Mille Lacs Lake
depth
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Depth scale
Survey readout
Mille Lacs Lake is mapped to a depth of 40 ft on the Minnesota DNR survey and covers about 128,184 acres in Mille Lacs County, Minnesota. Depths come from the Minnesota DNR survey of 1944.
Measured from the Minnesota DNR lake bathymetric contour survey.
- Deepest mapped contour
- 40 ft
- Survey year
- 1944
- Surface area
- 128,184 acres
- Shoreline
- 101.89 mi · irregular
- Aquatic vegetation
- 0% of surface · NDVI estimate
- Public access
- Trailer Launch · Mille Lacs Lake, Cedar Creek Public Water Access Site · Minnesota DNR site · 16 more
Additional depth details8 contours
- Contour depths
- 0–40 ft
- Recorded point soundings
- 40 ft, 40 ft, 40 ft, 40 ft, 40 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
- 46.23876, -93.66023
- MN DNR lake ID
- 48000200
- Basemap
- USDA NAIP · public domain
- Model size
- 2.2 MB
Paddling
Paddling Index methodology v1.0 · calculated 2026-09-25Mille Lacs Lake 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 | 8.6 of 35 | 39% natural land cover within 150 m of shore (11% forest, 27% wetland; 34% developed) |
| Geometric wind exposure | Modest | 1.5 of 29 | mean fetch 22,822 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 | 17 DNR public access sites · carry-in or canoe launch · boat ramp · ADA-accessible · fishing pier |
| Road isolation | Modest | 0.9 of 18 | substantial nearby higher-volume roads · 71 MnDOT-classified segments within 1.2 km, peak 7,174 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 0% 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
- Limited — 11% forest and 27% wetland cover within 150 m of shore
- State water trail
- On a state water trail — Part of a designated Minnesota State Water Trail: Rum River. · MN DNR State Water Trails
Compare Minnesota lakes by Paddling Index →
Fish you might catch
from DNR surveys & active stocking25 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
White Sucker
Hybrid Sunfish
Golden Shiner
Brook Silverside
Logperch
Trout-Perch
Bluntnose Minnow
Mottled Sculpin
Spottail Shiner
Johnny Darter
Mimic ShinerAbout these fish → the Fish of Minnesota guide
Fishery
surveyed 2025Gamefish Walleye 907 · Smallmouth Bass 566 · Northern Pike 398 · Muskellunge 20
Panfish Yellow Perch 5,361 · Rock Bass 147 · Black Crappie 11
All survey species25 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
3 confirmedMussels & snails
Zebra MusselConfirmed in this water in 2005 (listed 2006).
Plants & algae
Eurasian WatermilfoilConfirmed in this water in 1998 (listed 1999).
Other invertebrates
- Spiny WaterfleaConfirmed in this water in 2009 (listed 2009).
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
Mille Lacs Lake — common questions
How deep is Mille Lacs Lake?
The deepest contour on the Minnesota DNR bathymetric survey of Mille Lacs Lake is 40 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 Mille Lacs Lake?
Mille Lacs Lake covers about 128,184 acres in Mille Lacs County, Minnesota.
What fish are in Mille Lacs Lake?
Species with survey, catch or recent-stocking evidence include burbot, largemouth bass, muskellunge, northern pike, smallmouth bass, walleye. The page lists all 25 species and the evidence behind each.
Is there public access to Mille Lacs Lake?
Yes. The Minnesota DNR lists 17 public access sites on Mille Lacs Lake: Mille Lacs Lake, Cedar Creek Public Water Access Site (boat ramp); Mille Lacs Lake, Cove Bay Public Water Access Site (boat ramp); Mille Lacs Lake, Father Hennepin SPK (E) Public Water Access Site (boat ramp); Mille Lacs Lake, Father Hennepin SPK (W) Public Water Access Site (boat ramp) and 13 more.
