Best Lakes Near Duluth, MN
50 lakes within 50 miles of Duluth ranked by water quality grade.
Duluth sits in a lake-rich part of the upper Midwest: 50 graded lakes within reach, average grade A. Superior Lake (A) leads the cluster.
The lakes below are sorted by composite LakeGrade rubric score. If you have a specific activity in mind — swimming, kayaking, ice-fishing, family-fishing — the activity-specific sub-pages will filter further.
| Lake | Distance | County | Grade | Depth | Fish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Superior Lake | 3.3 mi | St. Louis | A | - | 0 |
| Pike Lake | 11 mi | St. Louis | A | 60 ft | 9 |
| Sunshine Lake | 13.3 mi | St. Louis | A | 37 ft | 0 |
| Schultz Lake | 14.4 mi | St. Louis | A | 48 ft | 11 |
| Smith Lake | 26.8 mi | St. Louis | A | 51 ft | 12 |
| Rose Lake | 26.8 mi | St. Louis | A | 31 ft | 0 |
| Park Creek Pond | 33 mi | Douglas | A | 7 ft | 2 |
| Cheney Lake | 33.8 mi | Douglas | A | 21 ft | 2 |
| Long Lake | 38.5 mi | Bayfield | A | 28 ft | 4 |
| Island Lake | 38.5 mi | Bayfield | A | 51 ft | 4 |
| Buskey Bay Lake | 38.8 mi | Bayfield | A | 51 ft | 6 |
| Millicent Lake | 39.1 mi | Bayfield | A | - | 0 |
| Hart Lake | 39.5 mi | Bayfield | A | 54 ft | 6 |
| Sand Bar Lake | 39.7 mi | Bayfield | A | 49 ft | 3 |
| Twin Bear Lake | 39.9 mi | Bayfield | A | 59 ft | 6 |
| Bladder Lake | 40 mi | Bayfield | A | 35 ft | 3 |
| Eagle Lake | 40.4 mi | Bayfield | A | 52 ft | 6 |
| Whitefish Lake | 40.5 mi | Douglas | A | 102 ft | 5 |
| Whitefish Lake | 41.7 mi | Douglas | A | 102 ft | 5 |
| Sturgeon Lake | 41.8 mi | Pine | A | 40 ft | 15 |
| Bardon Lake | 41.8 mi | Douglas | A | 102 ft | 5 |
| Sturgeon Lake | 42 mi | Pine | A | 40 ft | 15 |
| Leader Lake | 42.6 mi | Douglas | A | 56 ft | 4 |
| Bond Lake | 42.9 mi | Douglas | A | 67 ft | 5 |
| Bony Lake | 43.2 mi | Bayfield | A | 55 ft | 6 |
| Middle Eau Claire Lake | 43.5 mi | Bayfield | A | 66 ft | 6 |
| Lower Eau Claire Lake | 44.1 mi | Bayfield | A | 41 ft | 6 |
| Upper Eau Claire Lake | 44.4 mi | Bayfield | A | 92 ft | 6 |
| Middle Kimball Lake | 46 mi | Washburn | A | 77 ft | 3 |
| Lost Lake | 46.5 mi | St. Louis | A | 44 ft | 8 |
| St. Mary'S Lake | 48.7 mi | St. Louis | A | 44 ft | 14 |
| Ely Lake | 49.2 mi | St. Louis | A | 70 ft | 14 |
| Bear Lake | 49.5 mi | Lake | A | 31 ft | 4 |
| Big Bass Lake | 49.9 mi | Washburn | A | 27 ft | 4 |
| Big Bass Lake | 49.9 mi | Washburn | A | 27 ft | 4 |
| Big Lake | 25.7 mi | Carlton | A | 25 ft | 9 |
| Joe Martin Lake | 28.3 mi | St. Louis | A | 77 ft | 8 |
| Dodo Lake | 26.4 mi | St. Louis | A | 53 ft | 7 |
| White Lake | 31.2 mi | St. Louis | A | 29 ft | 8 |
| Anne Lake | 32 mi | St. Louis | A | 27 ft | 5 |
| Stewart Lake | 32.2 mi | Lake | A | 20 ft | 7 |
| George Lake | 36.9 mi | St. Louis | A | 18 ft | 1 |
| Tomahawk Lake | 40.1 mi | Bayfield | A | 42 ft | 4 |
| Cadotte Lake | 41.9 mi | St. Louis | A | 18 ft | 5 |
| Johnson Lake | 42.1 mi | Pine | A | - | 0 |
| Lester Lake | 42.6 mi | Bayfield | A | 50 ft | 2 |
| Robinson Lake | 42.9 mi | Bayfield | A | 36 ft | 4 |
| Lower Eau Claire Lake | 43.7 mi | Bayfield | A | 41 ft | 6 |
| Red Lake | 45 mi | Douglas | A | 37 ft | 4 |
| Pleasant Lake | 45.7 mi | St. Louis | A | 33 ft | 11 |
Top-Rated Lakes Near Duluth
Lakes Near Other Cities
Frequently Asked Questions
How many lakes are near Duluth?
There are 50 graded lakes within 50 miles of Duluth, Minnesota. 50 of these have an A water quality grade (excellent).
What are the best lakes near Duluth for fishing?
45 lakes near Duluth have documented fish species data. The best fishing lakes combine good water quality grades with diverse fish populations. 29 lakes within 50 miles have 5 or more documented fish species.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.