---
type: lake
name: "Medicine Lake"
county: "Hennepin"
nearest_town: "Plymouth"
lake_type: "lake"
acres: 924
max_depth_ft: 49
latitude: 45.00877
longitude: -93.42124
lake_score: 66
dnr_lake_id: "27010400"
url: https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/hennepin-county/medicine-lake
---

# Medicine Lake

Lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota, near Plymouth

- **Surface Area**: 924 acres
- **Max Depth**: 49 ft
- **Shoreline**: 8.8 miles
- **Water Clarity**: 7 ft
- **Lake Type**: lake
- **Public Access**: 1 public boat launch (asphalt)
- **Lake Score**: 66/100 (composite of public data, not a visitor rating)

## About

Medicine Lake is a 924-acre lake near Plymouth in Hennepin County, Minnesota. It reaches 49 feet at its deepest point, and has roughly 8.8 miles of shoreline. By surface area it ranks No. 2 among the 40 Hennepin County lakes in this directory. DNR surveys put average water clarity at about 7 feet.

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. Special fishing regulations apply to crappie and sunfish, and they override the statewide limits. The most recent fisheries survey on file dates to 2023.

There is one public boat launch (asphalt surface) managed by the county. OpenStreetMap shows French Park Beach on or beside the lake. The lake is listed as infested with Eurasian watermilfoil, starry stonewort, and zebra mussel — clean, drain and dry your boat and gear before leaving. Ice typically goes out around April 8, based on 142 years of DNR ice-out records.

## Access

- **Public access**: 1 public boat launch (asphalt)
- **Managed by**: county
- **Launch fee**: Permit or fee required

## Fishing

- **Species on DNR survey**: 15
- **Stocked**: Yes
- **Last DNR survey**: 2023
- **Special regulations**: Yes
- **Ice fishing**: Yes

### Special Regulations

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

## Activities

Fishing, Ice Fishing, Boating, Paddling, Swimming, Picnicking

## Amenities

Boat Ramp, Swim Beach, Picnic Area

### Beaches

- French Park Beach

## Fish Species

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

## Invasive Species

Eurasian watermilfoil, starry stonewort, zebra mussel. Clean, drain and dry boats and gear before leaving.

## Ice-Out

- **Median ice-out**: April 8
- **Years of record**: 142
- **Earliest**: 2024-03-07
- **Latest**: 2018-05-02

## Nearby Lakes

- [Parkers Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/hennepin-county/parkers-lake) - 2.7 miles, 100 acres
- [Bass Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/hennepin-county/bass-lake) - 3.2 miles, 182 acres
- [Pike Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/hennepin-county/pike-lake) - 4 miles, 57 acres
- [Gleason Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/hennepin-county/gleason-lake) - 4 miles, 135 acres
- [Eagle Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/hennepin-county/eagle-lake) - 4.5 miles, 296 acres
- [Lake Crystal](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/hennepin-county/lake-crystal) - 4.7 miles, 79 acres

## Links

- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=45.00877,-93.42124)
- [Minnesota DNR LakeFinder](https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/lakefind/lake.html?id=27010400)
- [All lakes in Hennepin County](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/hennepin-county)

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