Rainy Lake
About Rainy Lake
Rainy Lake is a 129-acre lake near Backus in Cass County, Minnesota. It reaches 29 feet at its deepest point, and has roughly 2.8 miles of shoreline.
The DNR has no fish survey on file for this lake, so treat any fishing as exploratory.
The DNR lists public water access for the lake; confirm the launch type before towing a trailer in. Ice typically goes out around April 15, based on 27 years of DNR ice-out records.
Plan Your Visit to Rainy Lake
- 129 acres, up to 29 feet deep, near Backus
- Public access on record — bring a boat you can hand-launch unless you confirm a ramp
Access & Fees
- Public access
- Public access on record
- Launch fee
- Free at DNR accesses
Conditions
- Surface area
- 129 acres
- Max depth
- 29 ft
- Shoreline
- 2.8 mi
- Shallows (under 15 ft)
- 93 acres
Rules & Regulations
- A Minnesota fishing license is required for anglers 16 and older
- Drain plugs must be out and all water drained before leaving any access; remove aquatic plants from boats and trailers
- Children under 10 must wear a life jacket on a boat that is underway
Facilities
No developed facilities on record. Plan to be self-sufficient.
- Ice is never completely safe — check thickness yourself before walking or driving on any lake
Ice-Out History
- Median ice-out
- April 15
- Years of record
- 27
- Earliest
- March 30, 2016
- Latest
- May 3, 1996
- Most recent
- May 1, 2023
See every lake on the ice-out tracker. Ice-out data: Minnesota DNR State Climatology Office.
Activities
Amenities
Fish Species
Plan your trip to Rainy Lake
Compare Rainy Lake against the top-ranked lakes nearby, then map your route.
Nearby Lakes
Sanborn Lake
64 out of 100 Lake ScoreCass · Backus220 acres
0.9 miles away
Horseshoe Lake
63 out of 100 Lake ScoreCass · Backus260 acres
1.2 miles away
Big Portage Lake
56 out of 100 Lake ScoreCass · Backus902 acres
1.7 miles away
Ox Yoke Lake
60 out of 100 Lake ScoreCass · Backus185 acres
1.8 miles away
Lind Lake
64 out of 100 Lake ScoreCass · Backus440 acres
2.1 miles away
Brockway Lake
25 out of 100 Lake ScoreCass · Backus180 acres
2.1 miles away
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Rainy Lake?
Rainy Lake is in Cass County, Minnesota, near Backus. It covers 129 acres and reaches 29 feet deep.
How big and how deep is Rainy Lake?
Rainy Lake covers 129 acres with about 2.8 miles of shoreline. Its maximum depth is 29 feet.
What fish can you catch at Rainy Lake?
The DNR has no fish survey on file for Rainy Lake.
Is there a public boat launch on Rainy Lake?
Public access is on record, but not a trailer ramp: public access on record.
Can you swim at Rainy Lake?
There is no mapped public swim beach at Rainy Lake. Minnesota's public waters are open to swimming where you have legal access, but there are no lifeguards or water-quality monitoring away from designated beaches.
When does the ice go out on Rainy Lake?
The median ice-out date is April 15, from 27 years of Minnesota DNR records. The earliest on record is March 30, 2016 and the latest is May 3, 1996.