---
type: lake
name: "Horseshoe Lake"
county: "Aitkin"
nearest_town: "Tamarack"
lake_type: "lake"
acres: 240
max_depth_ft: 12
latitude: 46.71653
longitude: -93.2098
lake_score: 49
dnr_lake_id: "01003400"
url: https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/aitkin-county/horseshoe-lake
---

# Horseshoe Lake

Lake in Aitkin County, Minnesota, near Tamarack

- **Surface Area**: 240 acres
- **Max Depth**: 12 ft
- **Average Depth**: 7 ft
- **Shoreline**: 3.7 miles
- **Water Clarity**: 2.3 ft
- **Lake Type**: lake
- **Public Access**: 1 public boat launch (concrete)
- **Lake Score**: 49/100 (composite of public data, not a visitor rating)

## About

Horseshoe Lake is a 240-acre lake near Tamarack in Aitkin County, Minnesota. It reaches 12 feet at its deepest point, with an average depth of about 7 feet, and has roughly 3.7 miles of shoreline. DNR surveys put average water clarity at about 2.3 feet, so expect stained or algae-tinted water in summer.

Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys list 12 fish species here, including walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, black crappie, bluegill, and pumpkinseed. The DNR has stocking records for the lake, so check the stocking report for the most recent species and year classes. Special fishing regulations apply to walleye and sunfish, and they override the statewide limits. The most recent fisheries survey on file dates to 2022.

There is one public boat launch (concrete surface) managed by the Minnesota DNR. Ice typically goes out around April 15, based on 8 years of DNR ice-out records.

## Access

- **Public access**: 1 public boat launch (concrete)
- **Managed by**: Minnesota DNR
- **Launch fee**: Free at DNR public water accesses

## Fishing

- **Species on DNR survey**: 12
- **Stocked**: Yes
- **Last DNR survey**: 2022
- **Special regulations**: Yes
- **Ice fishing**: Yes

### Special Regulations

- **Walleye**: Possession limit three.
- **Sunfish**: Daily limit 10.

## Activities

Fishing, Ice Fishing, Boating, Paddling

## Amenities

Boat Ramp

## Fish Species

Walleye, Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, Yellow Perch, Black Bullhead, Bowfin, Brown Bullhead, Hybrid Sunfish, Yellow Bullhead

## Ice-Out

- **Median ice-out**: April 15
- **Years of record**: 8
- **Earliest**: 2010-03-30
- **Latest**: 2023-05-03

## Nearby Lakes

- [Island Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/aitkin-county/island-lake) - 1.5 miles, 244 acres
- [Round Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/aitkin-county/round-lake-tamarack) - 1.6 miles, 554 acres
- [Minnewawa Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/aitkin-county/minnewawa-lake) - 2.4 miles, 2,351 acres
- [Big Sandy Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/aitkin-county/big-sandy-lake) - 3.9 miles, 6,125 acres
- [Glacier Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/aitkin-county/glacier-lake) - 5.2 miles, 135 acres
- [Rat Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/aitkin-county/rat-lake) - 6.5 miles, 431 acres

## Links

- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=46.71653,-93.2098)
- [Minnesota DNR LakeFinder](https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/lakefind/lake.html?id=01003400)
- [All lakes in Aitkin County](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/aitkin-county)

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