---
type: lake
name: "Bear Lake"
county: "Aitkin"
nearest_town: "McGrath"
lake_type: "lake"
acres: 124
max_depth_ft: 60
latitude: 46.24079
longitude: -93.36598
lake_score: 30
dnr_lake_id: "01006400"
url: https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/aitkin-county/bear-lake
---

# Bear Lake

Lake in Aitkin County, Minnesota, near McGrath

- **Surface Area**: 124 acres
- **Max Depth**: 60 ft
- **Average Depth**: 10 ft
- **Shoreline**: 2.6 miles
- **Lake Type**: lake
- **Public Access**: No public access on record
- **Lake Score**: 30/100 (composite of public data, not a visitor rating)

## About

Bear Lake is a 124-acre lake near McGrath in Aitkin County, Minnesota. It reaches 60 feet at its deepest point, with an average depth of about 10 feet, and has roughly 2.6 miles of shoreline.

Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys list 8 fish species here, including northern pike, largemouth bass, black crappie, bluegill, pumpkinseed, and yellow perch. The most recent fisheries survey on file dates to 2004.

No public water access is on record with the DNR, so getting on the water generally depends on a resort, private landing or permission from a shoreline owner. Ice typically goes out around April 11, based on 25 years of DNR ice-out records.

## Access

- **Public access**: No public access on record
- **Managed by**: Not recorded
- **Launch fee**: N/A

## Fishing

- **Species on DNR survey**: 8
- **Stocked**: No
- **Last DNR survey**: 2004
- **Special regulations**: No
- **Ice fishing**: Yes

## Activities

Fishing, Ice Fishing

## Amenities

None on record

## Fish Species

Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, Yellow Perch, Hybrid Sunfish, White Sucker

## Ice-Out

- **Median ice-out**: April 11
- **Years of record**: 25
- **Earliest**: 2024-03-14
- **Latest**: 2013-05-07

## Nearby Lakes

- [Cedar Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/aitkin-county/cedar-lake-mcgrath) - 2.3 miles, 249 acres
- [Five Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/kanabec-county/five-lake) - 12.7 miles, 44 acres
- [Sugar Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/aitkin-county/sugar-lake) - 13.1 miles, 416 acres
- [Mille Lacs Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/mille-lacs-county/mille-lacs-lake) - 13.3 miles, 128,250 acres
- [Pine Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/aitkin-county/pine-lake) - 14.3 miles, 378 acres
- [Clear Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/aitkin-county/clear-lake) - 14.5 miles, 574 acres

## Links

- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=46.24079,-93.36598)
- [Minnesota DNR LakeFinder](https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/lakefind/lake.html?id=01006400)
- [All lakes in Aitkin County](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/aitkin-county)

---
*Source: [MinneLakes.org](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/aitkin-county/bear-lake)*