water Trails
Compare Minnesota lakes by Paddling Index →
Fish you might catch
from DNR surveys & active stocking21 species with recent evidence in this lake — sized relative to each other. Illustrations are AI-generated representative adults in everyday colors, not photographs (provenance).
Greater Redhorse
White Sucker
Shorthead Redhorse
Hybrid Sunfish
SunfishAbout these fish → the Fish of Minnesota guide
Fishery
surveyed 2024Gamefish Largemouth Bass 222 · Northern Pike 199 · Walleye 118 · Bowfin 18
Panfish Bluegill 687 · Yellow Perch 586 · Pumpkinseed 141
All survey species21 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 2014 (listed 2014).
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 Whitefish Lake — common questions
How deep is Lower Whitefish Lake?
The deepest contour on the Minnesota DNR bathymetric survey of Lower Whitefish Lake is 130 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 Whitefish Lake?
Lower Whitefish Lake covers about 7,714 acres in Crow Wing County, Minnesota.
What fish are in Lower Whitefish Lake?
Species with survey, catch or recent-stocking evidence include burbot, lake whitefish, largemouth bass, northern pike, smallmouth bass, walleye. The page lists all 21 species and the evidence behind each.
Is there public access to Lower Whitefish Lake?
Yes. The Minnesota DNR lists a public access site on Lower Whitefish Lake: a boat ramp with a boat dock and restrooms. It is administered by the DNR Division of Parks and Trails. DNR directions: "3 miles North and East of Jenkins on Co Rd 15, then 0.75 mile East on Jenkins Twp Rd."
