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Michaud Lake

Smoky Hollow · Thunder Lake, Minnesota — Cass County.

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56Surface acres

Surface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 80005397).

Location & fast facts

Where Michaud Lake is in Minnesota

The red circle marks Michaud Lake.

Fast facts

About Michaud Lake

  • County: Cass
  • Shore towns: Smoky Hollow, Thunder Lake
  • Mapped as: Lake or pond (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Distance: about 140 mi from Minneapolis and 86 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

  • Camping. 12 campgrounds within 15 mi (list)

Watch for

  • 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)

45 ftMaximum depth
62Acres (state figure)

Shallow (littoral) area: 21 of 62 acres

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources LakeFinder record for Michaud Lake (DOW 11003800), with lake survey reports, depth maps and stocking history. Acreage here can differ slightly from our mapped outline.

Lake map

Michaud Lake shoreline

¼ 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 80005397), 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 Michaud Lake

We found 12 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Michaud Lake, 1 of them within 5 miles. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.

6 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 (46.9502, -93.9040). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Michaud 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 Michaud 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.

    Contact & official info

    Questions about Michaud Lake

    How big is Michaud Lake?

    Michaud Lake covers about 56 acres in Smoky Hollow and Thunder Lake, Minnesota (Cass County).

    How deep is Michaud Lake?

    The maximum recorded depth is 45 feet, according to the Minnesota DNR LakeFinder.

    Are there campgrounds near Michaud Lake?

    Yes. We list 12 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles, 1 of them within 5 miles.

    What towns are on Michaud Lake?

    Michaud Lake touches Smoky Hollow and Thunder Lake in Cass County, Minnesota.

    Share a tip or fishing report

    Know Michaud 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 Smoky Hollow