---
type: lake
name: "Karl Lake"
county: "Cook"
nearest_town: "Grand Marais"
lake_type: "lake"
acres: 121
max_depth_ft: 70
latitude: 48.01869
longitude: -90.76817
lake_score: 46
dnr_lake_id: "16046100"
url: https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/cook-county/karl-lake
---

# Karl Lake

Lake in Cook County, Minnesota, near Grand Marais

- **Surface Area**: 121 acres
- **Max Depth**: 70 ft
- **Shoreline**: 5.3 miles
- **Water Clarity**: 9.6 ft
- **Lake Type**: lake
- **Public Access**: Carry-in access only
- **Lake Score**: 46/100 (composite of public data, not a visitor rating)

## About

Karl Lake is a 121-acre lake near Grand Marais in Cook County, Minnesota. It reaches 70 feet at its deepest point, and has roughly 5.3 miles of shoreline. DNR surveys put average water clarity at about 9.6 feet.

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. OpenStreetMap shows a swim beach on or beside the lake. 12 campgrounds are mapped close to the shoreline for overnight stays.

## Access

- **Public access**: Carry-in access only
- **Managed by**: US Forest Service
- **Launch fee**: Free at DNR public water accesses

## Activities

Paddling, Swimming, Camping

## Amenities

Carry-In Access, Swim Beach, Campground

## Fish Species

No DNR fish survey on file

## Nearby Lakes

- [Long Island Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/cook-county/long-island-lake) - 0.7 miles, 884 acres
- [Gordon Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/cook-county/gordon-lake) - 2.3 miles, 135 acres
- [Frost Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/cook-county/frost-lake) - 2.9 miles, 284 acres
- [Snipe Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/cook-county/snipe-lake) - 3.4 miles, 115 acres
- [Davis Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/cook-county/davis-lake) - 3.7 miles, 323 acres
- [Ham Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/cook-county/ham-lake) - 3.8 miles, 119 acres

## Links

- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=48.01869,-90.76817)
- [Minnesota DNR LakeFinder](https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/lakefind/lake.html?id=16046100)
- [All lakes in Cook County](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/cook-county)

---
*Source: [MinneLakes.org](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/cook-county/karl-lake)*