---
type: lake
name: "Elk Lake"
county: "Sherburne"
nearest_town: "Clear Lake"
lake_type: "lake"
acres: 357
max_depth_ft: 9
latitude: 45.4714
longitude: -93.94587
lake_score: 50
dnr_lake_id: "71014100"
url: https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/sherburne-county/elk-lake-clear-lake
---

# Elk Lake

Lake in Sherburne County, Minnesota, near Clear Lake

- **Surface Area**: 357 acres
- **Max Depth**: 9 ft
- **Average Depth**: 5 ft
- **Shoreline**: 3.5 miles
- **Water Clarity**: 4.4 ft
- **Lake Type**: lake
- **Public Access**: 1 public boat launch (concrete)
- **Lake Score**: 50/100 (composite of public data, not a visitor rating)

## About

Elk Lake is a 357-acre lake near Clear Lake in Sherburne County, Minnesota. It reaches 9 feet at its deepest point, with an average depth of about 5 feet, and has roughly 3.5 miles of shoreline. DNR surveys put average water clarity at about 4.4 feet.

Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys list 17 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. The most recent fisheries survey on file dates to 2019.

There is one public boat launch (concrete surface) managed by the Minnesota DNR. The lake is listed as infested with Eurasian watermilfoil — clean, drain and dry your boat and gear before leaving. Ice typically goes out around April 13, based on 19 years of DNR ice-out records.

## Access

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

## Fishing

- **Species on DNR survey**: 17
- **Stocked**: Yes
- **Last DNR survey**: 2019
- **Special regulations**: No
- **Ice fishing**: Yes

## Activities

Fishing, Ice Fishing, Boating, Paddling

## Amenities

Boat Ramp

## Fish Species

Walleye, Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, Yellow Perch, Black Bullhead, Bowfin, Common Carp, Green Sunfish, Hybrid Sunfish, Shorthead Redhorse, Silver Redhorse, White Sucker, Yellow Bullhead

## Invasive Species

Eurasian watermilfoil. Clean, drain and dry boats and gear before leaving.

## Ice-Out

- **Median ice-out**: April 13
- **Years of record**: 19
- **Earliest**: 2017-03-29
- **Latest**: 2018-04-29

## Nearby Lakes

- [Rush Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/sherburne-county/rush-lake) - 1.5 miles, 161 acres
- [Briggs Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/sherburne-county/briggs-lake) - 1.9 miles, 404 acres
- [Camp Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/sherburne-county/camp-lake) - 2.2 miles, 82 acres
- [Lake Julia](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/sherburne-county/lake-julia) - 2.6 miles, 154 acres
- [Clear Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/sherburne-county/clear-lake) - 5.1 miles, 113 acres
- [Pickerel Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/sherburne-county/pickerel-lake) - 5.7 miles, 108 acres

## Links

- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=45.4714,-93.94587)
- [Minnesota DNR LakeFinder](https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/lakefind/lake.html?id=71014100)
- [All lakes in Sherburne County](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/sherburne-county)

---
*Source: [MinneLakes.org](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/sherburne-county/elk-lake-clear-lake)*