Turtle Lake

North Dakota

Home of the USA and World Championship Turtle Races


The City of Turtle Lake (Population 574) is a rural farming community in central North Dakota. Turtle Lake is nestled amongst vast open farmland, lakes, and the great outdoors. A small friendly community is ready to welcome you as a guest or resident. Local favorite activities include Hunting, Fishing, and Camping.

Come Visit for Turtle Days, Hunting, Fishing and More


The Turtle Lake area is in the heart of Prairie Pothole country. With rolling hills, open prairie, and river valleys it affords abundant game. The area boasts an excellent Pheasant, Sharptail Grouse, and Whitetail Deer population. Most years the waterfowl population is also quite large. The Missouri River valley has a good population of Wild Turkeys, squirrels, rabbits, and an occasional Moose or Mountain Lion. The Hungarian Partridge population is also on the increase.

Lakes Brekken and Holmes are located adjacent to the town and have fishing piers, boat launch ramps, a softball/baseball facility, and a playground. It also offers camping facilities and is home to Bluegill, Perch, and Walleye fish.

Known for its quality trophy-class rainbow Trout fishery. It is also home to Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill, and possibly still some Largemouth Bass. Only float tubes and boats with electric motors are allowed in the lake. Kayaks, canoes, or other oar or pedal-propelled or wind-driven crafts are allowed, but no live bait is allowed.

The McLusky Canal is not a managed fishery, but it contains several types of fish, including Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, Muskellunge, Perch, Bluegill, Green Sunfish, Burbot, Carp, and Crappie, along with a few other rough fish being caught. Pike in the 20# class are not uncommon in this canal.

Lake Brekken and Lake Holmes

Lightning Lake

McLusky Canal

Need a better way to be in-the-know of local events,

announcements and so much more? The Turtle Lake app is ready for download

in the Apple Store and Google Play! Connect with our community today.

Turtle Lake City Commission

Mayor and City Commission President

Dianne Zenker


Richard Schwalk

Matt Lang

Tim Britton

Stacy Adams

City Commissioner

City Commissioner

City Commissioner

City Commissioner

Contact us:

701-448-2596

P.O. Box 338

Turtle Lake, ND 58575

E-Mail: citytl@westriv.com


Turtle LAke

North Dakota

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