Best Lakes for Boating Near Bemidji
Minnesota
30 boating lakes within driving distance of Bemidji, Minnesota, ranked by water quality and boating-specific filters. Filtered for at least 100 acres and public access. The largest lakes with boat-worthy water are listed first.
Bemidji sits in a lake-rich part of the upper Midwest: 30 graded lakes within reach, average grade A. Swenson Lake (A) leads the cluster.
Filtered for boating, the nearby-lake list narrows further. boating-specific signals — fish species, public access, depth profile, motor-boat congestion — interact with the LakeGrade rubric in different ways depending on the use case.
| # | Lake | County | Grade | Distance | Clarity | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Swenson Lake | Beltrami | A | 9.1 mi | 20.7 ft | 76 ft |
| 2 | Midge Lake | Hubbard | A | 9.9 mi | 18 ft | 24 ft |
| 3 | Andrusia Lake | Beltrami | A | 10.6 mi | 15.1 ft | 60 ft |
| 4 | Cass Lake Allens Bay | Beltrami | A | 12.4 mi | 16.6 ft | 120 ft |
| 5 | South Twin Lake | Beltrami | A | 15.7 mi | 16.7 ft | 45 ft |
| 6 | North Twin Lake | Beltrami | A | 15.8 mi | 17.4 ft | 59 ft |
| 7 | Buzzle Lake | Beltrami | A | 15.8 mi | 17.1 ft | 83 ft |
| 8 | Cass Lake | Beltrami | A | 16.5 mi | 18.5 ft | 120 ft |
| 9 | Mary Lake | Hubbard | A | 18.7 mi | 18.8 ft | 48 ft |
| 10 | Moose Lake | Beltrami | A | 19.6 mi | 15.1 ft | 71 ft |
| 11 | Long Lake | Clearwater | A | 23.8 mi | 20.5 ft | 80 ft |
| 12 | Ozawindib Lake | Clearwater | A | 24.8 mi | 19 ft | 80 ft |
| 13 | Kabekona Bay Lake | Cass | A | 25.7 mi | 17.2 ft | 150 ft |
| 14 | Skunk Lake | Hubbard | A | 27.4 mi | 16.5 ft | 55 ft |
| 15 | Little Mantrap Lake | Hubbard | A | 27.9 mi | 17 ft | 54 ft |
| 16 | Waboose Lake | Hubbard | A | 28.9 mi | 16.8 ft | 32 ft |
| 17 | Upper Bottle Lake | Hubbard | A | 30 mi | 16 ft | 55 ft |
| 18 | Dead Lake | Hubbard | A | 30.8 mi | 16 ft | 34 ft |
| 19 | Ojibway Lake | Hubbard | A | 31 mi | 15.5 ft | 22 ft |
| 20 | Big Bass Lake | Hubbard | A | 31.5 mi | 19.4 ft | 60 ft |
| 21 | Long Lost Lake | Clearwater | A | 31.8 mi | 22 ft | 63 ft |
| 22 | Blue Lake | Hubbard | A | 32.1 mi | 17.3 ft | 84 ft |
| 23 | Spider (Ne Lake | Hubbard | A | 32.4 mi | 17.1 ft | 96 ft |
| 24 | Big Sand Lake | Hubbard | A | 33 mi | 23 ft | 135 ft |
| 25 | Boot Lake | Becker | A | 33.2 mi | 19.5 ft | 109 ft |
| 26 | Little Sand Lake | Hubbard | A | 33.6 mi | 20 ft | 80 ft |
| 27 | Bad Medicine Lake | Becker | A | 33.7 mi | 25 ft | 84 ft |
| 28 | Jack Lake | Cass | A | 34.9 mi | 15.7 ft | 110 ft |
| 29 | Pickerel Lake | Clearwater | A | 35 mi | 16.1 ft | 60 ft |
| 30 | Portage Lake | Cass | A | 35.6 mi | 21 ft | 84 ft |
Other activities near Bemidji
Where to stay near Bemidji
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Bemidji — book a place close to the best-rated lakes in the area.
Top-rated places to stay near Bemidji
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a trip to Bemidji?
Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Bemidji — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.