Rush Lake, Minnesota, USA

Rush Lake is a 5,338-acre natural lake located in central Otter Tail County in the Central Region of Minnesota. Rush Lake is part of the Otter Tail River Chain of Lakes which also includes Otter Tail, Big Pine, Little Pine, Deer, East Lost, and West Lost Lakes. Otter Tail Country is located two and a half hours from Minneapolis and St. Paul and is home to over…
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    • All About Rush Lake, MN

    Lake Locations: USA - US Midwest Region - Minnesota - Central Minnesota -

    Rush Lake is a 5,338-acre natural lake located in central Otter Tail County in the Central Region of Minnesota. Rush Lake is part of the Otter Tail River Chain of Lakes which also includes Otter Tail, Big Pine, Little Pine, Deer, East Lost, and West Lost Lakes. Otter Tail Country is located two and a half hours from Minneapolis and St. Paul and is home to over 1,000 of Minnesota’s 10,000 lakes and streams.

    Rush Lake is a beautiful gourd shaped lake with a maximum depth is 68 feet; however, most of the lake is rather shallow with 62 percent of the lake at less than 15 feet. The majority of the shoreline is surrounded by residential and commercial development, but there are three public access areas – two on the north shore and one at the western end of the lake. Fishing is one of the main attractions of the lake, but swimming, sandy beaches, sailing, water-skiing, wind surfing or just relaxing on the beach are also popular pastimes.

    Rush Lake is popular with anglers during both the open water and ice fishing seasons. The lake has a reputation as being one of the best walleye and Northern pike fishing spots in the area along with largemouth bass, black crappie, perch, rock bass, bluegill and three different types of bullheads. Walleye range in length from 8 to 25 inches and pike range from 14 to 31 inches. When the lake freezes over for the winter, ice fishing becomes a favorite pastime. Other recreational opportunities at Rush Lake include camping, hiking, snowmobiling , and horseback riding. Lakeside resorts, cabins, and vacation homes are available for rent. For those who like to camp, there are primitive campsites as well as RV sites with electrical and sewer hookups.

    Nature lovers will find Rush Lake and surrounding Otter Tail Country a recreational paradise. Maplewood State Park, located approximately 25 miles west of the lake features over 9,250 acres of woods, eight small lakes and several ponds. This state-protected habitat is great for hiking, bird watching, biking, horseback riding, snowmobiling, swimming, and fishing. Facilities in the park include a campground with electrical hookups, a swimming beach, boat ramps, numerous picnic spots, and hike-in camping areas. Glendalough State Park, Phelps Mill Park, and Inspiration Peak Park, the second highest site in Minnesota, are also nearby.

    Visitors to Rush Lake wishing to do a little sightseeing and shopping can visit the nearby towns of Dent, Basswood, Perham, Ottertail, Richville, and New York Mills where they will find golf courses, riding stables, amusement parks, flea markets, antique and specialty shops, gift shops, water parks, fine dining, dancing, and several museums.

    Whether you enjoy fishing, camping, boating, swimming, or just plain relaxing, you’re sure to enjoy your stay at beautiful Rush Lake in the in the West Central Region of Minnesota’s Otter Tail County.

    Things to Do at Rush Lake

    These are some activities in the Rush Lake, MN area visitors can enjoy:

    • Vacation Rentals
    • Fishing
    • Ice Fishing
    • Boating
    • Sailing
    • Swimming
    • Beach
    • Water Skiing
    • Wind Surfing
    • Golf
    • Camping
    • Campground
    • Picnicking
    • Cabin Rentals
    • Hiking
    • Biking
    • Snowmobiling
    • Horseback Riding
    • Wildlife Viewing
    • Birding
    • State Park
    • Museum
    • Amusement Park
    • Antiquing
    • Shopping

    What Kind of Fish Are in Rush Lake?

    Rush Lake has been known to have the following fish species:

    • Bass
    • Black Bass
    • Black Crappie
    • Bluegill
    • Crappie
    • Largemouth Bass
    • Northern Pike
    • Perch
    • Pike
    • Sunfish
    • Walleye
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    Find Places to Stay at Rush Lake

    If you’re considering a Rush Lake lake house rental or hotel, we’ve made it super easy to find the best rates and compare vacation accommodations at a glance. Save time using this interactive map below.

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    More Sites to Book a Rush Lake Vacation

    Our interactive Rush Lake lodging map above is an easy tool for comparing VRBO rental homes and nearby hotels with Booking.com, but there could be times when you need to expand your search for different types of accommodations. Here are some other lake lodging partners we recommend:

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    Rush Lake Statistics & Helpful Links

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    Lake Type: Natural Freshwater Lake, Not Dammed

    Surface Area: 5,338 acres

    Shoreline Length: 10 miles

    Normal Elevation (Full Pond): 1,342 feet

    Average Depth: 11 feet

    Maximum Depth: 68 feet

    Water Volume: 30,836 acre-feet

    Water Residence Time: 3 years

    Lake Area-Population: 966

    Drainage Area: 16,397 sq. miles

    Trophic State: Mesotrophic

    Rush Lake Map
    Local Weather Forecast

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