---
type: lake
name: "Borden Lake"
county: "Crow Wing"
nearest_town: "Garrison"
lake_type: "lake"
acres: 1011
max_depth_ft: 84
latitude: 46.30165
longitude: -93.86254
lake_score: 65
dnr_lake_id: "18002000"
url: https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/crow-wing-county/borden-lake
---

# Borden Lake

Lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota, near Garrison

- **Surface Area**: 1,011 acres
- **Max Depth**: 84 ft
- **Average Depth**: 22 ft
- **Shoreline**: 12.4 miles
- **Water Clarity**: 11.8 ft
- **Lake Type**: lake
- **Public Access**: 1 public boat launch (concrete)
- **Lake Score**: 65/100 (composite of public data, not a visitor rating)

## About

Borden Lake is a 1,011-acre lake near Garrison in Crow Wing County, Minnesota. It reaches 84 feet at its deepest point, with an average depth of about 22 feet, and has roughly 12.4 miles of shoreline. DNR surveys put average water clarity at about 11.8 feet, clearer than most lakes in the state.

Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys list 16 fish species here, including walleye, northern pike, muskellunge, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and black crappie. Special fishing regulations apply to crappie and sunfish, and they override the statewide limits. The most recent fisheries survey on file dates to 2025.

There is one public boat launch (concrete surface) managed by the Minnesota DNR. Ice typically goes out around April 18, based on 30 years of DNR ice-out records.

## Access

- **Public access**: 1 public boat launch (concrete)
- **Managed by**: Minnesota DNR
- **Launch fee**: Free at DNR public water accesses

## Fishing

- **Species on DNR survey**: 16
- **Stocked**: No
- **Last DNR survey**: 2025
- **Special regulations**: Yes
- **Ice fishing**: Yes

### Special Regulations

- **Crappie, Sunfish**: Daily limit five.

## Activities

Fishing, Ice Fishing, Boating, Paddling

## Amenities

Boat Ramp

## Fish Species

Walleye, Northern Pike, Muskellunge, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, Yellow Perch, Tullibee (Cisco), Rock Bass, Bowfin, Brown Bullhead, Green Sunfish, Hybrid Sunfish, Yellow Bullhead

## Ice-Out

- **Median ice-out**: April 18
- **Years of record**: 30
- **Earliest**: 2024-03-14
- **Latest**: 2018-05-04

## Nearby Lakes

- [Miller Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/crow-wing-county/miller-lake) - 1.5 miles, 132 acres
- [Kenney Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/crow-wing-county/kenney-lake) - 1.7 miles, 109 acres
- [Scott Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/crow-wing-county/scott-lake) - 2.1 miles, 157 acres
- [Smith Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/crow-wing-county/smith-lake) - 2.8 miles, 491 acres
- [Holt Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/crow-wing-county/holt-lake) - 3.4 miles, 164 acres
- [Round Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/aitkin-county/round-lake) - 3.6 miles, 737 acres

## Links

- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=46.30165,-93.86254)
- [Minnesota DNR LakeFinder](https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/lakefind/lake.html?id=18002000)
- [All lakes in Crow Wing County](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/crow-wing-county)

---
*Source: [MinneLakes.org](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/crow-wing-county/borden-lake)*