Horseshoe Lake
About Horseshoe Lake
Horseshoe Lake is a 205-acre lake near Forest Center in Lake County, Minnesota. It reaches 40 feet at its deepest point, with an average depth of about 12 feet, and has roughly 5.9 miles of shoreline. DNR surveys put average water clarity at about 4.2 feet.
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 Horseshoe Lake
- 205 acres, up to 40 feet deep, near Forest Center
- Public access on record — bring a boat you can hand-launch unless you confirm a ramp
- Average water clarity around 4.2 feet
- Camping close to the water
Access & Fees
- Public access
- Public access on record
- Launch fee
- Free at DNR accesses
Conditions
- Surface area
- 205 acres
- Max depth
- 40 ft
- Average depth
- 12 ft
- Shoreline
- 5.9 mi
- Water clarity
- 4.2 ft
- Shallows (under 15 ft)
- 130 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
- Ice is never completely safe — check thickness yourself before walking or driving on any lake
Camping & Reservations
4 campgrounds are mapped on or near Horseshoe 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 Horseshoe Lake
Compare Horseshoe Lake against the top-ranked lakes nearby, then map your route.
Nearby Lakes
Three Lake
62 out of 100 Lake ScoreLake · Forest Center904 acres
1.2 miles away
North Wilder Lake
31 out of 100 Lake ScoreLake · Isabella100 acres
1.6 miles away
Four Lake
62 out of 100 Lake ScoreLake · Forest Center611 acres
2.1 miles away
Two Lake
61 out of 100 Lake ScoreLake · Ely516 acres
2.8 miles away
Quadga Lake
57 out of 100 Lake ScoreLake · Isabella251 acres
4.2 miles away
One Lake
53 out of 100 Lake ScoreLake · Ely846 acres
4.3 miles away
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Horseshoe Lake?
Horseshoe Lake is in Lake County, Minnesota, near Forest Center. It covers 205 acres and reaches 40 feet deep.
How big and how deep is Horseshoe Lake?
Horseshoe Lake covers 205 acres with about 5.9 miles of shoreline. Its maximum depth is 40 feet and its average depth is about 12 feet.
What fish can you catch at Horseshoe Lake?
The DNR has no fish survey on file for Horseshoe Lake.
Is there a public boat launch on Horseshoe Lake?
Public access is on record, but not a trailer ramp: public access on record.
Can you swim at Horseshoe Lake?
There is no mapped public swim beach at Horseshoe 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 Horseshoe Lake?
Yes. A campground is mapped on or near the shore. Confirm whether sites are reservable or first-come, first-served before you go.