Big Bear, Minnesota
143 acres
Surface Area
15 ft
Max Depth
3.24 mi
Shoreline
1,480 ft
Surface Elevation
Where It Sits, and How Deep It Goes
Locator - Minnesota
47.21 degrees N, 91.91 degrees W - St. Louis County. State and county outlines drawn from Census boundary data; the lake marker is placed by its Minnesota DNR coordinates, not by eye. Schematic - not a survey map.
Depth Profile - Big Bear
Schematic cross-section drawn to one shared depth scale - not a survey or bathymetric map.
How Big Bear Stacks Up
- A shallow lake - typical of most Minnesota lakes, which run under 20 ft at their deepest.
- About 30 miles from Duluth, as the crow flies.
- 8 fish species on the DNR list for this lake.
Fish Species
WalleyeNorthern PikeBluegillPumpkinseedYellow PerchBlack BullheadGolden ShinerWhite Sucker
Species recorded for this lake. Presence only - no abundance ratings.
Facts and Figures
Lake ID (DOW)69011300
CountySt. Louis
Average Water Clarity8 ft
Coordinates47.2074, -91.9142
Deepest Natural Lakes in Minnesota
| # | Lake | County | Surface Area | Max Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mahnomen, Alstead & Arco Mine | Crow Wing | 272 acres | 525 ft |
| 2 | Sabin | St. Louis | 156 acres | 465 ft |
| 3 | Gilbert Pit | St. Louis | 243 acres | 443 ft |
| 4 | Portsmouth Mine | Crow Wing | 149 acres | 395 ft |
| 5 | St James Pit | St. Louis | 124 acres | 381 ft |
Largest Lakes in Minnesota
| # | Lake | County | Surface Area | Max Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lake of the Woods | Lake of the Woods | 725,583 acres | 210 ft |
| 2 | Rainy | St. Louis | 210,200 acres | 161 ft |
| 3 | Mille Lacs | Mille Lacs | 128,250 acres | 42 ft |
| 4 | Red (Upper Red) | Beltrami | 119,294 acres | 15 ft |
| 5 | Leech | Cass | 103,444 acres | 150 ft |
Sources: Minnesota DNR lake data (ID 69011300); USGS. Verified October 30, 2026.