Wikipedia

Draft:Clark Lake (Crow Wing County)

Clark Lake
Clark Lake is located in Minnesota
Clark Lake
Clark Lake
Location in Minnesota
LocationCrow Wing County, Minnesota
Coordinates46°30′46″N 94°15′44″W / 46.5129°N 94.2623°W / 46.5129; -94.2623
Max. depth31 ft [1]
Surface elevation
1,198 ft[2][3]
SettlementsNisswa, Minnesota
Location
Map
Interactive map of Clark Lake

Clark Lake is a lake located in Crow Wing County, Minnesota. It is a northern Minnesota lake named after Clark L. Thorp,[4] the son of American portrait painter and Ohio legislator Freeman Woodcock Thorp.[5]

Etymology

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In 1908, when the village of Nisswa was incorporated, its name was derived from the Ojibwe word nessawae, meaning “in the middle.” The name refers to Nisswa’s location between Clark, Nisswa, and Roy lakes.[6][7]

Physical characteristics

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Location

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Clark lake is located in Crow Wing County, MN, 15 miles north of the city of Brainerd and Located in the Brainerd Lakes Area.[8]

Hydrology

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Basic Lake Characterisitics

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Clark Lake covers approximately 343 acres and has a maximum depth of 31 feet. It also has a littoral area of 264 acres, about 5 miles of shoreline, and an average water clarity of 14.8 feet.[9]

Hydrologic setting and water balance

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Clark Lake is a Type 1 lake in the Glacial Lake Brainerd deposits. It has a relatively large watershed-to-lake area ratio of 42:1. In most years, it receives sufficient surface-water input to maintain water levels above its runout elevation.[10]

Watershed and regional context

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Some of the major watersheds associated with Clark Lake include the Crow Wing River and Upper Gull Lake.[11]

Formation

Minnesota's lakes are a legacy of the glaciers that covered the region approximately 10,000 years ago. As the glaciers retreated, they left a variety of depressions in the land. Some of these depressions are shallow, some are deep, some were carved directly into the bedrock, and others are surrounded by sand.[12]

Northern pike

Ecology

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Fish Species

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Fish species in Clark Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass, walleye, yellow bullhead, yellow perch, bowfin (commonly called dogfish), common carp, white sucker, banded killifish, blacknose shiner, bluntnose minnow, emerald shiner, and golden shiner.[13]

Invasive Species

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Clark Lake has one documented invasive species: the zebra mussel.[14][15] It is listed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources as an aquatic invasive species in Clark Lake,[16] and the lake was officially listed as infested in 2017.[17]

Number of fish caught in each category (inches)
Species 0-5 6-7 8-9 10-11 12-14 15-19 20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50+ Total
Black bullhead 0 0 0 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 11
Black crappie 12 5 46 8 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 72
Bluegill 71 425 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 498
Bowfin (dogfish) 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 3 0 0 0 0 0 8
Brown bullhead 0 0 0 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4
Common Carp 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
Hybrid sunfish 2 43 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 46
Largemouth bass 0 1 1 4 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9
Northern pike 0 0 2 5 22 21 11 3 2 0 0 0 0 66
Pumpkinseed 21 32 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 53
Walleye 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
Yellow bullhead 0 0 11 26 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 38
Yellow perch 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4

Source: "www.dnr.state.mn.us". Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

Lake Hubert Depot (2011)

History

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Thorp Family

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In the Clark/Hubert Lakes region, the Thorp (often spelled Thorpe) family is associated with Freeland Woodcock Thorp and his son, Clark L. Thorp, for whom Clark Lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota, is named.[18] Clark was born in 1869 in Ohio to Orlena Alberton Eggleston, then 22, and Freeman Woodcock Thorp, then 25.[19] In 1893, Clark became ill and underwent what was reported as the second known appendectomy. Complications from anesthesia led to pulmonary tuberculosis, and his family was told that the only hope for recovery was the northern Minnesota air.[20] Clark died in 1896 at the age of 27. He is buried in Thorp–Heald Cemetery, and Clark Lake was named in his memory.[21][22]

Clark’s father, Freeman, was a well-known portrait painter, a commander in the Ohio National Guard until 1885, and an Ohio State representative.[23] In the 1890s, he moved to Crow Wing County due to declining health, where he built “The Castle,” a 3,000-brick residence that became an icon of Nisswa. The castle stood from 1906 to 1941 before being demolished due to deterioration.[24] Recent efforts to preserve the Thorp family cemetery led to the discovery of the castle’s brick remains.[25] Freeman continued painting until his death in October 1922 at the age of 78.[26]

