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 |
| Suseq32a Lake | 5.1 mi | St. Louis | A | - | 0 |
| Seq032a Lake | 5.1 mi | St. Louis | A | - | 0 |
| Wp22-T2b Lake | 7.8 mi | Douglas | A | - | 0 |
| Lk Superior 3.3 Mi E of Superior Lake | 9.4 mi | Douglas | 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 |
| Lk Superior .09 Mi N of Poplar Creek Mouth Lake | 15.7 mi | Douglas | A | - | 0 |
| Su22b Lake | 16.6 mi | Douglas | A | - | 0 |
| Smith Lake | 26.8 mi | St. Louis | A | 51 ft | 12 |
| Rose Lake | 26.8 mi | St. Louis | A | 31 ft | 0 |
| Bear Lake | 27 mi | Douglas | A | 10 ft | 5 |
| Lake Nebagamon | 27 mi | Douglas | A | 56 ft | 5 |
| Lake Minnesuing | 27.5 mi | Douglas | A | 43 ft | 5 |
| Joe Martin Lake | 28.3 mi | St. Louis | A | 77 ft | 8 |
| Aerie Lake | 29.4 mi | St. Louis | A | - | 0 |
| Loon Lake | 29.6 mi | St. Louis | A | - | 0 |
| Ls94 Lake | 30.6 mi | Lake | A | - | 0 |
| Park Creek Pond | 33 mi | Douglas | A | 7 ft | 2 |
| Cheney Lake | 33.8 mi | Douglas | A | 21 ft | 2 |
| Half Moon Lake | 36.9 mi | Bayfield | A | - | 3 |
| Breakfast Lake | 38.4 mi | Bayfield | A | - | 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 |
| George Lake | 38.9 mi | Bayfield | A | 50 ft | 2 |
| Millicent Lake | 39.1 mi | Bayfield | A | - | 0 |
| Turtle Lake | 39.3 mi | Bayfield | A | - | 2 |
| 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 |
| Tomahawk Lake | 40.1 mi | Bayfield | A | 42 ft | 4 |
| Eagle Lake | 40.4 mi | Bayfield | A | 52 ft | 6 |
| Whitefish Lake | 40.5 mi | Douglas | A | 102 ft | 5 |
| Inch Lake | 40.9 mi | Bayfield | A | 40 ft | 2 |
| Flynn Lake | 41.1 mi | Bayfield | A | - | 6 |
| Whitefish Lake | 41.7 mi | Douglas | A | 102 ft | 5 |
| Bardon Lake | 41.8 mi | Douglas | A | 102 ft | 5 |
| Sturgeon Lake | 42 mi | Pine | A | 40 ft | 15 |
| Sturgeon Lake | 42 mi | Pine | A | - | 15 |
| Kelly Lake | 42.4 mi | Bayfield | A | - | 3 |
| Leader Lake | 42.6 mi | Douglas | A | 56 ft | 4 |
| Robinson Lake | 42.9 mi | Bayfield | A | 36 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 | 43.7 mi | Bayfield | A | 41 ft | 6 |
| Lake Delta | 43.8 mi | Bayfield | A | 30 ft | 3 |
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?
37 lakes near Duluth have documented fish species data. The best fishing lakes combine good water quality grades with diverse fish populations. 21 lakes within 50 miles have 5 or more documented fish species.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.