US lakes & ponds
Minnesota › Itasca County › Balsam › Bray Lake

Bray Lake

Balsam · Northeast Itasca, Minnesota — Itasca County.

Share:TextEmailFacebookX
177Surface acres

Surface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 80002763).

Location & fast facts

Where Bray Lake is in Minnesota

The red circle marks Bray Lake.

Fast facts

About Bray Lake

  • County: Itasca
  • Shore towns: Balsam, Northeast Itasca
  • Mapped as: Lake or pond (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Distance: about 172 mi from Minneapolis and 73 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

  • Fishing. Northern pike, Black crappie, Bluegill and Yellow perch
  • Camping. 4 campgrounds within 15 mi (list)

Watch for

  • 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)

44 ftMaximum depth
177Acres (state figure)

Fish species found in Minnesota DNR lake surveys: Black crappie, Bluegill, Northern pike, Pumpkinseed, Yellow perch.

Average depth not published.

Shallow (littoral) area: 75 of 177 acres

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources LakeFinder record for Bray Lake (DOW 31014700), with lake survey reports, depth maps and stocking history. Acreage here can differ slightly from our mapped outline.

Lake map

Bray Lake shoreline

¼ mileN

No public access sites are listed for this water in the Minnesota DNR public water access sites (Minnesota Geospatial Commons) data.

Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 80002763), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: Minnesota DNR public water access sites (Minnesota Geospatial Commons). Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.

Campgrounds near Bray Lake

We found 4 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Bray Lake. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.

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: 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 (47.4632, -93.2857). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Bray 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 Bray 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.

    Contact & official info

    Questions about Bray Lake

    How big is Bray Lake?

    Bray Lake covers about 177 acres in Balsam and Northeast Itasca, Minnesota (Itasca County).

    How deep is Bray Lake?

    The maximum recorded depth is 44 feet, according to the Minnesota DNR LakeFinder.

    What fish are in Bray Lake?

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder lists Northern pike, Black crappie, Bluegill, Yellow perch and Pumpkinseed.

    Are there campgrounds near Bray Lake?

    Yes. We list 4 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles.

    What towns are on Bray Lake?

    Bray Lake touches Balsam and Northeast Itasca in Itasca County, Minnesota.

    Share a tip or fishing report

    Know Bray 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 Balsam