Live Camera Click Here
for a recent shot of Lake Superior from Duluth
Be sure to Visit The Boat Show at the Minneapolis Convention Center
Jan 20th - 24th, 1999.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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