Shady Lake
About Shady Lake
Shady Lake is a 144-acre lake near Oronoco in Olmsted County, Minnesota. It reaches 13 feet at its deepest point, and has roughly 9.2 miles of shoreline. By surface area it ranks No. 2 among the 5 Olmsted County lakes in this directory.
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. Oronoco City Park and Tilly's American Travelers RV Resort are mapped close to the shoreline for overnight stays.
Plan Your Visit to Shady Lake
- 144 acres, up to 13 feet deep, near Oronoco
- Public access on record — bring a boat you can hand-launch unless you confirm a ramp
- Camping close to the water at Oronoco City Park and Tilly's American Travelers RV Resort
Access & Fees
- Public access
- Public access on record
- Launch fee
- Free at DNR accesses
- Managed by
- city
Conditions
- Surface area
- 144 acres
- Max depth
- 13 ft
- Shoreline
- 9.2 mi
- Shallows (under 15 ft)
- 144 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: Oronoco City Park and Tilly's American Travelers RV Resort
- Picnic area
Best For
- Lakeside camping
- Ice is never completely safe — check thickness yourself before walking or driving on any lake
Camping & Reservations
Oronoco City Park and Tilly's American Travelers RV Resort are mapped on or near Shady 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 Shady Lake
Compare Shady Lake against the top-ranked lakes nearby, then map your route.
Nearby Lakes
Lake Zumbro
58 out of 100 Lake ScoreOlmsted · Oronoco715 acres
3.6 miles away
Silver Lake
40 out of 100 Lake ScoreOlmsted · Rochester50 acres
10.1 miles away
Silver Creek Reservoir
22 out of 100 Lake ScoreOlmsted · Chester107 acres
12.5 miles away
Bear Creek Reservoir
61 out of 100 Lake ScoreOlmsted · Chester104 acres
16.7 miles away
Lake Pepin
76 out of 100 Lake ScoreGoodhue · Lake City12,299 acres
26.7 miles away
Goose Lake
25 out of 100 Lake ScoreGoodhue · Stroms220 acres
31.8 miles away
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Shady Lake?
Shady Lake is in Olmsted County, Minnesota, near Oronoco. It covers 144 acres and reaches 13 feet deep.
How big and how deep is Shady Lake?
Shady Lake covers 144 acres with about 9.2 miles of shoreline. Its maximum depth is 13 feet.
What fish can you catch at Shady Lake?
The DNR has no fish survey on file for Shady Lake.
Is there a public boat launch on Shady Lake?
Public access is on record, but not a trailer ramp: public access on record.
Can you swim at Shady Lake?
There is no mapped public swim beach at Shady 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 Shady Lake?
Yes. Oronoco City Park and Tilly's American Travelers RV Resort are mapped on or near the shore. Confirm whether sites are reservable or first-come, first-served before you go.