US lakes & pondsUS lakes & pondsSurface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 121838137).
The red circle marks Church Lake.
Towns and counties: U.S. Census Bureau boundaries overlaid on the USGS lake outline.
Official Minnesota DNR pages. Rules and fees change; check before you go.
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.
Fish species found in Minnesota DNR lake surveys: Green sunfish, White sucker, Yellow perch.
Shallow (littoral) area: 161 of 173 acres
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources LakeFinder record for Church Lake (DOW 44009200), with lake survey reports, depth maps and stocking history. Acreage here can differ slightly from our mapped outline.
Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.
Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 121838137), 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.
We found 1 campground and RV park within 15 miles of Church 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.
Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (47.3012, -95.7943). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Church Lake. No live water-temperature sensor is shown because we haven't found a public one for this lake.
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.
1 public access site listed, 1 with a boat ramp or trailer launch.
| Site | Town | Owner | Type | Parking | Fee | Uses | Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erie Lake, Priest Public Water Access Site | La Garde | DNR Division of Parks and Trails | Trailer launch · Yes ramp | 1 trailer | — | Fishing, Boating | 47.3036, -95.8003 |
Minnesota DNR public water access sites (Minnesota Geospatial Commons)
Fees, hours and rules change; confirm with the site owner before you go.
Church Lake covers about 167 acres in La Garde, Minnesota (Mahnomen County).
The maximum recorded depth is 19 feet and the mean depth is 8 feet, according to the Minnesota DNR LakeFinder.
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder lists Yellow perch, Green sunfish and White sucker.
Yes. 1 public trailer launch is listed: Erie Lake, Priest Public Water Access Site. Check posted fees and parking rules.
Yes. We list 1 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles.
Church Lake touches La Garde in Mahnomen County, Minnesota.
Know Church 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).
Straight-line distance between lake centers. All Minnesota lakes & ponds · All waters in La Garde