Bear Lake
About Bear Lake
Bear Lake is a 1,033-acre lake near Emmons in Freeborn County, Minnesota. It reaches 6 feet at its deepest point, with an average depth of about 3 feet, and has roughly 6.9 miles of shoreline.
The DNR has no fish survey on file for this lake, so treat any fishing as exploratory.
There is one public boat launch (gravel or earth surface) managed by the Minnesota DNR. Ice typically goes out around March 30, based on 7 years of DNR ice-out records.
Plan Your Visit to Bear Lake
- 1,033 acres, up to 6 feet deep, near Emmons
- 1 public boat launch (gravel or earth) — managed by the Minnesota DNR
Access & Fees
- Public access
- 1 public boat launch (gravel or earth)
- Launch fee
- Free at DNR accesses
- Managed by
- Minnesota DNR
Conditions
- Surface area
- 1,033 acres
- Max depth
- 6 ft
- Average depth
- 3 ft
- Shoreline
- 6.9 mi
- Shallows (under 15 ft)
- 1,033 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
- 1 public boat launch (gravel or earth)
- Ice is never completely safe — check thickness yourself before walking or driving on any lake
Ice-Out History
- Median ice-out
- March 30
- Years of record
- 7
- Earliest
- March 12, 2016
- Latest
- April 28, 2018
- Most recent
- April 8, 2023
See every lake on the ice-out tracker. Ice-out data: Minnesota DNR State Climatology Office.
Activities
Amenities
Fish Species
Plan your trip to Bear Lake
Compare Bear Lake against the top-ranked lakes nearby, then map your route.
Nearby Lakes
State Line Lake
35 out of 100 Lake ScoreFreeborn · Emmons372 acres
3 miles away
Pickeral Lake
31 out of 100 Lake ScoreFreeborn · Albert Lea588 acres
7.5 miles away
White Lake
11 out of 100 Lake ScoreFreeborn · Albert Lea168 acres
9.2 miles away
Fountain Lake
53 out of 100 Lake ScoreFreeborn · Albert Lea522 acres
10.3 miles away
Albert Lea Lake
70 out of 100 Lake ScoreFreeborn · Albert Lea2,669 acres
11.1 miles away
Rice Lake
48 out of 100 Lake ScoreFaribault · Wells266 acres
13.4 miles away
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Bear Lake?
Bear Lake is in Freeborn County, Minnesota, near Emmons. It covers 1,033 acres and reaches 6 feet deep.
How big and how deep is Bear Lake?
Bear Lake covers 1,033 acres with about 6.9 miles of shoreline. Its maximum depth is 6 feet and its average depth is about 3 feet.
What fish can you catch at Bear Lake?
The DNR has no fish survey on file for Bear Lake.
Is there a public boat launch on Bear Lake?
Yes. Bear Lake has 1 public boat launch (gravel or earth), managed by the Minnesota DNR. DNR public water accesses are free to use.
Can you swim at Bear Lake?
There is no mapped public swim beach at Bear 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.
When does the ice go out on Bear Lake?
The median ice-out date is March 30, from 7 years of Minnesota DNR records. The earliest on record is March 12, 2016 and the latest is April 28, 2018.