Blue Lake
About Blue Lake
Blue Lake is a 336-acre lake near Park Rapids in Hubbard County, Minnesota. It reaches 84 feet at its deepest point, with an average depth of about 44 feet, and has roughly 3.2 miles of shoreline. DNR surveys put average water clarity at about 15.6 feet, which is exceptionally clear for Minnesota.
Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys list 13 fish species here, including walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth 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 26, based on 20 years of DNR ice-out records.
Plan Your Visit to Blue Lake
- 336 acres, up to 84 feet deep, near Park Rapids
- 1 public boat launch (concrete) — managed by the Minnesota DNR
- Game fish on the DNR survey: walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, black crappie, bluegill, and pumpkinseed
- Average water clarity around 15.6 feet — very clear
Access & Fees
- Public access
- 1 public boat launch (concrete)
- Launch fee
- Free at DNR accesses
- Managed by
- Minnesota DNR
Conditions
- Surface area
- 336 acres
- Max depth
- 84 ft
- Average depth
- 44 ft
- Shoreline
- 3.2 mi
- Water clarity
- 15.6 ft
- Shallows (under 15 ft)
- 81 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
- A trout and salmon stamp is required to fish designated trout lakes or to keep trout
Facilities
- 1 public boat launch (concrete)
Best For
- Walleye fishing
- Quiet paddling
- Ice fishing
- Ice is never completely safe — check thickness yourself before walking or driving on any lake
Angler's Report
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder- Species on survey
- 13
- Game fish
- 10
- Stocked
- Yes
- Last DNR survey
- 2025
- Special regulations
- No
- Fishing pier
- No
- Ice fishing
- Yes
- Boat launch
- Yes
Fishing data: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Regulations change — confirm with the current DNR fishing regulations.
Ice-Out History
- Median ice-out
- April 26
- Years of record
- 20
- Earliest
- March 26, 2012
- Latest
- May 13, 2013
- Most recent
- April 5, 2021
See every lake on the ice-out tracker. Ice-out data: Minnesota DNR State Climatology Office.
Activities
Amenities
Fish Species
Plan your trip to Blue Lake
Compare Blue Lake against the top-ranked lakes nearby, then map your route.
See how Blue Lake ranks among fishing lakes nearby.
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See how Blue Lake ranks among paddling lakes nearby.
See how Blue Lake ranks among ice fishing lakes nearby.
Nearby Lakes
Pickerel Lake
58 out of 100 Lake ScoreHubbard · Park Rapids310 acres
1.5 miles away
Big Sand Lake
69 out of 100 Lake ScoreHubbard · Dorset1,639 acres
2.1 miles away
Potato Lake
64 out of 100 Lake ScoreHubbard · Park Rapids2,096 acres
2.5 miles away
Emma Lake
58 out of 100 Lake ScoreHubbard · Dorset78 acres
2.7 miles away
Lower Bottle Lake
69 out of 100 Lake ScoreHubbard · Dorset641 acres
2.8 miles away
Stocking Lake
9 out of 100 Lake ScoreHubbard · Park Rapids102 acres
3.2 miles away
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Blue Lake?
Blue Lake is in Hubbard County, Minnesota, near Park Rapids. It covers 336 acres and reaches 84 feet deep.
How big and how deep is Blue Lake?
Blue Lake covers 336 acres with about 3.2 miles of shoreline. Its maximum depth is 84 feet and its average depth is about 44 feet.
What fish can you catch at Blue Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys list Walleye, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, Yellow Perch, Rainbow Trout, and Tullibee (Cisco) and other species. A Minnesota fishing license is required for anyone 16 and older.
Is there a public boat launch on Blue Lake?
Yes. Blue Lake has 1 public boat launch (concrete), managed by the Minnesota DNR. DNR public water accesses are free to use.
Can you swim at Blue Lake?
There is no mapped public swim beach at Blue 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.
Is Blue Lake stocked?
Yes. The Minnesota DNR has stocking records for Blue Lake; species and numbers vary by year, so see the stocking report on DNR LakeFinder.
When does the ice go out on Blue Lake?
The median ice-out date is April 26, from 20 years of Minnesota DNR records. The earliest on record is March 26, 2012 and the latest is May 13, 2013.