Hatchet Lake
About Hatchet Lake
Hatchet Lake is a 127-acre lake near Prairie Portage in Lake County, Minnesota. It reaches 40 feet at its deepest point, and has roughly 3.5 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. 8 campgrounds are mapped close to the shoreline for overnight stays.
Plan Your Visit to Hatchet Lake
- 127 acres, up to 40 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
- 127 acres
- Max depth
- 40 ft
- Shoreline
- 3.5 mi
- Shallows (under 15 ft)
- 107 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 (8 mapped)
Best For
- Lakeside camping
- Ice is never completely safe — check thickness yourself before walking or driving on any lake
Camping & Reservations
8 campgrounds are mapped on or near Hatchet 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 Hatchet Lake
Compare Hatchet Lake against the top-ranked lakes nearby, then map your route.
Nearby Lakes
Ima Lake
42 out of 100 Lake ScoreLake · Ely742 acres
1.1 miles away
Alworth Lake
33 out of 100 Lake ScoreLake · Prairie Portage200 acres
1.7 miles away
Thomas Lake
57 out of 100 Lake ScoreLake · Prairie Portage1,465 acres
2 miles away
Jordan Lake
38 out of 100 Lake ScoreLake · Prairie Portage142 acres
2.5 miles away
Fraser Lake
46 out of 100 Lake ScoreLake · Prairie Portage695 acres
2.9 miles away
Ashigan Lake
43 out of 100 Lake ScoreLake · Prairie Portage153 acres
3.5 miles away
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Hatchet Lake?
Hatchet Lake is in Lake County, Minnesota, near Prairie Portage. It covers 127 acres and reaches 40 feet deep.
How big and how deep is Hatchet Lake?
Hatchet Lake covers 127 acres with about 3.5 miles of shoreline. Its maximum depth is 40 feet.
What fish can you catch at Hatchet Lake?
The DNR has no fish survey on file for Hatchet Lake.
Is there a public boat launch on Hatchet Lake?
Public access is on record, but not a trailer ramp: public access on record.
Can you swim at Hatchet Lake?
There is no mapped public swim beach at Hatchet 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 Hatchet Lake?
Yes. A campground is mapped on or near the shore. Confirm whether sites are reservable or first-come, first-served before you go.