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Big Marine Lake

May · Scandia, Minnesota — Washington County.

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1,671Surface acres
4Public access sites
0.4 miShoreline trails

Surface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 120020354).

Location & fast facts

Where Big Marine Lake is in Minnesota

The red circle marks Big Marine Lake.

Fast facts

About Big Marine Lake

  • County: Washington
  • Shore towns: May, Scandia
  • Mapped as: Lake or pond (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Distance: about 26 mi from Minneapolis and 114 mi from Duluth, straight-line (not driving distance)

Towns and counties: U.S. Census Bureau boundaries overlaid on the USGS lake outline.

Fishing in Minnesota

Official Minnesota DNR pages. Rules and fees change; check before you go.

Good for & watch for

Good for

  • Boating. 4 public trailer launches listed (see access)
  • Fishing. Walleye, Northern pike, Largemouth bass and Black crappie
  • Swimming. 1 public beach or swim spot on the map (details)
  • Walking. 0.4 mi of trail near the shore (trails)
  • Camping. 19 campgrounds within 15 mi (list)

Watch for

  • Non-native/invasive species. Eurasian watermilfoil, Curly-leaf pondweed and Chinese mysterysnail recorded. Clean, drain and dry your boat and gear.
  • Boat traffic. A public trailer launch means motorboats share the water; expect more traffic on summer weekends.
  • No lifeguard listed. None of our sources lists a staffed lifeguard. Swim at your own risk and watch children closely.
  • Cold water. Water stays cold well into late spring and turns cold again in fall. Wear a life jacket when paddling in the shoulder seasons.

Built only from the data on this page: official access lists, OpenStreetMap beaches and trails, campground listings, state and USGS invasive-species records. We don't rate crowds or water quality.

Official lake survey (Minnesota DNR)

60 ftMaximum depth
1,799Acres (state figure)

Fish species found in Minnesota DNR lake surveys: Black bullhead, Black crappie, Bluegill, Brown bullhead, Green sunfish, Hybrid sunfish, Largemouth bass, Northern pike, Pumpkinseed, Walleye, Yellow bullhead, Yellow perch.

Average depth not published.

Shallow (littoral) area: 1,152 of 1,799 acres

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources LakeFinder record for Big Marine Lake (DOW 82005200), with lake survey reports, depth maps and stocking history. Acreage here can differ slightly from our mapped outline.

Lake map

Big Marine Lake shoreline, boat launches & beaches

Big Marine Lake (N) Public Water Access Site (Boat launch)1Big Marine Lake (S) Public Water Access Site (Boat launch)2Big Marine Lake, Co Park Public Water Access Site (Boat launch)3Boat ramp (Boat launch)4Beach (unnamed on OpenStreetMap) (Beach)51 mileN

Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.

Boat launchBeachShoreline trail
  1. 1Big Marine Lake (N) Public Water Access Site
    Boat launch · May
  2. 2Big Marine Lake (S) Public Water Access Site
    Boat launch · May
  3. 3Big Marine Lake, Co Park Public Water Access Site
    Boat launch · May
  4. 4Boat ramp
    Boat launch · May
  5. 5Beach (unnamed on OpenStreetMap)
    Beach

Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 120020354), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: Minnesota DNR public water access sites (Minnesota Geospatial Commons) and OpenStreetMap boat ramps (ODbL). Dashed trails: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.

Shoreline trails

0.4 miTrail within 100 m of shore
Under 5%Of the shoreline
NoLoops the whole lake
North and east shoresWhere

OpenStreetMap shows about 0.4 mi of public hiking and walking trail within about 100 m (330 ft) of the Big Marine Lake shoreline, mostly along the north and east shores.

Trails along the shore

The dashed brown line on the lake map shows these trails. We include paths, footways and marked trails that OpenStreetMap doesn't mark as private, and leave out roads, sidewalks and snowmobile corridors. Mapped trails can still cross private land or close for the season, and not every trail is mapped, so follow posted signs.

Trails: © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License (ODbL). Map data as of Oct 9, 2026. Trail lengths count only the parts within about 100 m of the USGS NHD lake outline.

Campgrounds near Big Marine Lake

We found 19 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Big Marine Lake, 7 of them within 5 miles. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.

13 more within 15 miles

All campgrounds & RV parks in Minnesota

Green tent icons on the lake map mark campgrounds near the shore, and the interactive map shows the closest 12. Amenities are listed only where a source records them; call or check the campground's website before you go, since seasons and rates change every year.

Campground data: Recreation.gov (RIDB) · OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Pulled Oct 12, 2026.

