Highest elevation lakes & reservoirs in Northwest Minnesota by altitude
While lake levels can flucuate frequently based on several circumstances, the altitude/elevation of a lake is based on its normal water level, measured by the lake’s surface distance above sea level. For a reservoir, this water level is also known as “full pond” or “full pool”.Low lake levels can occur due to deliberate seasonal draw downs for irrigation or impending snow melt, reduced water inflows, drought and evaporation, residential or commercial water demands, and hydropower generation. Some lakes’ minimum and maximum elevations are virtually the same. Lakes that generate hydropower may vary by several feet – according to power demand. Lakes whose primary purpose is to prevent flooding can seasonally vary by 100 feet or more. When some lakes reach their minimum elevation, their boat ramps may not be long enough to permit boat access – and boats docked on shallow parts of the lake may end up on dry ground. In those cases, kayakers and shore-based anglers may be among the few happy recreational users of the lake.
A lake’s highest water level, measured by the lake’s surface distance above sea level, that can occur during flooding. A lake’s highest possible maximum elevation is usually the top of the lake’s dam or spillway. At lakes that include residential development, government regulations usually forbid the construction of homes below a lake’s maximum elevation.
You can find many of the world’s highest-elevated lakes on LakeLubbers. Lakes with the lowest elevations (known by LakeLubbers) are shown on the final page of that list. Note: For some lakes, "Altitude/Elevation" data is unknown, so this table may display fewer lakes than the total 21 articles we have published for Northwest Minnesota lakes.
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Below are lakes within USA > US Midwest Region > Minnesota > Northwest Minnesota > Compared by highest altitude/elevation in feet. This list does not represent all lakes in Northwest Minnesota, only the 21 Northwest Minnesota lake articles we have published on the LakeLubbers website.
Lake name  |
Elevation in feet |
Lake description |
|---|---|---|
| Pickerel Lake, MN (Minnesota, Northwest Minnesota, US Midwest Region, USA) |
1,458 ft | Minnesota’s northwest region is draped in majestic forests and dotted with some of the state’s most pristine lakes including Pickerel Lake. Surrounded … |
| Woman Lake Chain (Minnesota, Northwest Minnesota, US Midwest Region, USA) |
1,325 ft | Also known as Child Lake, Girl Lake, Little Woman Lake, Woman Lake, Squaw Lake The Woman Lake Chain in northwest Minnesota includes four lakes and covers 5,502 acres. Sprawling across Cass County slightly south of the Chippewa Na … |
| Cass Lake, MN (Minnesota, Northwest Minnesota, US Midwest Region, USA) |
1,304 ft | Cass Lake is, without a doubt, one of Minnesota’s natural treasures. Its scenic beauty is only surpassed by its rich history, unique features and the … |
| Lake Winnibigoshish, MN (Minnesota, Northeast Minnesota, Northwest Minnesota, US Midwest Region, USA) |
1,300 ft | Also known as Lake Winnie Lake Winnibigoshish is a legend among Minnesota lakes. The lake’s impressive size, covering more than 58,500 acres, reaches into both the Northwest an … |
| Kabekona Lake, MN (Minnesota, Northwest Minnesota, US Midwest Region, USA) |
1,299 ft | They start almost every day this way, sitting on the deck, and watching the loons glide across Kabekona Lake. When they were ready to retire they knew … |
| Leech Lake, MN (Minnesota, Northwest Minnesota, US Midwest Region, USA) |
1,297 ft | With over 120,000 acres of water and 316 miles of shoreline, Leech Lake is the third largest lake located entirely in Minnesota, the “Land of 10,000 L … |
| Upper Red Lake, MN (Minnesota, Northwest Minnesota, US Midwest Region, USA) |
1,179 ft | Nestled in the Northwest Region of Minnesota, Upper Red Lake has an incredible comeback story and is becoming a popular vacation place for the second … |
| Lake of the Woods, MN / Canada (Canada, Manitoba, Canada, Minnesota, Northwest Minnesota, Ontario, Canada, US Midwest Region, USA) |
1,062 ft | Spanning the border from Minnesota into the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Manitoba, Lake of the Woods is an enormous body of water over 68 miles l … |