US lakes & pondsUS lakes & pondsSurface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 86367957).
The red circle marks Nelson 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: Black bullhead, Black crappie, Bluegill, Bowfin (dogfish), Brown bullhead, Common carp, Hybrid sunfish, Largemouth bass, Northern pike, Pumpkinseed, Walleye, Yellow bullhead, Yellow perch.
Shallow (littoral) area: 268 of 293 acres
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources LakeFinder record for Nelson Lake (DOW 61010100), 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 86367957), 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 11 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Nelson Lake, 7 of them within 5 miles. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.
Tent sites
Drinking water
Electric hookups · Tent sites · Cabins or yurts · Dump station
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 (45.5251, -95.4445). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Nelson 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, 1 with a boat ramp or trailer launch.
| Site | Town | Owner | Type | Parking | Fee | Uses | Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nelson Lake Public Water Access Site | Barsness | DNR Division of Parks and Trails | Trailer launch · Gravel ramp | 2 trailer | — | Fishing, Boating | 45.5298, -95.4376 |
Minnesota DNR public water access sites (Minnesota Geospatial Commons)
Fees, hours and rules change; confirm with the site owner before you go.
Reported on or near Nelson Lake
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.
Nelson Lake covers about 273 acres in Barsness, Minnesota (Pope County).
The maximum recorded depth is 15 feet and the mean depth is 11 feet, according to the Minnesota DNR LakeFinder.
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder lists Walleye, Northern pike, Largemouth bass, Black crappie, Bluegill, Yellow perch, Pumpkinseed, Black bullhead, Bowfin (dogfish) and Brown bullhead and 3 more.
Yes. 1 public trailer launch is listed: Nelson Lake Public Water Access Site. Check posted fees and parking rules.
Yes. We list 11 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles, 7 of them within 5 miles.
Nelson Lake touches Barsness in Pope County, Minnesota.
Know Nelson 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 Barsness