---
type: lake
name: "Briar Lake"
county: "St. Louis"
nearest_town: "Palmers"
lake_type: "lake"
acres: 79
max_depth_ft: 21
latitude: 47.07225
longitude: -91.96207
lake_score: 32
dnr_lake_id: "69012800"
url: https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/st-louis-county/briar-lake
---

# Briar Lake

Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota, near Palmers

- **Surface Area**: 79 acres
- **Max Depth**: 21 ft
- **Shoreline**: 2.6 miles
- **Water Clarity**: 10 ft
- **Lake Type**: lake
- **Public Access**: Carry-in access only
- **Lake Score**: 32/100 (composite of public data, not a visitor rating)

## About

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.

## Access

- **Public access**: Carry-in access only
- **Managed by**: Minnesota DNR
- **Launch fee**: Free at DNR public water accesses

## Fishing

- **Species on DNR survey**: 3
- **Stocked**: Yes
- **Last DNR survey**: 2009
- **Special regulations**: No
- **Ice fishing**: Yes

## Activities

Fishing, Ice Fishing, Paddling

## Amenities

Carry-In Access

## Fish Species

Rainbow Trout, Black Bullhead, White Sucker

## Ice-Out

- **Median ice-out**: April 24
- **Years of record**: 6
- **Earliest**: 2021-04-09
- **Latest**: 2018-05-04

## Nearby Lakes

- [Barrs Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/st-louis-county/barrs-lake) - 1 miles, 125 acres
- [Spring Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/st-louis-county/spring-lake-two-harbors) - 1.8 miles, 98 acres
- [Alden Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/st-louis-county/alden-lake) - 3.3 miles, 190 acres
- [Thompson Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/st-louis-county/thompson-lake) - 4.8 miles, 207 acres
- [Smith Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/st-louis-county/smith-lake) - 6 miles, 193 acres
- [Pequaywan Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/st-louis-county/pequaywan-lake) - 8.1 miles, 425 acres

## Links

- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=47.07225,-91.96207)
- [Minnesota DNR LakeFinder](https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/lakefind/lake.html?id=69012800)
- [All lakes in St. Louis County](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/st-louis-county)

---
*Source: [MinneLakes.org](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/st-louis-county/briar-lake)*