---
type: lake
name: "Cottonwood Lake"
county: "Lyon"
nearest_town: "Cottonwood"
lake_type: "lake"
acres: 383
max_depth_ft: 7
latitude: 44.61732
longitude: -95.68018
lake_score: 40
dnr_lake_id: "42001400"
url: https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/lyon-county/cottonwood-lake
---

# Cottonwood Lake

Lake in Lyon County, Minnesota, near Cottonwood

- **Surface Area**: 383 acres
- **Max Depth**: 7 ft
- **Shoreline**: 3.8 miles
- **Water Clarity**: 2.1 ft
- **Lake Type**: lake
- **Public Access**: 2 public boat launches (concrete)
- **Lake Score**: 40/100 (composite of public data, not a visitor rating)

## About

Cottonwood Lake is a 383-acre lake near Cottonwood in Lyon County, Minnesota. It reaches 7 feet at its deepest point, and has roughly 3.8 miles of shoreline. By surface area it ranks No. 2 among the 13 Lyon County lakes in this directory. DNR surveys put average water clarity at about 2.1 feet, so expect stained or algae-tinted water in summer.

Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys list 10 fish species here, including walleye, northern pike, and yellow perch. The DNR has stocking records for the lake, so check the stocking report for the most recent species and year classes. The most recent fisheries survey on file dates to 2025.

There are 2 public boat launches (concrete surface) managed by the city. Ice typically goes out around March 21, based on 5 years of DNR ice-out records.

## Access

- **Public access**: 2 public boat launches (concrete)
- **Managed by**: city
- **Launch fee**: Free at DNR public water accesses

## Fishing

- **Species on DNR survey**: 10
- **Stocked**: Yes
- **Last DNR survey**: 2025
- **Special regulations**: No
- **Ice fishing**: Yes

## Activities

Fishing, Ice Fishing, Boating, Paddling

## Amenities

Boat Ramp

## Fish Species

Walleye, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, American Eel, Bigmouth Buffalo, Black Bullhead, Common Carp, Orangespotted Sunfish, White Sucker, Yellow Bullhead

## Ice-Out

- **Median ice-out**: March 21
- **Years of record**: 5
- **Earliest**: 2024-03-01
- **Latest**: 2020-04-01

## Nearby Lakes

- [Lady Slipper Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/lyon-county/lady-slipper-lake) - 4 miles, 286 acres
- [School Grove Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/lyon-county/school-grove-lake) - 5.6 miles, 349 acres
- [Tyson Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/yellow-medicine-county/tyson-lake) - 7 miles, 166 acres
- [Wood Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/yellow-medicine-county/wood-lake) - 8.7 miles, 485 acres
- [Curtis Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/yellow-medicine-county/curtis-lake) - 10.1 miles, 382 acres
- [Island Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/lyon-county/island-lake) - 23.1 miles, 170 acres

## Links

- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=44.61732,-95.68018)
- [Minnesota DNR LakeFinder](https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/lakefind/lake.html?id=42001400)
- [All lakes in Lyon County](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/lyon-county)

---
*Source: [MinneLakes.org](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/lyon-county/cottonwood-lake)*