Top 10 Lakes in MN to Summer Vacation On
Introduction
With thoughts of summer come thoughts of sunshine, being on the water, and good times. And what better place to have all these ideal vacation features combined into one than Minnesota lakes. Finding a lake in Minnesota isn’t hard; the state has earned the nickname “The Land of 10,000 Lakes” due to the massive amount of inland water. With so many options, it can be daunting to figure out where you should set up shop for your summer vacation. Read on in this guide as we explore 10 lakes in Minnesota that could host your next vacation along with the premier activities in each lake and the larger cities nearby.
#1 – Crane Lake
Located in the northern section of Minnesota near the border with Canada lies Crane Lake. This large body of water serves as a great remote getaway for a vacation as much of its coast is untouched wilderness. This 3,000+ acre lake has no shortage of space to enjoy yourself.
Things to do Near Crane Lake
With so much space in a more remote setting, there is little you can’t do on Crane Lake. Swimming, boating, and wilderness tours are a great time. The fishing is top tier, largely unrivaled in the area with plentiful walleye, pike, musky, and bass. With Voyageurs National Park nearby, there is no shortage of natural beauty to see.
How to Get to Crane Lake
Crane Lake is in the north part of Minnesota, close to the border with Canada. The lake sits 27 miles northeast of Orr and 45 miles northeast of Cook along St. Louis County Roads 23 and 24.
#2 – Lake Superior
In terms of surface area, Lake Superior is not only the largest freshwater lake in Minnesota, but also the entire world. With such a large area, there is no shortage of space for your next vacation to occur on the waters of Lake Superior while still having access to major cities for nightlife or socializing.
Things to do Near Lake Superior
There is no shortage of activities on Lake Superior. While the water is generally on the colder side, it’s usually extremely clear and makes for great swimming and boating. With eight state parks lining the coast, there are tons of unique, breath-taking hiking spots to be explored on foot. The fishing is legendary with lake trout, whitefish, walleye, surgeon, bass, and more.
How to Get to Lake Superior
Getting to Lake Superior provides many options as there are numerous larger cities that sit along its banks. From the Minnesota coast, a city like Duluth, the fifth-largest city in the state, is a great place to get you directly on the lake. For a smaller city approach to your stay, you can continue up state route 61 along the coast and past towns like Two Harbors, Beaver Bay, or Tofte.
#3 – Bear Island Lake
Adjacent to Superior National Forest in northern Minnesota lies another gem of a lake waiting to be discovered. Bear Island Lake is a part of the larger Bear Island State Forest that features a number of connected waterways and beautiful pine forests to explore during the summer months. Being a little more remote, you’ll likely not see too many other vacationers on the lake with you.
Things to do Near Bear Island Lake
Bear Island Lake is home to a variety of great summer activities. First, there are a few camp sites local to the lake that make for great remote camping sites. For day activities, Bear Island Lake is known for its healthy walleye population and great fishing. There is also a large amount of general boating and kayaking that can happen here.
How to Get to Bear Island Lake
Bear Island Lake is located just north of the city of Babbitt along Route 21. Sandwiching the state forest to the north is Ely along Route 1. If you continue south/southwest from Babbitt, you’ll discover other towns like Hoyt Lakes, Aurora, and Gilbert.
#4 – Mille Lacs Lake
Another huge lake within in-land Minnesota, Mille Lacs Lake provides another great destination for a Minnesota summer vacation. Within a 2 hour drive of the Twin City metro area, Mille Lacs Lake is extremely accessible and host to an endless amount of activities. Mille Lac Lake is known for being large, but also shallow.
Things to do Near Mille Lacs Lake
Mille Lacs Lake is home to trophy-level fishing and high quality boating. Trophy fish here include walleye, northern pike, and smallmouth bass. The shore is littered with hiking trails giving plenty of opportunity to enjoy the outdoors while off the water. Mille Lacs Lake is popular year-round, but especially in the summer for swimming and boating.
How to Get to Mille Lacs Lake
Mille Lacs Lake is under a 2 hour drive north from Minneapolis making it easy to navigate up towards the water. Coming from above, Duluth is also close, being just 80 miles away. The closest airport will be the one in Duluth.
#5 – Burntside Lake
Burntside Lake sits in Burntside State Forest, which is largely a part of the much larger and extremely beautiful Superior National Forest. This 7,000 + acre lake isn’t the largest in the area, but provides a tremendous amount of space for summer activities.
Things to do Near Burntside Lake
Burntside Lake is likely most known for its large and healthy populations of walleye and lake trout. Fishing and boating are common hobbies on the water. Beyond the exquisite fishing, the Burntside Lake State Forest is equipped with numerous hiking trails. What’s more, Burntside Lake is said to have the largest population of Loon, the state bird of Minnesota, which makes for great bird watching experiences.
