Nelson Lake
About Nelson Lake
Nelson Lake is a 319-acre lake near Pine Knoll in Crow Wing County, Minnesota. It reaches 12 feet at its deepest point, and has roughly 4.1 miles of shoreline.
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.
Plan Your Visit to Nelson Lake
- 319 acres, up to 12 feet deep, near Pine Knoll
- Public access on record — bring a boat you can hand-launch unless you confirm a ramp
Access & Fees
- Public access
- Public access on record
- Launch fee
- Free at DNR accesses
Conditions
- Surface area
- 319 acres
- Max depth
- 12 ft
- Shoreline
- 4.1 mi
- Shallows (under 15 ft)
- 319 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
No developed facilities on record. Plan to be self-sufficient.
- Ice is never completely safe — check thickness yourself before walking or driving on any lake
Activities
Amenities
Fish Species
Plan your trip to Nelson Lake
Compare Nelson Lake against the top-ranked lakes nearby, then map your route.
Nearby Lakes
Stark Lake
57 out of 100 Lake ScoreCrow Wing · Pine Knoll217 acres
2.3 miles away
Upper Dean Lake
52 out of 100 Lake ScoreCrow Wing · Emily259 acres
2.8 miles away
Twin Lake
48 out of 100 Lake ScoreCrow Wing · Little Pine79 acres
3 miles away
Ross Lake
51 out of 100 Lake ScoreCrow Wing · Little Pine492 acres
3.4 miles away
Rogers Lake
64 out of 100 Lake ScoreCrow Wing · Emily240 acres
4.4 miles away
Blind Lake
46 out of 100 Lake ScoreAitkin · Pine Knoll304 acres
5 miles away
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Nelson Lake?
Nelson Lake is in Crow Wing County, Minnesota, near Pine Knoll. It covers 319 acres and reaches 12 feet deep.
How big and how deep is Nelson Lake?
Nelson Lake covers 319 acres with about 4.1 miles of shoreline. Its maximum depth is 12 feet.
What fish can you catch at Nelson Lake?
The DNR has no fish survey on file for Nelson Lake.
Is there a public boat launch on Nelson Lake?
Public access is on record, but not a trailer ramp: public access on record.
Can you swim at Nelson Lake?
There is no mapped public swim beach at Nelson 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.