French Lake
About French Lake
French Lake is a 121-acre lake near Grand Marais in Cook County, Minnesota. It reaches 130 feet at its deepest point, and has roughly 2.6 miles of shoreline. DNR surveys put average water clarity at about 10.7 feet, clearer than most lakes in the state.
The DNR has no fish survey on file for this lake, so treat any fishing as exploratory.
Public access is carry-in only — plan on a canoe, kayak or small boat you can hand-launch. 6 campgrounds are mapped close to the shoreline for overnight stays.
Plan Your Visit to French Lake
- 121 acres, up to 130 feet deep, near Grand Marais
- Carry-in access only — bring a boat you can hand-launch unless you confirm a ramp
- Average water clarity around 10.7 feet
- Camping close to the water
Access & Fees
- Public access
- Carry-in access only
- Launch fee
- Free at DNR accesses
- Managed by
- US Forest Service
Conditions
- Surface area
- 121 acres
- Max depth
- 130 ft
- Shoreline
- 2.6 mi
- Water clarity
- 10.7 ft
- Shallows (under 15 ft)
- 17 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
- 1 carry-in access
- Camping (6 mapped)
Best For
- Lakeside camping
- Quiet paddling
- Ice is never completely safe — check thickness yourself before walking or driving on any lake
Camping & Reservations
6 campgrounds are mapped on or near French Lake. Minnesota state park sites are booked through the DNR reservation system, national forest campgrounds through Recreation.gov, and most state forest campgrounds are first-come, first-served.
Campground locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Confirm details with the operator.
Activities
Amenities
Fish Species
Plan your trip to French Lake
Compare French Lake against the top-ranked lakes nearby, then map your route.
Nearby Lakes
Gillis Lake
57 out of 100 Lake ScoreCook · Grand Marais616 acres
1 miles away
Peter Lake
56 out of 100 Lake ScoreCook · Tofte282 acres
1.5 miles away
Howard Lake
48 out of 100 Lake ScoreCook · Tofte166 acres
1.9 miles away
Crooked Lake
50 out of 100 Lake ScoreCook · Grand Marais244 acres
2 miles away
Elm Lake
33 out of 100 Lake ScoreCook · Tofte109 acres
2.1 miles away
Paulson Lake
44 out of 100 Lake ScoreCook · Grand Marais121 acres
2.9 miles away
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is French Lake?
French Lake is in Cook County, Minnesota, near Grand Marais. It covers 121 acres and reaches 130 feet deep.
How big and how deep is French Lake?
French Lake covers 121 acres with about 2.6 miles of shoreline. Its maximum depth is 130 feet.
What fish can you catch at French Lake?
The DNR has no fish survey on file for French Lake.
Is there a public boat launch on French Lake?
Public access is on record, but not a trailer ramp: carry-in access only.
Can you swim at French Lake?
There is no mapped public swim beach at French 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.
Can you camp at French Lake?
Yes. A campground is mapped on or near the shore. Confirm whether sites are reservable or first-come, first-served before you go.