---
type: lake
name: "Lake Minnewaska"
county: "Pope"
nearest_town: "Long Beach"
lake_type: "lake"
acres: 8050
max_depth_ft: 32
latitude: 45.62351
longitude: -95.459
lake_score: 74
dnr_lake_id: "61013000"
url: https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/pope-county/lake-minnewaska
---

# Lake Minnewaska

Lake in Pope County, Minnesota, near Long Beach

- **Surface Area**: 8,050 acres
- **Max Depth**: 32 ft
- **Average Depth**: 17 ft
- **Shoreline**: 19.9 miles
- **Water Clarity**: 9.4 ft
- **Lake Type**: lake
- **Public Access**: 3 public boat launches (concrete)
- **Lake Score**: 74/100 (composite of public data, not a visitor rating)

## About

Lake Minnewaska is an 8,050-acre lake near Long Beach in Pope County, Minnesota. It reaches 32 feet at its deepest point, with an average depth of about 17 feet, and has roughly 19.9 miles of shoreline. It is the largest lake in Pope County in the Minnesota DNR's LakeFinder records. DNR surveys put average water clarity at about 9.4 feet.

Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys list 20 fish species here, including walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, black crappie, and bluegill. The DNR has stocking records for the lake, so check the stocking report for the most recent species and year classes. Special fishing regulations apply to sunfish, and they override the statewide limits. The most recent fisheries survey on file dates to 2025.

There are 3 public boat launches (concrete surface) managed by the Minnesota DNR and city. OpenStreetMap shows Starbuck Public Beach on or beside the lake. Barsness Park Campground and Hobo Park Campground & Marina are mapped close to the shoreline for overnight stays. The lake is listed as infested with Eurasian watermilfoil, starry stonewort, and zebra mussel — clean, drain and dry your boat and gear before leaving. Ice typically goes out around April 15, based on 315 years of DNR ice-out records.

## Access

- **Public access**: 3 public boat launches (concrete)
- **Managed by**: Minnesota DNR, city
- **Launch fee**: Free at DNR public water accesses

## Fishing

- **Species on DNR survey**: 20
- **Stocked**: Yes
- **Last DNR survey**: 2025
- **Special regulations**: Yes
- **Ice fishing**: Yes

### Special Regulations

- **Sunfish**: Daily limit 10.

## Activities

Fishing, Ice Fishing, Boating, Paddling, Swimming, Camping

## Amenities

Boat Ramp, Swim Beach, Campground

### Beaches

- Starbuck Public Beach

### Campgrounds

- Barsness Park Campground
- Hobo Park Campground & Marina

## Fish Species

Walleye, Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, Yellow Perch, Channel Catfish, Tullibee (Cisco), Bigmouth Buffalo, Black Bullhead, Bowfin, Brown Bullhead, Common Carp, Freshwater Drum, Green Sunfish, Hybrid Sunfish, White Sucker, Yellow Bullhead

## Invasive Species

Eurasian watermilfoil, starry stonewort, zebra mussel. Clean, drain and dry boats and gear before leaving.

## Ice-Out

- **Median ice-out**: April 15
- **Years of record**: 315
- **Earliest**: 2024-03-13
- **Latest**: 2013-05-11

## Nearby Lakes

- [Pelican Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/pope-county/pelican-lake) - 1.4 miles, 518 acres
- [Malmedal Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/pope-county/malmedal-lake) - 4.8 miles, 199 acres
- [Lake Ann](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/pope-county/lake-ann) - 5.5 miles, 370 acres
- [Signalness Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/pope-county/signalness-lake) - 6.5 miles, 42 acres
- [Nelson Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/pope-county/nelson-lake) - 6.8 miles, 293 acres
- [Lake Reno](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/pope-county/lake-reno) - 8.5 miles, 3,809 acres

## Links

- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=45.62351,-95.459)
- [Minnesota DNR LakeFinder](https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/lakefind/lake.html?id=61013000)
- [All lakes in Pope County](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/pope-county)

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