Minnesota

Vacation Information
(800) 657 - 3700
Minnesota Information Website
More Minnesota Lake Information

Minnesota has a large number of Lakes, over 4500. Here are a few select lakes of larger scale, and

some nice remote areas, some of which are in the Canoe Boundary Area (which we divided

by forests).

Popular Lakes

Cross Lake (Pine River Lake). Fishing, Campsites with and without Electricity, Showers, Restrooms, Drinking Water, Sanitary Dump Station, Picnic Day / Use, Launch Ramp, Visitor Information Center. Located in Crow Wing State Forest at the Headwaters of the Whitefish Chain Lakes. (612) 220-0324.

Click Here for a Link to C & C Boat Works.

Detroit Lake. Fishing, Boating, Picnic Day / Use, Ramps, Marina, Fuel, Restaurant. This 3.5 mile wide lake lies on the outside of Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. Other nearby lakes include Sallie and Melissa. Located on Interstate 10, 45 miles east of Fargo.

Click Here for a Link to Longbridge Resort and Marina

Gull Lake (plus Long, Edward, Pelican). Fishing, Campsites with and without Electricity, Showers, Restrooms, Drinking Water, Sanitary Dump Station, Picnic Day / Use, Launch Ramp, Visitor Information Center. Located on the eastern side of the Pillsbury State Forest, five other lakes here area accessible by boat, including Long Lake, Edward Lake and Pelican Lake. Located off Minnesota State Route 371 just north of Brainerd. (612) 220-0324.

Lac Qui Parle (Red River of the North, Bois de Sioux River, Mud Lake, Big Stone, Marsh, Minnesota River). All part of the River dividing North and South Dakota. Each of these lakes and various river points include dams. Fishing, Restrooms, Drinking Water, Picnic Day / Use, State Parks along this area include Big Stone (10,700 acres wildlife refuge) northwest of Ortonville, and Lac Qui Parle near Milan at Minnesota State Route 7 and 40. (612) 220-0324.

Lake of the Woods. Campsites with and without Electricity, Showers, Restrooms, Drinking Water, Sanitary Dump Station, Picnic Day / Use, Launch Ramp, Marina, Fuel. This 100 mile long by 60 mile wide lake features great boating and fishing, 14,000 islands and 65,000 miles of shoreline. Zippel Bay State Park and Northwest Angle State Forest are two popular spots on the lake. The Northern shoreline connects to Ontario Canada, while the western section connects to Manitoba, Canada. If you are boating in northern Minnesota, this is one lake you won't want to miss.

Mille Lacs Lake. Campsites with and without Electricity, Showers, Restrooms, Drinking Water, Sanitary Dump Station, Picnic Day / Use, Launch Ramp. Home of Father Hennepin State Park on the southeastern shoreline. This is one of the largest lakes in central Minnesota. Other Points of Interest include a State Indian Museum off U.S. 169 and Wealthwood State Forest on the northern shoreline.

Lake Minnetonka. Fishing, Beach,. Popular Minneapolis spot for water sports. The Tonka Toy factory lies on its shoreline. This 10+ miles of lakes is located just 11 miles west of downtown Minneapolis off U.S. 12.

Pokegamma Lake. Fishing, Campsites with and without Electricity, Restrooms, Drinking Water, Sanitary Dump Station, Picnic Day / Use, Nature Trails, scenic Drives. There are also nearby paper mill and mine tours available. Just west of Grand Rapids off U.S. 2. Launch Ramp. (612) 220-0324

Big Sandy Lake. Fishing, Campsites with and without Electricity, Restrooms, Drinking Water, Sanitary Dump Station, Picnic Day / Use, Launch Ramp. Quiet recreational spot in the Savanna State Forest. Points of interest include Indian sites, in old Trading Post and Savanna Portage State Park. (612) 220-0324.

St Croix River. Boating, Waterports, Fishing, Marina, Ramps, Picnic Day / Use. A popular boating river that runs from northern Minnesota fed be tributaries down to the Mississippi at Prescott. Located from Prescott just west of St. Paul.

Click Here for a Link to Afton Marina on the St. Croix River

Lake Waconia. Fishing, Swimming, Boating, Ice Fishing, Marina, Fuel. This Three mile wide lake is popular both summer and winter for bass and muskie fishing. Located in Waconia 27 miles southwest of Minneapolis.

Click Here for a Link to Mase's In Towne Marina on Lake Waconia.

