Map of Donald Lake with depth contours

Donald Lake

46.7983° N, 80.5103° W

Depth contours from the 1979 government survey. Not for navigation.

Download the depth map (SVG)

Donald Lake is 56 m deep at its deepest point, deeper than 96% of the 2,688 surveyed lakes in Ontario. It covers 5.03 km² and lies 21 km north of Basin Mines.

Government surveys have recorded 4 fish species here, including lake trout, yellow perch and smallmouth bass.

Maximum depth
56 msurveyed 1979
deeper than 96% of the 2,688 surveyed lakes in Ontario
Area
5.03 km²
larger than 91% of the 18,731 lakes in Ontario
Shoreline
30.2 km
longer than 92% of the 18,731 lakes in Ontario
Fish species
4
fewer than 51% of the 2,454 surveyed lakes in Ontario
Elevation
270 m

Today on the water

3.6 °C

Partly CloudyWind SW 10 km/h

Observed at Greater Sudbury, as of 3:00 a.m. EDT

choppy Estimated waves, next 12 hours: up to 0.2 m. Around 8 a.m., wind from the northwest: the northwest shore is sheltered, waves build toward the southeast shore.

Hourly forecast, next 24 hours
Time4 a.m.7 a.m.10 a.m.1 p.m.4 p.m.7 p.m.10 p.m.1 a.m.
Wind km/hW 10W 10NW 20NW 20NW 20NW 10var. 5SE 10
Gusts km/h4040
Waves (est.) m0.10.10.20.2
Temp. °C54710121075
Precip. %3030302020000

Tonight: Mainly cloudy with 30 percent chance of showers. Wind west 20 km/h gusting to 40 becoming light this evening. Low plus 4.

Weather: Greater Sudbury (local forecast), as of 3:02 a.m. EDT

Sun and moon

Civil dawn
7:01 a.m.
Sunrise
7:31 a.m.
Sunset
6:46 p.m.
Civil dusk
7:16 p.m.
Moonrise
6:23 a.m.
Moonset
6:04 p.m.
Moon
Waning crescent, 1% lit

Air Quality Health Index

1 low risk

Sudbury, as of 2:00 a.m. EDT

Data Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada. Local times.

How waves are estimated

Significant wave height from the forecast hourly wind and the open-water distance (fetch) upwind, using the SMB method (US Army Corps of Engineers Shore Protection Manual, 1984), rounded up to the next 0.1 m. It is not a measurement: gusts, leftover swell and shoals can make water rougher. Under 0.2 m: calm; 0.2–0.5 m: choppy; over 0.5 m: rough.

Depth

14% of Donald Lake is deeper than 30 m.

How to read it: the lake’s area is sorted from the shore to the deepest point. Where the curve is flat, large areas share one depth (flats and weed beds); where it drops, depth changes quickly (drop-offs).

The government depth survey from 1979 records a maximum depth of 56 m, drawn from 49 depth contours.

Not for navigation. Depths are from government surveys and may be outdated.

Fish

Sport fish by the share of the 18 government surveys (2011–2011) that recorded them.

  • Lake Trout12 of 18
  • Yellow Perch10 of 18
  • Smallmouth Bass4 of 18
Forage fish and other species (1)
  • Northern Pearl Dace 1

Numbers are the surveys that recorded each species.

Eating your catch

The provincial guide to eating fish (2026) sets limits for 2 species from Donald Lake. Maximum meals per month:

SpeciesLengthGeneral populationSensitive population*Contaminant
Lake Trout50-55 cm88Selenium
Smallmouth Bass35-40 cm128Selenium

* As defined in the guide, including children and people who are or may become pregnant. Limits are for the length the guide lists most often; they change with the size of the fish. Read the official guide

Fishing regulations: Fisheries Management Zone 10. Check seasons and limits before you fish.