Updated August 2026
Best Kayaking Lakes in North Dakota
Top 13 kayaking lakes in North Dakota, ranked by Secchi clarity (clearer water makes for better paddling — you can see fish, plants, and the bottom).
- Grade A–B water quality
- No known access restrictions
- 50–2,000 acres
Kayaking-friendly rankings prefer lakes with low motor-boat congestion, interesting shoreline, decent water clarity, and public access. Wheaton Lake (A) tops the North Dakota list.
Kayaking favors lakes with shoreline interest — bays, islands, undeveloped stretches — which tends to correlate with the larger, more remote North Dakota lakes rather than the small, residential ones.
| Rank | Lake | County | State | Grade | Clarity | Area | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wheaton Lake | Rolette | ND | A | 8.5 ft | 164 acres | ~9 ft est. |
| 2 | Jarvis Lake Center | Rolette | ND | A | 7.7 ft | - | ~13 ft est. |
| 3 | Lake Darling | Renville | ND | A | 4.9 ft | - | ~19 ft est. |
| 4 | Gordon Center Lake | Rolette | ND | B | 8.2 ft | 164 acres | ~15 ft est. |
| 5 | Powers Lake | Mountrail | ND | B | 5.6 ft | - | ~19 ft est. |
| 6 | Lake Metigoshe | Bottineau | ND | B | 5.4 ft | 1,620 acres | ~14 ft est. |
| 7 | Powers Lake Dredge Site | Mountrail | ND | B | 3.9 ft | - | ~19 ft est. |
| 8 | Belcourt Inlet Lake | Rolette | ND | B | 3.3 ft | - | ~14 ft est. |
| 9 | Belourt Outlet Lake | Rolette | ND | B | 3 ft | 827 acres | ~14 ft est. |
| 10 | Sweetwater Lake | Ramsey | ND | B | 3 ft | - | ~8 ft est. |
| 11 | Belcourt Center Lake | Rolette | ND | B | 3 ft | - | ~14 ft est. |
| 12 | Wood Lake | Benson | ND | B | - | - | ~11 ft est. |
| 13 | Free Peoples Lake | Benson | ND | B | - | - | ~10 ft est. |
Where to stay near North Dakota kayaking lakes
Find cabins, campgrounds, and rentals near North Dakota's clearest paddling water — live availability and prices for your kayak trip.
Top-rated places to stay near North Dakota paddling lakes
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.