Upper Red and Lower Red Lakes. An Indian Reservation area surrounds most of the two lakes. Red Lake State forest is located on the eastern end of Upper Red Lake. A small recreational area is located in Waskish off Minnesota State Route 72. for more information contact the Minnesota Tourism Bureau.

Lakes of Northern Minnesota / Lakes in Forests

Most feature Fishing. Some feature the following:

Campsites with and without Electricity, Showers, Restrooms, Drinking Water, Sanitary

Dump Station, Picnic Day / Use, Launch Ramp, Visitor Information Center.

The larger lakes include Leech and Winnibigoshish (see below).

Birch Lake. Fishing, Swimming, Cabin Rentals, Ramps. Birch Lake is 20 miles long and has 65 miles of shoreline lined with ledge rock cliffs and birch trees. Fishing is spectacular with northern pike, walleye, crappie and blue gill. The Lake is along the Gun Flint Trail and the boundary waters of the Canoe Area Wilderness. The lake is sparsely populated and is 90 % federal land. Located in Ely in the Bear Island State Forest.

Leech Lake. Fishing, Campsites with and without Electricity, Showers, Restrooms, Drinking Water, Sanitary Dump Station, Picnic Day / Use, Launch Ramp, Marina, Fuel. Located in the Chipewwa National Forest, this is the largest resort lake in northern Minnesota. Points of interest include Stoney Point Recreational Area and the Last Chippewa Battle Point. Located off Minnesota State Route 371 in Walker. (612) 220- 0324.

Winnibigoshish Lake. Fishing, Campsites with and without Electricity, Restrooms, Drinking Water, Sanitary Dump Station, Picnic Day / Use, Launch Ramp. Several recreational sites surround this lake in the Chippewa National Forest including, Winnie, Richards Townsite, Deer Lake and William Narrows. (612) 220-0324. Other surrounding lakes in the area include Ball Club, Cass, Pimush, Rabideau (Webster Lake Recreational Area), Bowstring and Round Lakes. Located in the Middle of Minnesota along U.S. 2.

George Washington State Forest. There are many recreational areas within the forest, most of them along a lake. Many of them feature (low horse power and canoeing), Fishing, Campsites with and without Electricity, Restrooms, Drinking Water, Sanitary Dump Station, Picnic Day / Use, Launch Ramp. Lakes include Deer, Coon, Owen, Bear, Sturgeon, Gun, Round, and Wabanna. Nearby Bowstring State Forest includes North Star State Park near Turtle Lake. Located about 30 minutes north of U.S. 2 on Minnesota State Route 35.

Kebetogama State Forest. There are many recreational areas within the forest, most of them along a lake. Many of them feature (low horse power and canoeing), Fishing, Campsites with and without Electricity, Restrooms, Drinking Water, Sanitary Dump Station, Picnic Day / Use, Launch Ramp. Some Cabin rentals are also available here. Lakes include (mostly small boat with with low horsepower or Canoe) Namakan, Ash, Black Duck, Elephant, Vermillion River, Johnson, Ramshed, Big Moose, Bootleg, Cummings, Trout, Elbow Lake, Vermillion (a larger lake with Wakemup Recreational Area), Pelican River, Myrtle, Agnes, Burntside (Burntside State Forest), Big, Big Moose, Fourtown and Gur Lakes. This area is accessible off U.S. Route 53.

Superior National Forest. In far northeastern Minnesota. There are many recreational areas within the forest, most of them along a lake. Many of them feature (low horse power and canoeing), Fishing, Campsites with and without Electricity, Restrooms, Drinking Water, Sanitary Dump Station, Picnic Day / Use, Launch Ramp. Some Cabin rentals are also available here. The majority of these lakes are in the Boundary Canoe Waters. Lakes include (mostly small boat with with low horsepower or Canoe) Basswood, Ima, Kekekabic, Adams, Insula, Parent, Silver Island, Wilson, Dumbell, Gabbro, Isabella River and Lake, Slate, Birch (Bear Island State Forest) and Kawishiwi River and recreational area. Other lakes near Lake Superior include, Timber, Wilson, Four Mile, Loon, Little Saganaga, Winchell, Poplar Caribou, Pike, Elbow, Greenwood, and Northern Light Lakes. The latter list of lakes are mostly in the Grand Portage State Forest and Grand Payle State Forest. Many parts of this area is accessible off U.S. 61 northeast of Duluth and Minnesota State Route 1.

For Lake Superior See Michigan
For The Mississippi River see the Mississippi River Page.

Information based on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers brochures and boaters information.
If you know of any other great spots in Minnesota for boating (of all types), or have more information, feel free to E-Mail us at Boating America