Big Rice Lake
About Big Rice Lake
Big Rice Lake is a 403-acre lake near Burntside Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota. It reaches 5 feet at its deepest point, and has roughly 5.2 miles of shoreline.
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. A campground is mapped close to the shoreline for overnight stays.
Plan Your Visit to Big Rice Lake
- 403 acres, up to 5 feet deep, near Burntside Lake
- Public access on record — bring a boat you can hand-launch unless you confirm a ramp
- Camping close to the water
Access & Fees
- Public access
- Public access on record
- Launch fee
- Free at DNR accesses
Conditions
- Surface area
- 403 acres
- Max depth
- 5 ft
- Shoreline
- 5.2 mi
- Shallows (under 15 ft)
- 403 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 (1 mapped)
Best For
- Lakeside camping
- Ice is never completely safe — check thickness yourself before walking or driving on any lake
Camping & Reservations
1 campground is mapped on or near Big Rice 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 Big Rice Lake
Compare Big Rice Lake against the top-ranked lakes nearby, then map your route.
Nearby Lakes
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Duck Lake
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Big Moose Lake
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Big Lake
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Slim Lake
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3 miles away
Agassa Lake
33 out of 100 Lake ScoreSt. Louis · Ely72 acres
3.9 miles away
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Big Rice Lake?
Big Rice Lake is in St. Louis County, Minnesota, near Burntside Lake. It covers 403 acres and reaches 5 feet deep.
How big and how deep is Big Rice Lake?
Big Rice Lake covers 403 acres with about 5.2 miles of shoreline. Its maximum depth is 5 feet.
What fish can you catch at Big Rice Lake?
The DNR has no fish survey on file for Big Rice Lake.
Is there a public boat launch on Big Rice Lake?
Public access is on record, but not a trailer ramp: public access on record.
Can you swim at Big Rice Lake?
There is no mapped public swim beach at Big Rice 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 Big Rice Lake?
Yes. A campground is mapped on or near the shore. Confirm whether sites are reservable or first-come, first-served before you go.