Activities

Summer | Winter | Photo Gallery

in Crane Lake offers you and your family endless opportunities for fun and adventure.

Begin by exploring Crane Lake and its one-quarter-million acres of waterways in one of the largest chains of inland lakes in North America.

If you like to fish, our lakes are filled with walleye, northern, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, black crappie, lake trout, lake sturgeon and panfish. Whether fishing in Minnesota or Canada, be sure to read up on the latest fishing regulations.

Venture the 26 miles to Orr, Minnesota to visit the Vince Shute Bear Sanctuary, where black bears are welcomed and abound. 

While in the area, stop and explore the environmental Bog Walk, a groomed trail that weaves through a wetland area - great wildlife.

Nestled along the Vermillion River is a nine-hole golf course. This challenging and enjoyable course is a par 36, (2,940 yards) featuring four man-made ponds, a natural stream, three bunkers and a cart trail.

Turn back time as you take a historic excursion to Kettle Falls, Quetico Provincial Park or deep into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Retrace the routes of the Voyageurs.

You will enjoy our miles of hiking trails. Vermillion Falls, is just a ten minute drive from Crane Lake offering a 10 minute hike on a well-maintained trail. The Vermillion Gorge trailhead is located in the community of Crane Lake and features a 3 mile round-trip trail.  Herriman Lake trailhead is just minutes to Crane Lake, with 13 miles of hiking trail in the BWCA Wilderness.

Berry picking is a favorite summer activity.  There's nothing like picking fresh blue berries for muffins in the morning when you're up north at the cabin.

Home to many nesting sites, birding enthusiasts will enjoy the many species of birds found in the Crane Lake Area.  Common Loons, owls, blue herons, and seagulls are some of the birds commonly sighted.

Some of the best stargazing is in Crane Lake, since there aren't any street lamps or city lights to interfere with the clear crisp night time sky.

in Crane Lake is perfect snowmobiling. Snowmobilers can enjoy miles of trails throughout Voyageur's National Park.

Enjoy the tranquility of winter cross-country skiing in the Crane Lake area and Voyageurs National Park.  Journey into the past.  For hundreds of years, people traveled on showshoes made of ash and webbed with animal gut.  Explore the winter landscape on one of the park's three tracked snowshoe trails.  For cross-country skiers and snowshoeing enthusiasts, it's best to bring your own gear.  Trails are groomed, but not lighted.

Ice fishing is a great winter past time in Crane Lake, but you must bring your own fish house as there are no rentals available.  Remember that fish houses cannot remain on the lakes in Voyageur's National Park overnight.  Ghostly winter quiet, ruggedly piney shorelines, and outstanding angling make Voyageurs National Park an ice fisher's dream.