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Elton Lake

lakeLake County, Minnesota · near Prairie Portage124 acres34 out of 100 Lake Score Lake Score

About Elton Lake

Elton Lake is a 124-acre lake near Prairie Portage in Lake County, Minnesota. It reaches 53 feet at its deepest point, and has roughly 5.3 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. 4 campgrounds are mapped close to the shoreline for overnight stays.

Plan Your Visit to Elton Lake

What to Know Before You Go
  • 124 acres, up to 53 feet deep, near Prairie Portage
  • 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
124 acres
Max depth
53 ft
Shoreline
5.3 mi
Shallows (under 15 ft)
84 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 (4 mapped)

Best For

  • Lakeside camping
Know Before You Go
  • Ice is never completely safe — check thickness yourself before walking or driving on any lake

Camping & Reservations

4 campgrounds are mapped on or near Elton 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.

Backcountry sites

Campground locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Confirm details with the operator.

Activities

PaddlingCamping

Amenities

Campground

Fish Species

No survey on file

Plan your trip to Elton Lake

Compare Elton Lake against the top-ranked lakes nearby, then map your route.

Best camping lakes in Lake County

See how Elton Lake ranks among camping lakes nearby.

Best paddling lakes in Lake County

See how Elton Lake ranks among paddling lakes nearby.

Nearby Lakes

Makwa Lake

36 out of 100 Lake Score

Lake · Prairie Portage128 acres

1.2 miles away

PaddlingCamping

Little Saganaga Lake

57 out of 100 Lake Score

Cook · Tofte1,627 acres

2.3 miles away

FishingIce FishingPaddlingCanoe Tripping

Gabimichigami Lake

48 out of 100 Lake Score

Cook · Tofte1,186 acres

3.4 miles away

PaddlingCanoe TrippingCamping

Elm Lake

33 out of 100 Lake Score

Cook · Tofte109 acres

3.6 miles away

PaddlingCamping

Boulder Lake

39 out of 100 Lake Score

Lake · Prairie Portage259 acres

3.7 miles away

PaddlingCamping

Peter Lake

56 out of 100 Lake Score

Cook · Tofte282 acres

4.3 miles away

FishingIce FishingPaddlingCanoe Tripping

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Elton Lake?

Elton Lake is in Lake County, Minnesota, near Prairie Portage. It covers 124 acres and reaches 53 feet deep.

How big and how deep is Elton Lake?

Elton Lake covers 124 acres with about 5.3 miles of shoreline. Its maximum depth is 53 feet.

What fish can you catch at Elton Lake?

The DNR has no fish survey on file for Elton Lake.

Is there a public boat launch on Elton Lake?

Public access is on record, but not a trailer ramp: public access on record.

Can you swim at Elton Lake?

There is no mapped public swim beach at Elton 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 Elton Lake?

Yes. A campground is mapped on or near the shore. Confirm whether sites are reservable or first-come, first-served before you go.