---
type: lake
name: "Little Rock Lake"
county: "Benton"
nearest_town: "Rice"
lake_type: "lake"
acres: 1311
max_depth_ft: 17
latitude: 45.72677
longitude: -94.16859
lake_score: 66
dnr_lake_id: "05001300"
url: https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/benton-county/little-rock-lake
---

# Little Rock Lake

Lake in Benton County, Minnesota, near Rice

- **Surface Area**: 1,311 acres
- **Max Depth**: 17 ft
- **Average Depth**: 8 ft
- **Shoreline**: 10.6 miles
- **Water Clarity**: 2.3 ft
- **Lake Type**: lake
- **Public Access**: 2 public boat launches (concrete)
- **Lake Score**: 66/100 (composite of public data, not a visitor rating)

## About

Little Rock Lake is a 1,311-acre lake near Rice in Benton County, Minnesota. It reaches 17 feet at its deepest point, with an average depth of about 8 feet, and has roughly 10.6 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 21 fish species here, including walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, black crappie, and bluegill. The most recent fisheries survey on file dates to 2025.

There are 2 public boat launches (concrete surface) managed by the county and Minnesota DNR. OpenStreetMap shows a swim beach on or beside the lake. Benton Beach Campground is mapped close to the shoreline for overnight stays. The lake is listed as infested with zebra mussel — clean, drain and dry your boat and gear before leaving. Ice typically goes out around April 10, based on 40 years of DNR ice-out records.

## Access

- **Public access**: 2 public boat launches (concrete)
- **Managed by**: county, Minnesota DNR
- **Launch fee**: Free at DNR public water accesses

## Fishing

- **Species on DNR survey**: 21
- **Stocked**: No
- **Last DNR survey**: 2025
- **Special regulations**: No
- **Ice fishing**: Yes

## Activities

Fishing, Ice Fishing, Boating, Paddling, Swimming, Camping, Picnicking

## Amenities

Boat Ramp, Swim Beach, Campground, Picnic Area

### Campgrounds

- Benton Beach Campground

## Fish Species

Walleye, Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, Yellow Perch, Channel Catfish, Rock Bass, Bigmouth Buffalo, Black Bullhead, Bowfin, Brown Bullhead, Common Carp, Green Sunfish, Hybrid Sunfish, Shorthead Redhorse, Silver Redhorse, White Sucker, Yellow Bullhead

## Invasive Species

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

## Ice-Out

- **Median ice-out**: April 10
- **Years of record**: 40
- **Earliest**: 2024-03-09
- **Latest**: 2018-05-02

## Nearby Lakes

- [Mayhew Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/benton-county/mayhew-lake) - 3.9 miles, 128 acres
- [Sagatagan Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/stearns-county/sagatagan-lake) - 15.2 miles, 227 acres
- [Rice Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/morrison-county/rice-lake) - 15.2 miles, 339 acres
- [Ochotto Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/stearns-county/ochotto-lake) - 15.4 miles, 40 acres
- [Kraemer Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/stearns-county/kraemer-lake) - 15.4 miles, 195 acres
- [Lower Spunk Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/stearns-county/lower-spunk-lake) - 16 miles, 179 acres

## Links

- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=45.72677,-94.16859)
- [Minnesota DNR LakeFinder](https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/lakefind/lake.html?id=05001300)
- [All lakes in Benton County](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/benton-county)

---
*Source: [MinneLakes.org](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/benton-county/little-rock-lake)*