How to Get to Burntside Lake
Located just northwest of the city of Ely, Burntside Lake is relatively easy to get to. Further east along Route 18 lies Winton and driving west along Route 1 will quickly bring you to Eagle’s Nest. You can also start in Babbitt and drive north along Route 21.
#6 – Lake Vermilion
Largely untouched, Lake Vermilion provides a more raw lake experience. With over 360 islands scattered throughout the lake, many with just trees standing, Lake Vermilion is a special place. In the Northern end of the state, Lake Vermilion is definitely worth the visit.
Things to do Near Lake Vermilion
There is no shortage of lake activities on Lake Vermilion, but perhaps the most special is the ability to boat-in camp on the lake. With islands accessible to camp on, there exists totally unique, amazing camping experiences to happen on this lake. With so much untouched wilderness, you can find great privacy for your stay.
How to Get to Lake Vermilion
Lake Vermilion is a bit more remote than some of the other lakes on the list, but the extra effort to get there is usually returned in the experience. Cities close by include Cook straight west, Orr in the northwest direction, and Virginia south down Route 169.
#7 – Snowbank Lake
For a lake along the bounds of untouched wilderness, Snowbank Lake at the northern end of Minnesota provides a truly unique getaway. The lake is largely divided between Superior National Forest and the Boundaries Water Canoe Area Wilderness, which means the majority of the coast is untouched forest.
Things to do Near Snowbank Lake
While at Snowbank Lake during the summer, many people gravitate towards the legendary fishing with abundant populations of walleye, bass, and pike. Being partially involved in the Boundaries Water Canoe Area Wilderness means that only small horsepower motors are allowed on the water, which helps further create a mystique of wilderness and adventure.
How to Get to Snowbank Lake
Snowbank Lake sits just 20 miles east of Ely along Route 18. Each path to the lake travels through Ely and along Route 18, though getting to Ely may vary.
#8 – Red Lake
Red Lake in the Big Bog State Recreation Area is a great summer destination in Minnesota. Located at the northern end of the state, Big Bog and Red Lake have no shortage of activities for the whole family!
Things to do Near Red Lake
Red Lake and the Big Bog State Recreation Area is home to some great camping experiences. With firewood for sale at the office, you can find everything you’ll need. On the lake, Red Lake is known for great fishing, boating and swimming. With plenty of trails in the area, hiking and bird watching near Red Lake is a great experience as well.
How to Get to Red Lake
Red Lake sits along Route 1 for easy access. Located right on the lake is the town of Red Lake. Straight south lies Bemidji and you can drive straight west from Red Lake and reach Thief River Falls.
#9 – Lake of the Woods
Lake of the Woods sits at the top of the state and is divided by the Canadian border. This lake is one of the largest lakes in the country, trailing only the five Great Lakes. With a ton of surface area, coastline, and islands, many largely untouched, Lake of the Woods is a great way to disconnect from the modern world to reconnect with nature.
Things to do Near Lake of the Woods
The boating on the Lake of the Woods is pristine. The fishing is so legendary that some people call this lake the Walleye capital of the world. With large swaths of untouched forest along the lake, there is no shortage of fantastic habitat for birds including bald eagles, white pelicans, and piping plovers. The nature watching and interaction here is hard to beat.
How to Get to Lake of the Woods
At the top of the state, ways to get to the Lake of the Woods can be somewhat limited. From the Minnesota side, the major towns nearby include Baudette to the south, Warroad on the southwest corner of the lake in Muskeg Bag, and Wheelers Point on the southeast corner of the lake in Fourmile Bay.
#10 – Rainy Lake
At the upper bounds of Minnesota, bleeding into Canada, lies the giant Rainy Lake. This lake is massive with much of the coast lying untouched. Come summer time, Rainy Lake is a must-see destination with the variety of hobbies that prevail on the lake every year.
Things to do Near Rainy Lake
What isn’t there to do near Rainy Lake! The lake hosts some fantastic boating, canoeing, swimming, and sailing experiences. The fishing here is top notch, with some potential to even catch the mighty sturgeon. When the sunsets, Rainy Lake is known for its beautiful stargazing and even potential to see the Northern Lights.
How to Get to Rainy Lake
Rainy Lake is a bit out of the way given how far north the lake resides. That being said, the town of International Falls and the nearby Ranier sit on or near the lake. To get to International Falls, one could take Route 53 north or hop on Route 71 and go north/east.
Conclusion
No matter your vacation proclivities, the lakes of Minnesota truly have it all. From vacation resort lake towns close to major airports or wilderness escapes in the raw, untouched forests at the northern bounds of America, Minnesota lakes have everything you could ask for from a water-filled summer vacation. Whether you like to swim, boat, fish, water ski, or hike the cliffs alongside a lake, Minnesota is the place to be to experience the beauty of the natural world.
