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Lake Washington

Dassel · Darwin · Ellsworth · Collinwood, Minnesota — Meeker County.

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2,418Surface acres
2Public access sites

Surface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 120019716).

Location & fast facts

Where Lake Washington is in Minnesota

The red circle marks Lake Washington.

Fast facts

About Lake Washington

  • County: Meeker
  • Shore towns: Dassel, Darwin, Ellsworth, Collinwood
  • Mapped as: Lake or pond (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Distance: about 55 mi from Minneapolis and 161 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. 2 public trailer launches listed (see access)
  • Fishing. Walleye, Northern pike, Largemouth bass and Smallmouth bass
  • Camping. 9 campgrounds within 15 mi (list)

Watch for

  • Non-native/invasive species. Eurasian watermilfoil and Curly-leaf pondweed recorded. Clean, drain and dry your boat and gear.
  • Boat traffic. A public trailer launch means motorboats share the water; expect more traffic on summer weekends.
  • 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)

17 ftMaximum depth
8 ftAverage depth
2,438Acres (state figure)

Fish species found in Minnesota DNR lake surveys: Bigmouth buffalo, Black bullhead, Black crappie, Bluegill, Bowfin (dogfish), Brown bullhead, Channel catfish, Common carp, Green sunfish, Hybrid sunfish, Largemouth bass, Northern pike, Pumpkinseed, Smallmouth bass, Walleye, White sucker, Yellow bullhead, Yellow perch.

Shallow (littoral) area: 2,266 of 2,438 acres

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources LakeFinder record for Lake Washington (DOW 47004600), with lake survey reports, depth maps and stocking history. Acreage here can differ slightly from our mapped outline.

Lake map

Lake Washington shoreline, boat launches & beaches

Washington Lake (E) Public Water Access Site (Boat launch)1Washington Lake (S) Public Water Access Site (Boat launch)21 mileN

Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.

Boat launch
  1. 1Washington Lake (E) Public Water Access Site
    Boat launch · Dassel
  2. 2Washington Lake (S) Public Water Access Site
    Boat launch · Dassel

Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 120019716), 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 Lake Washington

We found 9 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Lake Washington, 1 of them within 5 miles. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.

3 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: 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 (45.0690, -94.3753). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Lake Washington. 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 Lake Washington

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

    2 public access sites listed, 2 with a boat ramp or trailer launch.

    SiteTownOwnerTypeParkingFeeUsesMap
    Washington Lake (E) Public Water Access SiteDasselDNR Division of Parks and TrailsTrailer launch · Gravel ramp10 trailer—Fishing, Boating
    Restroom
    45.0736, -94.3410
    Washington Lake (S) Public Water Access SiteDasselDNR Division of Parks and TrailsTrailer launch · Concrete slab ramp · dock38 trailer—Fishing, Boating
    Restroom
    45.0574, -94.3787

    Minnesota DNR public water access sites (Minnesota Geospatial Commons)

    Fees, hours and rules change; confirm with the site owner before you go.

    Non-native/invasive species

    Reported on or near Lake Washington

    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 Lake Washington

    How big is Lake Washington?

    Lake Washington covers about 2,418 acres in Dassel, Darwin, Ellsworth and Collinwood, Minnesota (Meeker County).

    How deep is Lake Washington?

    The maximum recorded depth is 17 feet and the mean depth is 8 feet, according to the Minnesota DNR LakeFinder.

    What fish are in Lake Washington?

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder lists Walleye, Northern pike, Largemouth bass, Smallmouth bass, Black crappie, Bluegill, Yellow perch, Channel catfish, Pumpkinseed and Bigmouth buffalo and 8 more.

    Is there a public boat launch on Lake Washington?

    Yes. 2 public trailer launches are listed: Washington Lake (E) Public Water Access Site and Washington Lake (S) Public Water Access Site. Check posted fees and parking rules.

    Are there campgrounds near Lake Washington?

    Yes. We list 9 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles, 1 of them within 5 miles.

    What towns are on Lake Washington?

    Lake Washington touches Dassel, Darwin, Ellsworth and Collinwood in Meeker County, Minnesota.

    Share a tip or fishing report

    Know Lake Washington? 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 Dassel