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Forest Lake

Grand Rapids, Minnesota — Itasca County.

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38Surface acres
1Public access sites

Surface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 80004325).

Location & fast facts

Where Forest Lake is in Minnesota

The red circle marks Forest Lake.

Fast facts

About Forest Lake

  • County: Itasca
  • Town: Grand Rapids
  • Mapped as: Lake or pond (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Distance: about 157 mi from Minneapolis and 75 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. 1 public trailer launch listed (see access)
  • Fishing. Northern pike, Largemouth bass, Black crappie and Bluegill
  • Swimming. 1 public beach or swim spot on the map (details)
  • Camping. 13 campgrounds within 15 mi (list)

Watch for

  • 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)

31 ftMaximum depth
37Acres (state figure)

Fish species found in Minnesota DNR lake surveys: Black crappie, Bluegill, Bowfin (dogfish), Green sunfish, Hybrid sunfish, Largemouth bass, Northern pike, Pumpkinseed, Rock bass, White sucker, Yellow perch.

Average depth not published.

Shallow (littoral) area: 15 of 37 acres

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources LakeFinder record for Forest Lake (DOW 31037400), with lake survey reports, depth maps and stocking history. Acreage here can differ slightly from our mapped outline.

Lake map

Forest Lake shoreline, boat launches & beaches

Forest Lake Public Water Access Site (Boat launch)1Blandin Beach (Beach)20.1 mileN

Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.

Boat launchBeach
  1. 1Forest Lake Public Water Access Site
    Boat launch · Grand Rapids
  2. 2Blandin Beach
    Beach

Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 80004325), 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 Forest Lake

We found 13 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Forest Lake, 4 of them within 5 miles. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.

7 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 (47.2385, -93.5479). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Forest 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 Forest 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

    1 public access site listed, 1 with a boat ramp or trailer launch.

    SiteTownOwnerTypeParkingFeeUsesMap
    Forest Lake Public Water Access SiteGrand RapidsCity of Grand RapidsTrailer launch · Concrete slab ramp3 trailer—Fishing, Boating47.2372, -93.5448

    Minnesota DNR public water access sites (Minnesota Geospatial Commons)

    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 Forest Lake not marked private, residents-only or members-only.

    BeachTypeAccessDirections
    Blandin BeachBeachAccess not tagged; check posted rulesGet 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.

    Contact & official info

    Questions about Forest Lake

    How big is Forest Lake?

    Forest Lake covers about 38 acres in Grand Rapids, Minnesota (Itasca County).

    How deep is Forest Lake?

    The maximum recorded depth is 31 feet, according to the Minnesota DNR LakeFinder.

    What fish are in Forest Lake?

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder lists Northern pike, Largemouth bass, Black crappie, Bluegill, Yellow perch, Pumpkinseed, Rock bass, Bowfin (dogfish), Green sunfish and Hybrid sunfish and 1 more.

    Is there a public boat launch on Forest Lake?

    Yes. 1 public trailer launch is listed: Forest Lake Public Water Access Site. Check posted fees and parking rules.

    Can you swim in Forest 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 Forest Lake?

    Yes. We list 13 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles, 4 of them within 5 miles.

    What towns are on Forest Lake?

    Forest Lake touches Grand Rapids in Itasca County, Minnesota.

    Share a tip or fishing report

    Know Forest 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 Grand Rapids