---
type: lake
name: "Cannon Lake"
county: "Rice"
nearest_town: "Faribault"
lake_type: "lake"
acres: 1593
max_depth_ft: 15
latitude: 44.26451
longitude: -93.3714
lake_score: 56
dnr_lake_id: "66000800"
url: https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/rice-county/cannon-lake
---

# Cannon Lake

Lake in Rice County, Minnesota, near Faribault

- **Surface Area**: 1,593 acres
- **Max Depth**: 15 ft
- **Shoreline**: 12 miles
- **Water Clarity**: 1.6 ft
- **Lake Type**: lake
- **Public Access**: 1 public boat launch (asphalt)
- **Lake Score**: 56/100 (composite of public data, not a visitor rating)

## About

Cannon Lake is a 1,593-acre lake near Faribault in Rice County, Minnesota. It reaches 15 feet at its deepest point, and has roughly 12 miles of shoreline. It is the largest lake in Rice County in the Minnesota DNR's LakeFinder records. DNR surveys put average water clarity at about 1.6 feet, so expect stained or algae-tinted water in summer.

Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys list 18 fish species here, including walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, black crappie, bluegill, and pumpkinseed. 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 is one public boat launch (asphalt surface) managed by the county. Doc's Dock is mapped close to the shoreline for overnight stays. The lake is listed as infested with flowering rush — clean, drain and dry your boat and gear before leaving. Ice typically goes out around March 31, based on 45 years of DNR ice-out records.

## Access

- **Public access**: 1 public boat launch (asphalt)
- **Managed by**: county
- **Launch fee**: Free at DNR public water accesses

## Fishing

- **Species on DNR survey**: 18
- **Stocked**: Yes
- **Last DNR survey**: 2025
- **Special regulations**: No
- **Ice fishing**: Yes

## Activities

Fishing, Ice Fishing, Boating, Paddling, Camping

## Amenities

Boat Ramp, Campground

### Campgrounds

- Doc's Dock

## Fish Species

Walleye, Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, Yellow Perch, Channel Catfish, White Bass, Bigmouth Buffalo, Black Bullhead, Bowfin, Common Carp, Freshwater Drum, Quillback, River Carpsucker, White Sucker, Yellow Bullhead

## Invasive Species

flowering rush. Clean, drain and dry boats and gear before leaving.

## Ice-Out

- **Median ice-out**: March 31
- **Years of record**: 45
- **Earliest**: 2024-02-28
- **Latest**: 2018-04-29

## Nearby Lakes

- [Wells Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/rice-county/wells-lake) - 2.7 miles, 677 acres
- [Cedar Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/rice-county/cedar-lake) - 3.6 miles, 902 acres
- [Roberds Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/rice-county/roberds-lake) - 4.6 miles, 632 acres
- [French Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/rice-county/french-lake) - 5.3 miles, 876 acres
- [Caron Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/rice-county/caron-lake) - 5.6 miles, 319 acres
- [Hunt Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/rice-county/hunt-lake) - 6 miles, 176 acres

## Links

- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=44.26451,-93.3714)
- [Minnesota DNR LakeFinder](https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/lakefind/lake.html?id=66000800)
- [All lakes in Rice County](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/rice-county)

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