---
type: lake
name: "Crow Wing Lake"
county: "Crow Wing"
nearest_town: "Fort Ripley"
lake_type: "lake"
acres: 379
max_depth_ft: 26
latitude: 46.23639
longitude: -94.33973
lake_score: 52
dnr_lake_id: "18015500"
url: https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/crow-wing-county/crow-wing-lake
---

# Crow Wing Lake

Lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota, near Fort Ripley

- **Surface Area**: 379 acres
- **Max Depth**: 26 ft
- **Average Depth**: 11 ft
- **Shoreline**: 3.9 miles
- **Water Clarity**: 3.5 ft
- **Lake Type**: lake
- **Public Access**: 1 public boat launch (concrete)
- **Lake Score**: 52/100 (composite of public data, not a visitor rating)

## About

Crow Wing Lake is a 379-acre lake near Fort Ripley in Crow Wing County, Minnesota. It reaches 26 feet at its deepest point, with an average depth of about 11 feet, and has roughly 3.9 miles of shoreline. DNR surveys put average water clarity at about 3.5 feet, so expect stained or algae-tinted water in summer.

Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys list 15 fish species here, including walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, black crappie, bluegill, and pumpkinseed. The DNR has stocking records for the lake, so check the stocking report for the most recent species and year classes. 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 14, based on 45 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**: 15
- **Stocked**: Yes
- **Last DNR survey**: 2025
- **Special regulations**: No
- **Ice fishing**: Yes

## Activities

Fishing, Ice Fishing, Boating, Paddling

## Amenities

Boat Ramp

## Fish Species

Walleye, Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, Yellow Perch, Rock Bass, Black Bullhead, Bowfin, Brown Bullhead, Common Carp, Hybrid Sunfish, White Sucker, Yellow Bullhead

## Ice-Out

- **Median ice-out**: April 14
- **Years of record**: 45
- **Earliest**: 2016-03-20
- **Latest**: 1975-04-30

## Nearby Lakes

- [Hardy Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/cass-county/hardy-lake) - 4.3 miles, 105 acres
- [Sebie Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/crow-wing-county/sebie-lake) - 4.7 miles, 185 acres
- [Sylvan Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/morrison-county/sylvan-lake) - 5.6 miles, 321 acres
- [Round Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/crow-wing-county/round-lake-saint-mathias) - 5.9 miles, 139 acres
- [Perch Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/crow-wing-county/perch-lake) - 7.9 miles, 266 acres
- [White Sand Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/crow-wing-county/white-sand-lake) - 8.4 miles, 415 acres

## Links

- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=46.23639,-94.33973)
- [Minnesota DNR LakeFinder](https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/lakefind/lake.html?id=18015500)
- [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/crow-wing-lake)*