---
type: lake
name: "Dinner Pail Lake"
county: "Itasca"
nearest_town: "Hill City"
lake_type: "lake"
acres: 47
max_depth_ft: 30
latitude: 47.04192
longitude: -93.59903
lake_score: 52
dnr_lake_id: "31055100"
url: https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/itasca-county/dinner-pail-lake
---

# Dinner Pail Lake

Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota, near Hill City

- **Surface Area**: 47 acres
- **Max Depth**: 30 ft
- **Shoreline**: 1.2 miles
- **Water Clarity**: 9 ft
- **Lake Type**: lake
- **Public Access**: 1 public boat launch (gravel or earth)
- **Lake Score**: 52/100 (composite of public data, not a visitor rating)

## About

Dinner Pail Lake is a 47-acre lake near Hill City in Itasca County, Minnesota. It reaches 30 feet at its deepest point, and has roughly 1.2 miles of shoreline. DNR surveys put average water clarity at about 9 feet.

Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys list 10 fish species here, including northern pike, largemouth bass, black crappie, bluegill, pumpkinseed, and yellow perch. The most recent fisheries survey on file dates to 2008.

There is one public boat launch (gravel or earth surface) managed by the county.

## Access

- **Public access**: 1 public boat launch (gravel or earth)
- **Managed by**: county
- **Launch fee**: Free at DNR public water accesses

## Fishing

- **Species on DNR survey**: 10
- **Stocked**: No
- **Last DNR survey**: 2008
- **Special regulations**: No
- **Ice fishing**: Yes

## Activities

Fishing, Ice Fishing, Paddling

## Amenities

Boat Ramp

## Fish Species

Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, Yellow Perch, Rock Bass, Bowfin, Brown Bullhead, Yellow Bullhead

## Nearby Lakes

- [Mountain Ash Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/itasca-county/mountain-ash-lake) - 1.6 miles, 101 acres
- [Hill Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/aitkin-county/hill-lake) - 2.8 miles, 794 acres
- [Smith Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/itasca-county/smith-lake-hill-city) - 4.4 miles, 43 acres
- [Taylor Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/aitkin-county/taylor-lake) - 5.3 miles, 55 acres
- [Split Hand Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/itasca-county/split-hand-lake) - 5.4 miles, 1,374 acres
- [Carlson Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/itasca-county/carlson-lake) - 5.9 miles, 188 acres

## Links

- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=47.04192,-93.59903)
- [Minnesota DNR LakeFinder](https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/lakefind/lake.html?id=31055100)
- [All lakes in Itasca County](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/itasca-county)

---
*Source: [MinneLakes.org](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/itasca-county/dinner-pail-lake)*