23 miles northeast of Orr
St. Louis County, Minnesota · 48.2889° N, 92.4763° W
Directions to Crane Lake (W) Public Water Access SiteApple Maps
Directions open in Google or Apple Maps, to the Minnesota DNR public access sites (3 listed; this is the first).
Updated 15 Oct 2026, 5:31 pm EDT.
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Minnesota DNR lake survey, fetched 15 Oct 2026. Not for navigation.
3 public access sites on Crane Lake.
Minnesota DNR public water accesses, fetched 15 Oct 2026.
Minnesota DNR’s latest standard fish survey of Crane Lake was in May 2021: 12 gill nets and 12 trap nets caught 12 species. The DNR also ran a targeted survey in August 2025; this section uses the latest standard survey.
Walleye per gill net, standard surveys: 2002 12 · 2006 10 · 2011 13 · 2016 10 · 2021 18
Bluegill per trap net, standard surveys: 1999 0.1 · 2002 0.2 · 2016 0.1 · 2021 0.3
Walleye: 223 measured, 7 to 23 in, half 12 in or longer; average 0.65 lb, below normal (normal 0.7–1.3 lb).
Northern pike: 26 measured, 18 to 33 in, half 25 in or longer; average 4.8 lb, above normal (normal 1.9–3.6 lb).
Smallmouth bass: 51 measured, 3 to 19 in, half 11 in or longer; average 1 lb, normal (normal 0.5–1.3 lb).
Black crappie: 19 measured, 6 to 12 in, half 11 in or longer; average 0.83 lb, above normal (normal 0.2–0.7 lb).
Yellow perch: 167 measured, 5 to 10 in, half 7 in or longer; average 0.16 lb, normal (normal 0.1–0.3 lb).
Also caught: cisco species, muskellunge, redhorse, white sucker.
Source: Minnesota DNR Fisheries lake survey, 31 May 2021, via LakeFinder, fetched 15 Oct 2026. Normal range: DNR’s range for lakes of the same class (43 classes, grouped by water chemistry and shape). Each line has its own scale. How we measure
Measured water clarity averages about 8 ft: the Secchi depth across 4 readings, 2006–2025.
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and volunteer Secchi readings, via Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, fetched 15 Oct 2026.
Minnesota DNR lake survey; straight-line miles.
Crane Lake is 80 feet at its deepest point, measured by Minnesota DNR survey. It covers 2,921 acres.
Yes. 3 public access sites are listed: Crane Lake (W) Public Water Access Site; Crane Lake (E) Public Water Access Site; Crane Lake, Waters Edge Public Water Access Site.
Minnesota DNR’s May 2021 standard survey caught 12 species, most often walleye, yellow perch, sauger and rock bass.
About 83% of the lake's area is deeper than 10 feet, measured from Minnesota DNR depth contours.