Briar Lake
About Briar Lake
Briar Lake is a 79-acre lake near Palmers in St. Louis County, Minnesota. It reaches 21 feet at its deepest point, and has roughly 2.6 miles of shoreline. DNR surveys put average water clarity at about 10 feet, clearer than most lakes in the state.
Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys list 3 fish species here, including rainbow trout. 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 2009.
Public access is carry-in only — plan on a canoe, kayak or small boat you can hand-launch. Ice typically goes out around April 24, based on 6 years of DNR ice-out records.
Plan Your Visit to Briar Lake
- 79 acres, up to 21 feet deep, near Palmers
- Carry-in access only — bring a boat you can hand-launch unless you confirm a ramp
- Game fish on the DNR survey: rainbow trout
- Average water clarity around 10 feet
Access & Fees
- Public access
- Carry-in access only
- Launch fee
- Free at DNR accesses
- Managed by
- Minnesota DNR
Conditions
- Surface area
- 79 acres
- Max depth
- 21 ft
- Shoreline
- 2.6 mi
- Water clarity
- 10 ft
- Shallows (under 15 ft)
- 67 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
- A trout and salmon stamp is required to fish designated trout lakes or to keep trout
Facilities
- 1 carry-in access
Best For
- Quiet paddling
- Ice is never completely safe — check thickness yourself before walking or driving on any lake
Angler's Report
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder- Species on survey
- 3
- Game fish
- 1
- Stocked
- Yes
- Last DNR survey
- 2009
- Special regulations
- No
- Fishing pier
- No
- Ice fishing
- Yes
- Boat launch
- No
Fishing data: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Regulations change — confirm with the current DNR fishing regulations.
Ice-Out History
- Median ice-out
- April 24
- Years of record
- 6
- Earliest
- April 9, 2021
- Latest
- May 4, 2018
- Most recent
- April 9, 2021
See every lake on the ice-out tracker. Ice-out data: Minnesota DNR State Climatology Office.
Activities
Amenities
Fish Species
Plan your trip to Briar Lake
Compare Briar Lake against the top-ranked lakes nearby, then map your route.
Nearby Lakes
Barrs Lake
30 out of 100 Lake ScoreSt. Louis · Duluth125 acres
1 miles away
Spring Lake
52 out of 100 Lake ScoreSt. Louis · Two Harbors98 acres
1.8 miles away
Alden Lake
44 out of 100 Lake ScoreSt. Louis · Duluth190 acres
3.3 miles away
Thompson Lake
43 out of 100 Lake ScoreSt. Louis · Fredenberg207 acres
4.8 miles away
Smith Lake
54 out of 100 Lake ScoreSt. Louis · Brimson193 acres
6 miles away
Pequaywan Lake
28 out of 100 Lake ScoreSt. Louis · Rollins425 acres
8.1 miles away
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Briar Lake?
Briar Lake is in St. Louis County, Minnesota, near Palmers. It covers 79 acres and reaches 21 feet deep.
How big and how deep is Briar Lake?
Briar Lake covers 79 acres with about 2.6 miles of shoreline. Its maximum depth is 21 feet.
What fish can you catch at Briar Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys list Rainbow Trout. A Minnesota fishing license is required for anyone 16 and older.
Is there a public boat launch on Briar Lake?
Public access is on record, but not a trailer ramp: carry-in access only.
Can you swim at Briar Lake?
There is no mapped public swim beach at Briar 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.
Is Briar Lake stocked?
Yes. The Minnesota DNR has stocking records for Briar Lake; species and numbers vary by year, so see the stocking report on DNR LakeFinder.
When does the ice go out on Briar Lake?
The median ice-out date is April 24, from 6 years of Minnesota DNR records. The earliest on record is April 9, 2021 and the latest is May 4, 2018.