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White Bear Lake

White Bear · Mahtomedi · White Bear Lake · Dellwood, Minnesota — Washington County.

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2,409Surface acres
4Public access sites
3.6 miShoreline trails

Surface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 120018046).

Location & fast facts

Where White Bear Lake is in Minnesota

The red circle marks White Bear Lake.

Fast facts

About White Bear Lake

  • Counties: Washington, Ramsey
  • Shore towns: White Bear, Mahtomedi, White Bear Lake, Dellwood
  • Mapped as: Lake or pond (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Distance: about 15 mi from Minneapolis and 126 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. 3 public trailer launches listed (see access)
  • Fishing. Walleye, Muskellunge, Northern pike and Largemouth bass
  • Swimming. 2 public beach or swim spots on the map (details)
  • Walking. 3.6 mi of trail near the shore (trails)
  • Camping. 7 campgrounds within 15 mi (list)

Watch for

  • Non-native/invasive species. Zebra mussel, 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.
  • No lifeguard listed. None of our sources lists a staffed lifeguard. Swim at your own risk and watch children closely.
  • 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)

83 ftMaximum depth
20 ftAverage depth
2,428Acres (state figure)

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

Shallow (littoral) area: 1,314 of 2,428 acres

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources LakeFinder record for White Bear Lake (DOW 82016700), with lake survey reports, depth maps and stocking history. Acreage here can differ slightly from our mapped outline.

Lake map

White Bear Lake shoreline, boat launches & beaches

Boat ramp (Boat launch)1White Bear Lake, Matoska Public Water Access Site (Boat launch)2White Bear Lake, WBL Park (N) Public Water Access Site (Boat launch)3White Bear Lake (S) Public Water Access Site (Cartop / walk-in)4Bellaire Beach (Beach)5Ramsey County Beach (Beach)61 mileN

Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.

Boat launchCartop / walk-inBeachShoreline trail
  1. 1Boat ramp
    Boat launch · Mahtomedi
  2. 2White Bear Lake, Matoska Public Water Access Site
    Boat launch · White Bear
  3. 3White Bear Lake, WBL Park (N) Public Water Access Site
    Boat launch · White Bear
  4. 4White Bear Lake (S) Public Water Access Site
    Cartop / walk-in · White Bear
  5. 5Bellaire Beach
    Beach
  6. 6Ramsey County Beach
    Beach

Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 120018046), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: Minnesota DNR public water access sites (Minnesota Geospatial Commons) and OpenStreetMap boat ramps (ODbL). Dashed trails: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.

Shoreline trails

3.6 miTrail within 100 m of shore
About 25%Of the shoreline
NoLoops the whole lake
West shoreWhere

OpenStreetMap shows about 3.6 mi of public hiking and walking trail within about 100 m (330 ft) of the White Bear Lake shoreline, mostly along the west shore.

Trails along the shore

Getting to the trails

No trailhead is mapped for these trails. The closest public access site is Boat ramp, 100 ft from a shoreline trail (Minnesota DNR water access data).

The dashed brown line on the lake map shows these trails. We include paths, footways and marked trails that OpenStreetMap doesn't mark as private, and leave out roads, sidewalks and snowmobile corridors. Mapped trails can still cross private land or close for the season, and not every trail is mapped, so follow posted signs.

Trails: © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License (ODbL). Map data as of Oct 9, 2026. Trail lengths count only the parts within about 100 m of the USGS NHD lake outline.

Campgrounds near White Bear Lake

We found 7 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of White Bear Lake. 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: 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 (45.0767, -92.9897). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for White Bear 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 White Bear 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

    4 public access sites listed, 3 with a boat ramp or trailer launch.

    SiteTownOwnerTypeParkingFeeUsesMap
    Boat rampMahtomedi—Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating45.0898, -92.9758
    White Bear Lake, Matoska Public Water Access SiteWhite BearCity of White Bear LakeTrailer launch · Concrete slab ramp · dock24 trailer, 14 car—Fishing, Boating45.0871, -92.9989
    White Bear Lake, WBL Park (N) Public Water Access SiteWhite BearRamsey CountyTrailer launch · Concrete slab ramp · dock40 trailer—Fishing, Boating
    Restroom
    45.0951, -92.9962
    White Bear Lake (S) Public Water Access SiteWhite BearCity of White Bear LakeCarry-in (hand launch)22 car—Fishing, Boating
    Restroom
    45.0701, -92.9950

    Minnesota DNR public water access sites (Minnesota Geospatial Commons) and OpenStreetMap boat ramps (ODbL)

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

    Public beaches

    On OpenStreetMap: 2 beaches and swimming spots on the shore of White Bear Lake not marked private, residents-only or members-only.

    BeachTypeAccessDirections
    Bellaire BeachBeachAccess not tagged; check posted rules; lifeguards (seasonal)Get directions
    Ramsey County BeachBeachAccess not tagged; check posted rulesGet directions

    Beaches: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), within about 150 m (500 ft) of the lake outline. A mapped beach is not a guarantee that swimming is allowed, supervised or safe; some town beaches need a resident sticker even when the map doesn't say so. Check posted rules and water-quality advisories before you swim.

    Non-native/invasive species

    Reported on or near White Bear Lake

    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 White Bear Lake

    How big is White Bear Lake?

    White Bear Lake covers about 2,409 acres in White Bear, Mahtomedi, White Bear Lake and Dellwood, Minnesota (Washington County).

    How deep is White Bear Lake?

    The maximum recorded depth is 83 feet and the mean depth is 20 feet, according to the Minnesota DNR LakeFinder.

    What fish are in White Bear Lake?

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder lists Walleye, Muskellunge, Northern pike, Largemouth bass, Smallmouth bass, Black crappie, Bluegill, Yellow perch, Pumpkinseed and Rock bass and 8 more.

    Is there a public boat launch on White Bear Lake?

    Yes. 3 public trailer launches are listed: White Bear Lake, WBL Park (N) Public Water Access Site, White Bear Lake, Matoska Public Water Access Site and Boat ramp. Check posted fees and parking rules.

    Can you swim in White Bear Lake?

    OpenStreetMap shows 2 public beach or swimming spots on the shore. None of our sources lists a lifeguard, so swim at your own risk and follow posted rules.

    Are there campgrounds near White Bear Lake?

    Yes. We list 7 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles.

    What towns are on White Bear Lake?

    White Bear Lake touches White Bear, Mahtomedi, White Bear Lake and Dellwood in Washington County and Ramsey County, Minnesota.

    Share a tip or fishing report

    Know White Bear 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).

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