Conditions right now

Air temperature & conditions (nearest NWS station)Loading…
Fetching the latest National Weather Service observation…

Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (45.2248, -92.8678). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Big Marine Lake. No live water-temperature sensor is shown because we haven't found a public one for this lake.

Sun, moon & best fishing times

Sun & moon at Big Marine Lake

Best fishing times

Major periodMinor periodDaylight

    Based on solunar theory, an estimate. Major periods (about 2 hours) center on when the moon is directly overhead or underfoot; minor periods (about 1 hour) center on moonrise and moonset. The 0–100 activity score rises during those periods and gets a boost near sunrise and sunset and around the new and full moon. Weather, water temperature and pressure often matter more. Sun and moon times are calculated in your browser from the lake's coordinates with standard astronomy formulas, shown in CT (America/Chicago), and accurate to within a few minutes.

    Boat launches & access sites

    4 public access sites listed, 4 with a boat ramp or trailer launch.

    SiteTownOwnerTypeParkingFeeUsesMap
    Big Marine Lake (N) Public Water Access SiteMayDNR Division of Parks and TrailsTrailer launch · Concrete slab ramp · dock23 trailer—Fishing, Boating
    Restroom
    45.2459, -92.8633
    Big Marine Lake (S) Public Water Access SiteMayDNR Division of Parks and TrailsTrailer launch · Concrete slab ramp5 trailer—Fishing, Boating
    Restroom
    45.2080, -92.8601
    Big Marine Lake, Co Park Public Water Access SiteMayWashington CountyTrailer launch · Concrete slab ramp · dock30 trailer, 5 car—Fishing, Boating
    Restroom
    45.2041, -92.8699
    Boat rampMay—Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating45.2101, -92.8756

    Minnesota DNR public water access sites (Minnesota Geospatial Commons) and OpenStreetMap boat ramps (ODbL)

    Fees, hours and rules change; confirm with the site owner before you go.

    Public beaches

    On OpenStreetMap: 1 beach or swimming spot on the shore of Big Marine Lake not marked private, residents-only or members-only.

    BeachTypeAccessDirections
    Beach (unnamed on OpenStreetMap)BeachAccess not tagged; check posted rules; lifeguards (seasonal)Get directions

    Beaches: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), within about 150 m (500 ft) of the lake outline. A mapped beach is not a guarantee that swimming is allowed, supervised or safe; some town beaches need a resident sticker even when the map doesn't say so. Check posted rules and water-quality advisories before you swim.

    Non-native/invasive species

    Reported on or near Big Marine Lake

    Clean, Drain, Dry. Remove plants and mud, drain all water, and dry your boat, trailer and gear before moving to another water.

    USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database

    USGS records matched to this water by location (within about 150 m of the outline) or by the place name in the record. A record shows a sighting was reported; it doesn't prove the species is still there. As of Oct 10, 2026.

    Contact & official info

    Questions about Big Marine Lake

    How big is Big Marine Lake?

    Big Marine Lake covers about 1,671 acres in May and Scandia, Minnesota (Washington County).

    How deep is Big Marine Lake?

    The maximum recorded depth is 60 feet, according to the Minnesota DNR LakeFinder.

    What fish are in Big Marine Lake?

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder lists Walleye, Northern pike, Largemouth bass, Black crappie, Bluegill, Yellow perch, Pumpkinseed, Black bullhead, Brown bullhead and Green sunfish and 2 more.

    Is there a public boat launch on Big Marine Lake?

    Yes. 4 public trailer launches are listed: Big Marine Lake, Co Park Public Water Access Site, Big Marine Lake (S) Public Water Access Site and Big Marine Lake (N) Public Water Access Site. Check posted fees and parking rules.

    Can you swim in Big Marine Lake?

    OpenStreetMap shows 1 public beach or swimming spot on the shore. None of our sources lists a lifeguard, so swim at your own risk and follow posted rules.

    Are there campgrounds near Big Marine Lake?

    Yes. We list 19 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles, 7 of them within 5 miles.

    What towns are on Big Marine Lake?

    Big Marine Lake touches May and Scandia in Washington County, Minnesota.

    Share a tip or fishing report

    Know Big Marine Lake? Tell us about the launch, parking, where they're biting or anything a first-time visitor should know. Tips go privately to the LakeRipple editor; nothing is posted automatically. Helpful tips may be featured on this page (we'll use your first name only if you give one).

    Lakes & ponds nearby

    Straight-line distance between lake centers. All Minnesota lakes & ponds · All waters in May