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Horseshoe Lake

lakeCook County, Minnesota · near Maple Hill188 acres34 out of 100 Lake Score Lake Score

About Horseshoe Lake

Horseshoe Lake is an 188-acre lake near Maple Hill in Cook County, Minnesota. It reaches 26 feet at its deepest point, and has roughly 10.4 miles of shoreline. DNR surveys put average water clarity at about 6.5 feet.

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. 10 campgrounds are mapped close to the shoreline for overnight stays.

Plan Your Visit to Horseshoe Lake

What to Know Before You Go
  • 188 acres, up to 26 feet deep, near Maple Hill
  • Public access on record — bring a boat you can hand-launch unless you confirm a ramp
  • Average water clarity around 6.5 feet
  • Camping close to the water

Access & Fees

Public access
Public access on record
Launch fee
Free at DNR accesses

Conditions

Surface area
188 acres
Max depth
26 ft
Shoreline
10.4 mi
Water clarity
6.5 ft
Shallows (under 15 ft)
187 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

  • Camping (10 mapped)

Best For

  • Lakeside camping
Know Before You Go
  • Ice is never completely safe — check thickness yourself before walking or driving on any lake

Camping & Reservations

10 campgrounds are mapped on or near Horseshoe 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.

Backcountry sites

Campground locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Confirm details with the operator.

Activities

PaddlingCamping

Amenities

Campground

Fish Species

No survey on file

Plan your trip to Horseshoe Lake

Compare Horseshoe Lake against the top-ranked lakes nearby, then map your route.

Best camping lakes in Cook County

See how Horseshoe Lake ranks among camping lakes nearby.

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Nearby Lakes

Vista Lake

49 out of 100 Lake Score

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1.2 miles away

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Caribou Lake

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Swamp Lake

39 out of 100 Lake Score

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1.5 miles away

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Gaskin Lake

41 out of 100 Lake Score

Cook · Maple Hill372 acres

2.5 miles away

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Poplar Lake

63 out of 100 Lake Score

Cook · Grand Marais764 acres

2.7 miles away

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Little Trout Lake

43 out of 100 Lake Score

Cook · Grand Marais127 acres

3 miles away

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Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Horseshoe Lake?

Horseshoe Lake is in Cook County, Minnesota, near Maple Hill. It covers 188 acres and reaches 26 feet deep.

How big and how deep is Horseshoe Lake?

Horseshoe Lake covers 188 acres with about 10.4 miles of shoreline. Its maximum depth is 26 feet.

What fish can you catch at Horseshoe Lake?

The DNR has no fish survey on file for Horseshoe Lake.

Is there a public boat launch on Horseshoe Lake?

Public access is on record, but not a trailer ramp: public access on record.

Can you swim at Horseshoe Lake?

There is no mapped public swim beach at Horseshoe 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 Horseshoe Lake?

Yes. A campground is mapped on or near the shore. Confirm whether sites are reservable or first-come, first-served before you go.