Pelican Lake
depth
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Depth scale
Survey readout
Pelican Lake is mapped to a depth of 10 ft on the Minnesota DNR survey and covers about 3,516 acres in Wright County, Minnesota.
Measured from the Minnesota DNR lake bathymetric contour survey.
- Deepest mapped contour
- 10 ft
- Surface area
- 3,516 acres
- Shoreline
- 29.78 mi · irregular
- Aquatic vegetation
- 9% of surface · NDVI estimate
- Public access
- Trailer Launch · Pelican Lake (W) Public Water Access Site · Minnesota DNR site · 2 more
Additional depth details2 contours
- Contour depths
- 0–10 ft
- Recorded point soundings
- 10 ft, 10 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
- 45.23219, -93.77200
- MN DNR lake ID
- 86003100
- Basemap
- USDA NAIP · public domain
- Model size
- 2.2 MB
Paddling
Paddling Index methodology v1.0 · calculated 2026-09-25Pelican Lake 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 | 22.6 of 35 | 60% natural land cover within 150 m of shore (8% forest, 52% wetland; 3% developed) |
| Geometric wind exposure | Mixed | 6.0 of 29 | mean fetch 2,786 m · 5% 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 | 3 DNR public access sites · carry-in or canoe launch · boat ramp · ADA-accessible |
| Road isolation | Mixed | 4.3 of 18 | nearby higher-volume roads · 13 MnDOT-classified segments within 1.2 km, peak 6,317 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 9% 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 — 8% forest and 52% wetland cover within 150 m of shore
Compare Minnesota lakes by Paddling Index →
Infested waters listing
1 confirmedPlants & algae
Eurasian WatermilfoilConfirmed in this water in 2010 (listed 2010).
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
Pelican Lake — common questions
How deep is Pelican Lake?
The deepest contour on the Minnesota DNR bathymetric survey of Pelican Lake is 10 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 Pelican Lake?
Pelican Lake covers about 3,516 acres in Wright County, Minnesota.
Is there public access to Pelican Lake?
Yes. The Minnesota DNR lists 3 public access sites on Pelican Lake: Pelican Lake (W) Public Water Access Site (boat ramp); Pelican Lake WMA (N) Holker's Landing Public Water Access Site (boat ramp); Pelican Lake (SW) Public Water Access Site (carry-in launch).
