Bear Trap Lake
About Bear Trap Lake
Bear Trap Lake is a 121-acre lake near Winton in St. Louis County, Minnesota. It reaches 38 feet at its deepest point, and has roughly 2.9 miles of shoreline. DNR surveys put average water clarity at about 6.6 feet.
The DNR has no fish survey on file for this lake, so treat any fishing as exploratory.
The DNR lists public water access for the lake; confirm the launch type before towing a trailer in. 5 campgrounds are mapped close to the shoreline for overnight stays.
Plan Your Visit to Bear Trap Lake
- 121 acres, up to 38 feet deep, near Winton
- Public access on record — bring a boat you can hand-launch unless you confirm a ramp
- Average water clarity around 6.6 feet
- Camping close to the water
Access & Fees
- Public access
- Public access on record
- Launch fee
- Free at DNR accesses
Conditions
- Surface area
- 121 acres
- Max depth
- 38 ft
- Shoreline
- 2.9 mi
- Water clarity
- 6.6 ft
- Shallows (under 15 ft)
- 34 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
- Camping (5 mapped)
Best For
- Lakeside camping
- Ice is never completely safe — check thickness yourself before walking or driving on any lake
Camping & Reservations
5 campgrounds are mapped on or near Bear Trap Lake. Minnesota state park sites are booked through the DNR reservation system, national forest campgrounds through Recreation.gov, and most state forest campgrounds are first-come, first-served.
Campground locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Confirm details with the operator.
Activities
Amenities
Fish Species
Plan your trip to Bear Trap Lake
Compare Bear Trap Lake against the top-ranked lakes nearby, then map your route.
Nearby Lakes
Sinneeg Lake
26 out of 100 Lake ScoreSt. Louis · Winton160 acres
0.7 miles away
Gull Lake
31 out of 100 Lake ScoreSt. Louis · Winton171 acres
1.5 miles away
Gun Lake
36 out of 100 Lake ScoreSt. Louis · Winton341 acres
2.4 miles away
Fairy Lake
31 out of 100 Lake ScoreSt. Louis · Winton109 acres
3 miles away
Angleworm Lake
30 out of 100 Lake ScoreSt. Louis · Winton144 acres
3.3 miles away
Moosecamp Lake
31 out of 100 Lake ScoreLake · Winton171 acres
3.9 miles away
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Bear Trap Lake?
Bear Trap Lake is in St. Louis County, Minnesota, near Winton. It covers 121 acres and reaches 38 feet deep.
How big and how deep is Bear Trap Lake?
Bear Trap Lake covers 121 acres with about 2.9 miles of shoreline. Its maximum depth is 38 feet.
What fish can you catch at Bear Trap Lake?
The DNR has no fish survey on file for Bear Trap Lake.
Is there a public boat launch on Bear Trap Lake?
Public access is on record, but not a trailer ramp: public access on record.
Can you swim at Bear Trap Lake?
There is no mapped public swim beach at Bear Trap 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.
Can you camp at Bear Trap Lake?
Yes. A campground is mapped on or near the shore. Confirm whether sites are reservable or first-come, first-served before you go.