Lake Hubert Depot

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Lake Hubert Depot was built in 1896 (though some sources list 1918) along the narrow strip of land between Clark Lake and Lake Hubert by the Northern Pacific Railway during the logging boom. It was the only access to the town of Lake Hubert.[27][28]

The significance of Lake Hubert Station lies in it being the only known surviving open-shed station in north-central Minnesota and as a representative of the early relationship between the railroad and the regional resort industry.[29]

Recreation

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A sign for the Paul Bunyan State Trail in Pine River, Crow Wing County, Minnesota.

Nearby Trails and Parks

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Some notable recreational sites near Clark Lake include the Paul Bunyan State Trail,[30] a state trail that is 115 miles long and the longest continuously paved rail-trail in the country,[31] Pillsbury State Forest, established in 1935,[32] and Paul M. Thiede Fire Tower Park, a historic fire tower built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1935 to help spot wildfires.[33]

Conservation and management

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Key Organizations

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Major organizations focused on land preservation, water quality, and wildlife in the Brainerd Lakes region include the Clark Lake Conservation Association and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources who work together to maintain Clark Lake's water quality and lake environment.[34][35]

Local Guidelines

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According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, all Minnesota residents aged 16 to 89 must have a current fishing license unless an exemption applies.[36]

Who doesn't need a fishing license?
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  • Residents younger than 16.
  • Residents 90 and older.
  • Minnesota residents enlisted in the U.S. Armed Forces, stationed outside the state, and home on leave (you must carry leave or furlough papers while fishing or transporting fish).
  • A Minnesota resident who has served in federal active service outside the U.S. during the preceding 24 months and is now discharged from overseas duty (you must carry discharge papers while fishing or transporting fish).
  • An in-patient of a U.S. Veterans Administration hospital (form needed to filled out).
  • A resident of a Minnesota licensed nursing or boarding care home.[37]

Climate

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Climate data for Nisswa, Minnesota
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °F 18.9 24.4 37 52.0 65.1 74.7 79.2 77.4 68.5 54 37.8 24.4 51.1
Mean daily minimum °F −0.2 2.7 16.3 30 43.5 54.1 58.6 55.8 47.1 34.9 21.9 8.8 31.1
Average precipitation inches 0.69 0.73 1.32 2.25 3.45 4.23 4.38 3.46 2.74 3.01 1.21 0.88 28.35
Mean daily maximum °C −7.3 −4.2 3 11.1 18.4 23.7 26.2 25.2 20.3 12 3.2 −4.2 10.6
Mean daily minimum °C −17.9 −16.3 −8.7 −1 6.4 12.3 14.8 13.2 8.4 1.6 −5.6 −12.9 −0.5
Average precipitation mm 17.53 18.54 33.53 57.15 87.63 107.44 111.25 87.88 69.6 76.45 30.73 22.35 720.08
Source: Plantmaps.com[38]

Public Water Access

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A public water access ramp is located on County Road 13, east of Highway 371.[39] Its official name is the Clark Lake Public Water Access Site. The launch type is a trailer launch, and the ramp is a concrete slab.[40][41]

