US lakes & pondsUS lakes & pondsSurface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 80002861).
The red circle marks Upper Hanson 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.
Shallow (littoral) area: 26 of 131 acres
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources LakeFinder record for Upper Hanson Lake (DOW 31034600), with lake survey reports, depth maps and stocking history. Acreage here can differ slightly from our mapped outline.
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 80002861), 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 14 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Upper Hanson Lake. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.
RVs welcome · Drinking water · Dogs allowed
RVs welcome · Tent sites · Drinking water · Dogs allowed
Tent sites · Drinking water
Drinking water
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.
Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (47.4677, -93.4526). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Upper Hanson 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.
Upper Hanson Lake covers about 120 acres in Balsam, Minnesota (Itasca County).
The maximum recorded depth is 35 feet, according to the Minnesota DNR LakeFinder.
Yes. We list 14 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles.
Upper Hanson Lake touches Balsam in Itasca County, Minnesota.
Know Upper Hanson 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 Balsam