Raster Elevation Data and Shaded Relief Maps for Minnesota

Sources for raster elevation data and shaded relief maps are grouped by extent.

If you are looking for:

Consistent resolution products for the whole state, go to the State section.
Data beyond Minnesota, go to either the National or Global sections.

⁠State

Lidar-derived.

See the Lidar webpage
Hillshade layer (black-and-white image) added to MnGeo's WMS image service
- Graphic showing areas covered by the hillshade - the entire state is covered except for several large lakes.
- Web mapping application: MnTOPO basemaps include color terrain and black-and-white terrain from the 2008-2012 lidar collection.
  Updated terrain from the 2021-2025 lidar collection will be made available in a replacement to MnTOPO, which is currently in development. See the lidar webpage for updates.
- Viewer, download files, and documentation on the Minnesota Geospatial Commons

The National Map (USGS)
The elevation layer of The National Map provides bare earth DEM layers in several resolutions.
Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (NASA, NGA)
SRTM obtained elevation data on a near-global scale using a specially modified radar system onboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour in February 2000. The U.S. is covered by both 30-meter and 90-meter resolution data.
- JPL's SRTM website provides more information
- SRTM version 4 (CGIAR-CSI)
  Data voids in 90-meter SRTM are filled in this version.
U.S. Shaded Relief Maps (The National Map, USGS)

Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM)
Near-global coverage is available at 90-meter resolution.
- JPL's SRTM website provides more information.
- SRTM version 4 (CGIAR-CSI)
  Data voids in 90-meter SRTM are filled in this version.
GTOPO30 (Global 30 Arc-Second Elevation)
Approximately 1-km resolution raster data derived from a variety of sources.
- HYDRO1k
  Hydrologically correct DEM derived from GTOPO30.
ASTER DEM (NASA and Japan) entire archive available at no charge to all users
Each elevation measurement point in this digital elevation model is 30 meters apart. Stereo-pair images are produced by merging two slightly offset two-dimensional images to create the three-dimensional effect of depth.

CGIAR-CSI: Consultative Group for International Agriculture Research - Consortium for Spatial Information
JPL: Jet Propulsion Lab
NASA: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
NGA: National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
USGS: United States Geological Survey