Burntside Lake vs Crane Lake: A Side-by-Side Look at MN’s Top Lakes
Overview – Crane Lake vs. Burntside Lake
Northern Minnesota is one of the best vacation spots in North America when it comes to immersing yourself in nature. This is in large part to the many beautiful, largely untouched lakes scattered across the landscape that make for great adventures no matter your crew. The Land of 10,000 Lakes has plenty of options, but what sets them apart? Here, we’ll examine two of the best lakes in Northern Minnesota – Crane Lake and Burntside Lake – to highlight how these lakes compare. With vacation time a commodity, go to a place that can provide an unforgettable adventure, a stunning lake in Northern Minnesota.
Location and How to Get There
Location is a crucial aspect of any destination; here is how you can get to both of these lake destinations.
Getting to Crane Lake
Crane Lake has the privilege of being at the “end of the road” destination that marks the beginning of Canadian wilderness. As such, the drive is scenic and relatively straightforward as Crane Lake sits at the end of Minnesota State Highway 24. Here, there are tons of untouched forest and plenty of space to find your own adventure away from the hustle and bustle of urban existence.
Getting to Burntside Lake
Burntside Lake sits just a few miles northwest of Ely, Minnesota, offering a more accessible entry into the Boundary Waters region while still feeling rugged and remote. The most direct route brings visitors up I-35 and onto MN 169 into Ely before turning onto local county roads that lead straight to the shoreline. Despite its proximity to town, the surrounding forest and islands give Burntside the feel of a wilderness lake without the long, isolated drive required for more distant destinations.
Accessibility
Naturally, a huge part of any vacation destination is how accessible they are. Comparing our lakes, here is how you can drive to both:
Getting to Crane Lake
Crane Lake sits at the end of Minnesota State Highway 24 making for a longer, but incredibly beautiful drive through forests and swamps. With some fun sights to see around the area, including the famous Voyageurs Statue, the drive goes by quickly.
Getting to Burntside Lake
Just off Voyageur Highway in Burntside, Burntside Lake is a little less off the grid comparatively. Burntside sits just west of Ely.
Water Features
With a lake vacation, the possibilities of a lake often depend on the dimensions of said lake. Here is how these two lakes compare size-wise:
Dimensions of Crane Lake
Crane Lake boasts a large surface area of around 3,000 acres that has huge varieties of shoreline and structure that make for especially good fishing. At its deepest, Crane Lake can reach up to 80 feet giving plenty of room for swimming and water activities. Being large and remote, there is plenty of room to find your own space to enjoy the water and forests around.
Dimensions of Burntside Lake
Burntside Lake is another large lake that provides good variety with plenty of shoreline due to its long shape. A variety of undeveloped islands are scattered throughout as well making for a broken water look.
Recreation Opportunities
Northern Minnesota has no shortage of recreation opportunities to take advantage of while here. Each lake can offer its own flavor:
Recreation Around Crane Lake
Recreation around Crane Lake is second to none with fantastic activities that span throughout the year. In warmer months, hiking, birdwatching, fishing, and swimming all become popular activities amongst the incredible landscape. As temperatures drop in the winter, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, ice fishing, hunting, and even more snow/ice hobbies emerge to fill those shorter days.
Recreation Around Burntside Lake
Burntside Lake can provide its own recreation around the lake in similar ways. The fishing is known to be great while exploring the water and variety of islands can be an engaging way to spend a nice day. As the lake freezes, ice activities are also popular around this area.
Accommodations
Having the right accommodations for your ideal trip can make or break a place. Here is what each lake can offer lodging-wise:
Lodging Around Crane Lake
Crane Lake has a great variety of lodging options to appeal to whatever style you want. From rugged campsites to cozy cabins up to larger lodges, there is a style of stay for everyone involved. At the same time, many of these lodging situations have enough room to give privacy for you to find your own vacation.
Lodging Around Burntside Lake
Being comparatively more developed, Burntside Lake has a number of lodging options that can house you. From cabins to RV parks, there are multiple places to stay around the Burntside and Ely area.
Services Infrastructure
Having services around the lake can go a long way towards providing comfort on a trip. From pubs to gas and groceries, here is how each lake can provide for you with local businesses:
Services Around Crane Lake
Crane Lake has a number of local services that can ensure you’re well prepared for your stay. With local general stores, gas stations, restaurants, and more, there are plenty of options to keep you prepared all with a local flair. Scale your needs to your stay as these services are always available to stock you up.
Services Around Burntside Lake
Again, being more developed, there is no shortage of services in the Burntside/Ely area. Being not far off the grid, there are plenty of options to give variety to the food you eat and places you go.
Fishing & Wildlife
The fishing and wildlife of Northern Minnesota is truly amazing. Here is what each of these lakes can offer in that regard:
Fishing on Crane Lake
Crane Lake has some incredible fishing. With a ton of structure and shoreline for fish to inhabit, but also not a ton of fishing pressure on the lake, the creatures that dwell there can get big. Most famously, Crane Lake is known to provide large pike, bass, trophy walleye, and no shortage of delicious panfish. With tons of birds and mammals occupying the forests around the lake, there is rarely a dull day around Crane Lake nature-wise.
Fishing on Burntside Lake
Burntside Lake, while more pressured, still has some good fishing opportunities. On Burntside, the fish species tend to include lake trout, bass, pike, walleye, and panfish.
Hiking Trails
As with many lakes in Northern Minnesota, the hiking trails in the area can be absolutely incredible.
Trials Near Crane Lake
Crane Lake has no shortage of trails. With hundreds of miles of paths snaking through the incredible forests, there are plenty of places to explore and things to see. Well-established maps give you plenty of insight on where to go for great views, interesting terrains, and fun times.
Trails Near Burntside Lake
Burntside Lake, while less so than Crane Lake, can offer some hiking trails to enjoy a nice day. The crazy shoreline and islands within the lake all make for fun places to walk around and explore.
Seasonal Conditions
With all of Northern Minnesota, the seasons are pronounced from summer to winter. Here is what you can expect from the seasons:
Seasons at Crane Lake
Summers around Crane Lake are absolutely incredible. The forests get incredibly green while the temperatures are comfortable. As the months turn to fall, the foliage begins to fall and temperatures drop. Eventually, the lake freezes and snowfalls ushering in a cold winter, but one that can be filled with tons of outdoor activities. As spring comes and the thaw begins, life emerges everywhere to once again produce a lush, green summer.
Seasons at Burntside Lake
Similarly, Burntside Lake experiences large seasonal differences that can be embraced through a variety of outdoor activities. So long as you prepare for the day, no season can slow you down.
Fun for all.
This northeast Minnesota territory is part of Voyageurs National Park and offers many outdoor activities, such as kayaking, biking, hiking, and backpacking. Visitors from all over Minnesota, Wisconsin, and beyond travel to Crane Lake to enjoy the vast wilderness and explore the beauty of its many lakes and waterways. There are many local accommodations from cabin rentals to fishing tours with family fun activities for all ages. Contact us today to learn more about Crane Lake and plan your visit!
Conclusion
It’s hard to go wrong when visiting a Northern Minnesota lake for a great vacation. That said, with such a huge list of lakes available, some need to stand above the rest. Crane Lake does just that with the perfect mix of space for your vacation combined with services to keep it comfortable. With tons to see and do year-round, there is never a bad time to come visit Crane Lake! Make your plans today to experience one of America’s best kept secrets in the pristine and relatively untouched beauty of Crane Lake.
