---
type: lake
name: "Turtle River"
county: "Beltrami"
nearest_town: "Turtle River"
lake_type: "river lake"
acres: 1740
max_depth_ft: 63
latitude: 47.57623
longitude: -94.71542
lake_score: 72
dnr_lake_id: "04011100"
url: https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/beltrami-county/turtle-river
---

# Turtle River

River lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota, near Turtle River

- **Surface Area**: 1,740 acres
- **Max Depth**: 63 ft
- **Average Depth**: 20 ft
- **Shoreline**: 17.3 miles
- **Water Clarity**: 9.2 ft
- **Lake Type**: river lake
- **Public Access**: 1 public boat launch (concrete)
- **Lake Score**: 72/100 (composite of public data, not a visitor rating)

## About

Turtle River is a 1,740-acre river lake near Turtle River in Beltrami County, Minnesota. It reaches 63 feet at its deepest point, with an average depth of about 20 feet, and has roughly 17.3 miles of shoreline. DNR surveys put average water clarity at about 9.2 feet.

Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys list 20 fish species here, including walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, black crappie, and bluegill. 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 northern pike and sunfish, and they override the statewide limits. The most recent fisheries survey on file dates to 2023.

There is one public boat launch (concrete surface) managed by the Minnesota DNR. OpenStreetMap shows a swim beach on or beside the lake. The lake is listed as infested with starry stonewort and zebra mussel — clean, drain and dry your boat and gear before leaving. Ice typically goes out around April 22, based on 17 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**: 20
- **Stocked**: Yes
- **Last DNR survey**: 2023
- **Special regulations**: Yes
- **Ice fishing**: No

### Special Regulations

- **Northern Pike**: All from 22-30" must be immediately released. Possession limit 10, only one over 30".
- **Sunfish**: Daily limit five.

## Activities

Fishing, Boating, Paddling, Swimming, Picnicking

## Amenities

Boat Ramp, Swim Beach, Picnic Area

## Fish Species

Walleye, Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, Yellow Perch, Burbot, Tullibee (Cisco), Lake Whitefish, Rock Bass, Black Bullhead, Bowfin, Brown Bullhead, Hybrid Sunfish, Northern Sunfish, Shorthead Redhorse, White Sucker, Yellow Bullhead

## Invasive Species

starry stonewort, zebra mussel. Clean, drain and dry boats and gear before leaving.

## Ice-Out

- **Median ice-out**: April 22
- **Years of record**: 17
- **Earliest**: 2012-03-31
- **Latest**: 2013-05-14

## Nearby Lakes

- [Long Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/beltrami-county/long-lake-turtle-river) - 1.9 miles, 412 acres
- [Meadow Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/beltrami-county/meadow-lake) - 2.7 miles, 106 acres
- [Gull Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/beltrami-county/gull-lake-tenstrike) - 3.7 miles, 138 acres
- [Big Bass Lake (East Basin)](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/beltrami-county/big-bass-lake-east-basin) - 4.4 miles, 337 acres
- [Beltrami Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/beltrami-county/beltrami-lake) - 4.7 miles, 726 acres
- [Little Bass Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/beltrami-county/little-bass-lake) - 5 miles, 363 acres

## Links

- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=47.57623,-94.71542)
- [Minnesota DNR LakeFinder](https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/lakefind/lake.html?id=04011100)
- [All lakes in Beltrami County](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/beltrami-county)

---
*Source: [MinneLakes.org](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/beltrami-county/turtle-river)*