References

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  1. ↑ "Clark Lake (MN) – Fishing, Map & Access".
  2. ↑ "Statistics for Clark Lake at Lake Hubert, MN - USGS Water Data for the Nation".
  3. ↑ "Bot Verification". {{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help)
  4. ↑ "Clark L. Thorp (1869-1896) - Find a Grave Memorial". www.findagrave.com. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  5. ↑ Beacon, CARL E. FEATHER-cfeather@starbeacon comStar (2011-11-20). "The youth who sketched Lincoln". Star Beacon. Retrieved 2025-12-22.
  6. ↑ "Welcome to the City of Nisswa". www.cityofnisswa.gov. Retrieved 2025-12-20.
  7. ↑ "History of Clark Lake". Issuu. Retrieved 2025-12-20.
  8. ↑ "Clark Lake Minnesota Lake Homes For Sale and Clark Lake Minnesota Lake Houses For Sale - LakeHomes.com". Lake Homes Realty. Retrieved 2025-12-21.
  9. ↑ "Clark (18037400) | LakeFinder". Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Archived from the original on 2024-10-09. Retrieved 2025-12-23.
  10. ↑ https://files.dnr.state.mn.us/waters/groundwater_section/mapping/cga/c16_crow/pdf_files/plate10.pdf. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  11. ↑ "Minnesota Biological Survey List of Plant Species Observed at Clark Lake" (PDF).
  12. ↑ "Regional Context: Lakes". Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Archived from the original on 2024-02-04. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  13. ↑ https://cdn.forumcomm.com/53/6a/bfa05a56494497d3d34b9bde407f/clark-lake.pdf. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  14. ↑ www.crowwing.gov http://web.archive.org/web/20230602223034/https://www.crowwing.gov/DocumentCenter/View/18689/CWC-AIS-Infested-Waters-List?bidId=. Archived from the original on 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2025-12-19. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  15. ↑ "Clark Lake (MN) – Fishing, Map & Access". Lake-Link. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  16. ↑ "https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/lakefind/lake.html?id=18037400". {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
  17. ↑ www.crowwing.gov http://web.archive.org/web/20230602223034/https://www.crowwing.gov/DocumentCenter/View/18689/CWC-AIS-Infested-Waters-List?bidId=. Archived from the original on 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2025-12-19. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  18. ↑ "FamilySearch.org". ancestors.familysearch.org. Retrieved 2025-12-20.
  19. ↑ "FamilySearch.org". ancestors.familysearch.org. Retrieved 2025-12-23.
  20. ↑ "History of Clark Lake". Issuu. Retrieved 2025-12-20.
  21. ↑ "FamilySearch.org". ancestors.familysearch.org. Retrieved 2025-12-20.
  22. ↑ "Clark L. Thorp (1869-1896) - Find a Grave Memorial". www.findagrave.com. Retrieved 2025-12-20.
  23. ↑ Beacon, CARL E. FEATHER-cfeather@starbeacon comStar (2011-11-20). "The youth who sketched Lincoln". Star Beacon. Retrieved 2025-12-20.
  24. ↑ Reporter, The; Reported, Or; this?, verified from knowledgeable sources The Trust Project What is (2022-12-03). "Historic Thorp castle bricks now stored at Nisswa Pioneer Village". Pine & Lakes Echo Journal. Retrieved 2025-12-20.
  25. ↑ "Historic Thorp Castle bricks now stored at Nisswa Pioneer Village - Brainerd Dispatch". edition.pagesuite.com. Retrieved 2025-12-20.
  26. ↑ Beacon, CARL E. FEATHER-cfeather@starbeacon comStar (2011-11-20). "The youth who sketched Lincoln". Star Beacon. Retrieved 2025-12-20.
  27. ↑ "General 2". Lake Hubert Conservation Association. Retrieved 2025-12-22.
  28. ↑ "United States Department of the Interior Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service".
  29. ↑ "United States Department of the Interior".
  30. ↑ "Map of Southern Paul Bunyan State Trail" (PDF).
  31. ↑ "Paul Bunyan State Trail". Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Archived from the original on 2025-12-08. Retrieved 2025-12-22.
  32. ↑ "Pillsbury State Forest Map" (PDF).
  33. ↑ Nisswa, Camp (2025-04-15). "Paul M. Thiede Fire Tower Park | Pequot Lakes, MN". Camp Nisswa. Retrieved 2025-12-22.
  34. ↑ "Clark Lake Conservation Association - GuideStar Profile". www.guidestar.org. Retrieved 2025-12-24.
  35. ↑ "Clark Lake Conservation Association in Minnesota, Nisswa". greatnonprofits.org. Retrieved 2025-12-24.
  36. ↑ "Fishing Licenses". mn.gov. Retrieved 2025-12-21.
  37. ↑ "Fishing Licenses". mn.gov. Retrieved 2025-12-24.
  38. ↑ "Nisswa Minnesota Climate Data - Updated December 2025".
  39. ↑ background, Pineandlakes Echo Journal Comments Share Share this article Explainer Explainer Provides context or; definition; this?, detail on a specific topic The Trust Project What is (2025-05-19). "Clark Lake contour map - Crow Wing County". Pine & Lakes Echo Journal. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  40. ↑ "Mapping Tool : Minnesota Natural Resource Atlas". mnatlas.org. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  41. ↑ "https://files.dnr.state.mn.us/maps/water_access/counties/crowwing.pdf" (PDF). {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
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