Union Lake
About Union Lake
Union Lake is a 397-acre lake near Little Chicago in Rice County, Minnesota. It reaches 10 feet at its deepest point, and has roughly 5.2 miles of shoreline. DNR surveys put average water clarity at about 1.9 feet, so expect stained or algae-tinted water in summer.
The DNR has no fish survey on file for this lake, so treat any fishing as exploratory.
There is one public boat launch (gravel or earth surface) managed by the county. Ice typically goes out around March 23, based on 12 years of DNR ice-out records.
Plan Your Visit to Union Lake
- 397 acres, up to 10 feet deep, near Little Chicago
- 1 public boat launch (gravel or earth) — managed by the county
- Average water clarity around 1.9 feet — expect green or stained water by midsummer
Access & Fees
- Public access
- 1 public boat launch (gravel or earth)
- Launch fee
- Free at DNR accesses
- Managed by
- county
Conditions
- Surface area
- 397 acres
- Max depth
- 10 ft
- Shoreline
- 5.2 mi
- Water clarity
- 1.9 ft
- Shallows (under 15 ft)
- 397 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
- 1 public boat launch (gravel or earth)
- Low-clarity lakes are prone to summer algae blooms; keep dogs out of green, scummy water
- Ice is never completely safe — check thickness yourself before walking or driving on any lake
Ice-Out History
- Median ice-out
- March 23
- Years of record
- 12
- Earliest
- February 29, 2024
- Latest
- April 29, 2018
- Most recent
- March 22, 2025
See every lake on the ice-out tracker. Ice-out data: Minnesota DNR State Climatology Office.
Activities
Amenities
Fish Species
Plan your trip to Union Lake
Compare Union Lake against the top-ranked lakes nearby, then map your route.
Nearby Lakes
Circle Lake
53 out of 100 Lake ScoreRice · Lonsdale838 acres
3.5 miles away
Fox Lake
53 out of 100 Lake ScoreRice · Millersburg312 acres
4.6 miles away
Mazaska Lake
54 out of 100 Lake ScoreRice · Shieldsville688 acres
7.2 miles away
Dudley Lake
56 out of 100 Lake ScoreRice · Faribault128 acres
7.5 miles away
Chub Lake
25 out of 100 Lake ScoreDakota · Eureka Center228 acres
8.7 miles away
Shields Lake
59 out of 100 Lake ScoreRice · Shieldsville940 acres
8.8 miles away
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Union Lake?
Union Lake is in Rice County, Minnesota, near Little Chicago. It covers 397 acres and reaches 10 feet deep.
How big and how deep is Union Lake?
Union Lake covers 397 acres with about 5.2 miles of shoreline. Its maximum depth is 10 feet.
What fish can you catch at Union Lake?
The DNR has no fish survey on file for Union Lake.
Is there a public boat launch on Union Lake?
Yes. Union Lake has 1 public boat launch (gravel or earth), managed by the county. DNR public water accesses are free to use.
Can you swim at Union Lake?
There is no mapped public swim beach at Union 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.
When does the ice go out on Union Lake?
The median ice-out date is March 23, from 12 years of Minnesota DNR records. The earliest on record is February 29, 2024 and the latest is April 29, 2018.