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Horseshoe Lake

Munson, Minnesota — Stearns County.

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395Surface acres

Surface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 167256799).

Location & fast facts

Where Horseshoe Lake is in Minnesota

The red circle marks Horseshoe Lake.

Fast facts

About Horseshoe Lake

  • County: Stearns
  • Town: Munson
  • Mapped as: Lake or pond (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Distance: about 69 mi from Minneapolis and 150 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. Walleye, Muskellunge, Northern pike and Largemouth bass
  • Camping. 5 campgrounds within 15 mi (list)

Watch for

  • Non-native/invasive species. Curly-leaf pondweed recorded. Clean, drain and dry your boat and gear.
  • 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)

57 ftMaximum depth
14.1 ftAverage depth
629Acres (state figure)

Fish species found in Minnesota DNR lake surveys: Black bullhead, Black crappie, Bluegill, Bowfin (dogfish), Brown bullhead, Channel catfish, Common carp, Golden redhorse, Greater redhorse, Green sunfish, Hybrid sunfish, Largemouth bass, Muskellunge, Northern pike, Pumpkinseed, Redhorse, River redhorse, Rock bass, Shorthead redhorse, Silver redhorse, Smallmouth bass, Walleye, White sucker, Yellow bullhead, Yellow perch.

Shallow (littoral) area: 275 of 629 acres

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources LakeFinder record for Horseshoe Lake (DOW 73015700), with lake survey reports, depth maps and stocking history. Acreage here can differ slightly from our mapped outline.

Lake map

Horseshoe Lake shoreline

½ 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 167256799), 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 Horseshoe Lake

We found 5 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Horseshoe 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 (45.4278, -94.5342). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Horseshoe 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 Horseshoe 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.

    Non-native/invasive species

    Reported on or near Horseshoe 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 Horseshoe Lake

    How big is Horseshoe Lake?

    Horseshoe Lake covers about 395 acres in Munson, Minnesota (Stearns County).

    How deep is Horseshoe Lake?

    The maximum recorded depth is 57 feet and the mean depth is 14 feet, according to the Minnesota DNR LakeFinder.

    What fish are in Horseshoe Lake?

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder lists Walleye, Muskellunge, Northern pike, Largemouth bass, Smallmouth bass, Black crappie, Bluegill, Yellow perch, Channel catfish and Pumpkinseed and 15 more.

    Are there campgrounds near Horseshoe Lake?

    Yes. We list 5 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles.

    What towns are on Horseshoe Lake?

    Horseshoe Lake touches Munson in Stearns County, Minnesota.

    Share a tip or fishing report

    Know Horseshoe 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 Munson