US lakes & pondsUS lakes & pondsSurface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 58125241).
The red circle marks Lake Carlos.
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: Black bullhead, Black crappie, Bluegill, Bowfin (dogfish), Brown bullhead, Common carp, Greater redhorse, Green sunfish, Hybrid sunfish, Largemouth bass, Northern pike, Pumpkinseed, Rock bass, Shorthead redhorse, Smallmouth bass, Sunfish, Tullibee (cisco), Walleye, White sucker, Yellow bullhead, Yellow perch.
Shallow (littoral) area: 922 of 2,605 acres
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources LakeFinder record for Lake Carlos (DOW 21005700), 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 58125241), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: Minnesota DNR public water access sites (Minnesota Geospatial Commons). Dashed trails: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.
OpenStreetMap shows about 1.3 mi of public hiking and walking trail within about 100 m (330 ft) of the Lake Carlos shoreline, mostly along the north shore.
No trailhead is mapped for these trails. The closest public access site is Lake Carlos, Lake Carlos SPK Public Water Access Site, 100 ft from a shoreline trail (Minnesota DNR water access data).
The dashed brown line on the lake map shows these trails. We include paths, footways and marked trails that OpenStreetMap doesn't mark as private, and leave out roads, sidewalks and snowmobile corridors. Mapped trails can still cross private land or close for the season, and not every trail is mapped, so follow posted signs.
Trails: © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License (ODbL). Map data as of Oct 9, 2026. Trail lengths count only the parts within about 100 m of the USGS NHD lake outline.
We found 11 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Lake Carlos, 3 of them within 5 miles. 1 is right on the shore. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.
Electric hookups · RVs welcome · Tent sites · Dump station
Electric hookups · RVs welcome · Tent sites · Cabins or yurts
Drinking water
RVs welcome
RVs welcome
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 (45.9639, -95.3641). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Lake Carlos. 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.
4 public access sites listed, 4 with a boat ramp or trailer launch.
| Site | Town | Owner | Type | Parking | Fee | Uses | Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Carlos (E) Public Water Access Site | Carlos | Carlos Township | Trailer launch · Concrete slab ramp | 1 trailer | — | Fishing, Boating | 45.9623, -95.3535 |
| Lake Carlos (NE) Public Water Access Site | Carlos | DNR Division of Parks and Trails | Trailer launch · Concrete slab ramp | 2 trailer | — | Fishing, Boating | 45.9932, -95.3310 |
| Lake Carlos (W) Public Water Access Site | Carlos | DNR Division of Parks and Trails | Trailer launch · Concrete slab ramp · dock | 12 trailer | — | Fishing, Boating Restroom | 45.9703, -95.3760 |
| Lake Carlos, Lake Carlos SPK Public Water Access Site | Carlos | DNR Division of Parks and Trails | Trailer launch · Concrete slab ramp · dock | 14 trailer, 30 car | — | Fishing, Boating Restroom | 45.9969, -95.3353 |
Minnesota DNR public water access sites (Minnesota Geospatial Commons)
Fees, hours and rules change; confirm with the site owner before you go.
On OpenStreetMap: 1 beach or swimming spot on the shore of Lake Carlos not marked private, residents-only or members-only.
| Beach | Type | Access | Directions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beach (unnamed on OpenStreetMap) | Beach | Access not tagged; check posted rules | Get 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.
Reported on or near Lake Carlos
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.
Lake Carlos covers about 2,611 acres in Carlos and Alexandria, Minnesota (Douglas County).
The maximum recorded depth is 163 feet and the mean depth is 50 feet, according to the Minnesota DNR LakeFinder.
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder lists Walleye, Northern pike, Largemouth bass, Smallmouth bass, Black crappie, Bluegill, Yellow perch, Tullibee (cisco), Pumpkinseed and Rock bass and 11 more.
Yes. 4 public trailer launches are listed: Lake Carlos (E) Public Water Access Site, Lake Carlos, Lake Carlos SPK Public Water Access Site and Lake Carlos (W) Public Water Access Site. Check posted fees and parking rules.
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.
Yes. We list 11 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles, 3 of them within 5 miles.
Lake Carlos touches Carlos and Alexandria in Douglas County, Minnesota.
Know Lake Carlos? 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 Carlos