---
type: lake
name: "Cleary Lake"
county: "Scott"
nearest_town: "Prior Lake"
lake_type: "lake"
acres: 145
max_depth_ft: 9
latitude: 44.69223
longitude: -93.39123
lake_score: 55
dnr_lake_id: "70002200"
url: https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/scott-county/cleary-lake
---

# Cleary Lake

Lake in Scott County, Minnesota, near Prior Lake

- **Surface Area**: 145 acres
- **Max Depth**: 9 ft
- **Average Depth**: 5 ft
- **Shoreline**: 3.8 miles
- **Water Clarity**: 1.5 ft
- **Lake Type**: lake
- **Public Access**: 1 public boat launch (concrete)
- **Lake Score**: 55/100 (composite of public data, not a visitor rating)

## About

Cleary Lake is a 145-acre lake near Prior Lake in Scott County, Minnesota. It reaches 9 feet at its deepest point, with an average depth of about 5 feet, and has roughly 3.8 miles of shoreline. DNR surveys put average water clarity at about 1.5 feet, so expect stained or algae-tinted water in summer.

Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys list 7 fish species here, including 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 2017.

There is one public boat launch (concrete surface) managed by the county. OpenStreetMap shows a swim beach on or beside the lake. Cleary Lake Regional Park and Basswood sites 1-11 are mapped close to the shoreline for overnight stays. Ice typically goes out around April 4, based on 6 years of DNR ice-out records.

## Access

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

## Fishing

- **Species on DNR survey**: 7
- **Stocked**: Yes
- **Last DNR survey**: 2017
- **Special regulations**: No
- **Ice fishing**: Yes

## Activities

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

## Amenities

Boat Ramp, Swim Beach, Campground

### Campgrounds

- Cleary Lake Regional Park
- Basswood sites 1-11
- Basswood sites 12-14
- White Pine sites 1-6

## Fish Species

Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, Black Bullhead, Green Sunfish, Hybrid Sunfish

## Ice-Out

- **Median ice-out**: April 4
- **Years of record**: 6
- **Earliest**: 2016-03-14
- **Latest**: 2018-04-29

## Nearby Lakes

- [Lower Prior Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/scott-county/lower-prior-lake) - 2.9 miles, 956 acres
- [Upper Prior Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/scott-county/upper-prior-lake) - 3.2 miles, 386 acres
- [Spring Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/scott-county/spring-lake) - 4 miles, 592 acres
- [Orchard Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/dakota-county/orchard-lake) - 4.1 miles, 238 acres
- [McMahon Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/scott-county/mcmahon-lake) - 4.1 miles, 187 acres
- [Fish Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/scott-county/fish-lake) - 4.4 miles, 176 acres

## Links

- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=44.69223,-93.39123)
- [Minnesota DNR LakeFinder](https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/lakefind/lake.html?id=70002200)
- [All lakes in Scott County](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/scott-county)

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