US lakes & pondsUS lakes & pondsSurface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 106352181).
The red circle marks Johnson 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: Cisco species, Lake whitefish, Northern pike, Rock bass, Smallmouth bass, Walleye, White sucker, Yellow perch.
Shallow (littoral) area: 557 of 1,736 acres
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources LakeFinder record for Johnson Lake (DOW 69069100), 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 106352181), 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 93 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Johnson Lake, 15 of them within 5 miles. 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: Recreation.gov (RIDB) · OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Pulled Oct 12, 2026.
Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (48.3458, -92.5922). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Johnson 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.
| Site | Town | Owner | Type | Parking | Fee | Uses | Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johnson Lake Public Water Access Site | Crane Lake | U.S. Forest Service | Carry-in (hand launch) · dock | 8 trailer | — | Fishing, Boating | 48.3199, -92.5796 |
Minnesota DNR public water access sites (Minnesota Geospatial Commons)
Fees, hours and rules change; confirm with the site owner before you go.
Johnson Lake covers about 1,666 acres in Crane Lake and Northwest St. Louis, Minnesota (St. Louis County).
The maximum recorded depth is 88 feet and the mean depth is 24 feet, according to the Minnesota DNR LakeFinder.
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder lists Walleye, Northern pike, Smallmouth bass, Yellow perch, Lake whitefish, Rock bass, Cisco species and White sucker.
No trailer ramp is listed, but there is 1 public access site for car-top boats or shore access.
Yes. We list 93 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles, 15 of them within 5 miles.
Johnson Lake touches Crane Lake and Northwest St. Louis in St. Louis County, Minnesota.
Know Johnson 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 Crane Lake