Lakes / North Dakota / Cottonwood Lake
Cottonwood Lake, Williams County, North Dakota
492 acres
Surface Area
13.7 ft
Max Depth
7 ft
Average Depth
13.6 mi
Shoreline
2,100 ft
Surface Elevation
Where It Sits, and How Deep It Goes
Locator - North Dakota
48.59 degrees N, 103.44 degrees W - Williams County. State and county outlines drawn from Census boundary data; the lake marker is placed by its North Dakota Game and Fish coordinates, not by eye. Schematic - not a survey map.
Depth Profile - Cottonwood Lake
Schematic cross-section drawn to one shared depth scale - not a survey or bathymetric map.
How Cottonwood Lake Stacks Up
- A shallow lake - typical of most North Dakota lakes, which run under 20 ft at their deepest.
- About 101 miles from Minot, as the crow flies.
- 3 fish species on the NDGF list for this lake.
Fish Species
Yellow PerchWalleyeNorthern Pike
Species recorded for this lake. Presence only - no abundance ratings.
Facts and Figures
Waterbody ID148777986
CountyWilliams
Coordinates48.5868, -103.4436
Deepest Natural Lakes in North Dakota
| # | Lake | County | Surface Area | Max Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stump Lake | Nelson | 17,681 acres | 77.1 ft |
| 2 | Devils Lake | Ramsey | 110,763 acres | 58.1 ft |
| 3 | Free Peoples Lake | Benson | 891 acres | 55.3 ft |
| 4 | Spiritwood Lake | Stutsman | 493 acres | 54.7 ft |
| 5 | Moon Lake | Barnes | 115 acres | 54.3 ft |
Largest Lakes in North Dakota
| # | Lake | County | Surface Area | Max Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lake Sakakawea | McLean | 350,520 acres | 180 ft |
| 2 | Lake Oahe | Emmons | 309,912.6 acres | 200 ft |
| 3 | Devils Lake | Ramsey | 110,763 acres | 58.1 ft |
| 4 | Stump Lake | Nelson | 17,681 acres | 77.1 ft |
| 5 | Long Lake | Burleigh | 16,934 acres | - |
Sources: North Dakota Game and Fish lake data (ID 148777986); USGS EPQS. Verified October 30, 2026.