Carol Lake
About Carol Lake
Carol Lake is a 105-acre lake near Forest Center in Lake County, Minnesota. It reaches 16 feet at its deepest point, and has roughly 3.9 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. 2 campgrounds are mapped close to the shoreline for overnight stays.
Plan Your Visit to Carol Lake
- 105 acres, up to 16 feet deep, near Forest Center
- Public access on record — bring a boat you can hand-launch unless you confirm a ramp
- Camping close to the water
Access & Fees
- Public access
- Public access on record
- Launch fee
- Free at DNR accesses
Conditions
- Surface area
- 105 acres
- Max depth
- 16 ft
- Shoreline
- 3.9 mi
- Shallows (under 15 ft)
- 96 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
- Camping (2 mapped)
Best For
- Lakeside camping
- Ice is never completely safe — check thickness yourself before walking or driving on any lake
Camping & Reservations
2 campgrounds are mapped on or near Carol Lake. Minnesota state park sites are booked through the DNR reservation system, national forest campgrounds through Recreation.gov, and most state forest campgrounds are first-come, first-served.
Campground locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Confirm details with the operator.
Activities
Amenities
Fish Species
Plan your trip to Carol Lake
Compare Carol Lake against the top-ranked lakes nearby, then map your route.
Nearby Lakes
Alice Lake
47 out of 100 Lake ScoreLake · Forest Center1,469 acres
1.6 miles away
Fishdance Lake
35 out of 100 Lake ScoreLake · Forest Center162 acres
2.2 miles away
Insula Lake
48 out of 100 Lake ScoreLake · Ely2,840 acres
2.5 miles away
Amber Lake
39 out of 100 Lake ScoreLake · Forest Center121 acres
3.1 miles away
Thomas Lake
57 out of 100 Lake ScoreLake · Prairie Portage1,465 acres
3.6 miles away
Alworth Lake
33 out of 100 Lake ScoreLake · Prairie Portage200 acres
4.7 miles away
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Carol Lake?
Carol Lake is in Lake County, Minnesota, near Forest Center. It covers 105 acres and reaches 16 feet deep.
How big and how deep is Carol Lake?
Carol Lake covers 105 acres with about 3.9 miles of shoreline. Its maximum depth is 16 feet.
What fish can you catch at Carol Lake?
The DNR has no fish survey on file for Carol Lake.
Is there a public boat launch on Carol Lake?
Public access is on record, but not a trailer ramp: public access on record.
Can you swim at Carol Lake?
There is no mapped public swim beach at Carol 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.
Can you camp at Carol Lake?
Yes. A campground is mapped on or near the shore. Confirm whether sites are reservable or first-come, first-served before you go.