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McDougal Lake

Stony River, Minnesota — Lake County.

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272Surface acres
1Public access sites

Surface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 81004193, 2 mapped parts).

Location & fast facts

Where McDougal Lake is in Minnesota

The red circle marks McDougal Lake.

Fast facts

About McDougal Lake

  • County: Lake
  • Town: Stony River
  • Mapped as: Lake or pond (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Distance: about 201 mi from Minneapolis and 64 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)
  • Camping. 7 campgrounds within 15 mi, 1 on the shore (list)

Watch for

  • 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.

Lake map

McDougal Lake shoreline, boat launches & beaches

McDougal Lake Campground (campground)McDougal Lake Public Water Access Site (Boat launch)1½ mileN

Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.

Boat launch Campground
  1. 1McDougal Lake Public Water Access Site
    Boat launch · Stony River

Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 81004193, plus 1 more mapped parts), 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 McDougal Lake

We found 7 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of McDougal Lake, 1 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.

1 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 (47.6396, -91.5563). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for McDougal 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 McDougal 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
    McDougal Lake Public Water Access SiteStony RiverU.S. Forest ServiceTrailer launch · Concrete slab ramp · dock7 trailer—Fishing, Boating
    Restroom
    47.6388, -91.5365

    Minnesota DNR public water access sites (Minnesota Geospatial Commons)

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

    Contact & official info

    Questions about McDougal Lake

    How big is McDougal Lake?

    McDougal Lake covers about 272 acres in Stony River, Minnesota (Lake County).

    Is there a public boat launch on McDougal Lake?

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

    Are there campgrounds near McDougal Lake?

    Yes. We list 7 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles, 1 of them within 5 miles.

    What towns are on McDougal Lake?

    McDougal Lake touches Stony River in Lake County, Minnesota.

    Share a tip or fishing report

    Know McDougal 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 Stony River