Best Lakes Near Duluth, MN, 50 Lakes Within 50 Miles

50 lakes within 50 miles of Duluth have nutrient and algae readings on record. Third Lake in Carlton County leads the set on measured water quality, with about 8.5 ft of clarity. 36 of the 50 have a recorded public access point.

Duluth sits in a lake-rich part of the upper Midwest: 50 measured lakes within reach. Third Lake carries the lowest nutrient and algae readings of the cluster.

The lakes below are sorted on measured water quality. If you have a specific activity in mind, swimming, kayaking, ice-fishing, family-fishing, the activity-specific sub-pages will filter further.

Lakes Within 50 mi

With Clarity Readings

With Fish Data

Public Access

Lake	Distance	County	Clarity	Depth	Fish
Third Lake	19.7 mi	Carlton	8.5 ft	-	0
Pat Martin Lake	21.1 mi	Carlton	6.6 ft	-	0
East Twin Lake	22.6 mi	St. Louis	2.8 ft	-	0
Big Lake	25.7 mi	Carlton	10 ft	25 ft	9
Dodo Lake	26.4 mi	St. Louis	12.8 ft	53 ft	7
Rose Lake	26.8 mi	St. Louis	—	31 ft	0
Park Lake	28.5 mi	Carlton	7 ft	16 ft	13
Nichols Lake	29.7 mi	St. Louis	5.1 ft	31 ft	12
Stewart Lake	32.2 mi	Lake	10 ft	20 ft	7
Murphy Lake	40 mi	St. Louis	6.4 ft	24 ft	10
Cadotte Lake	41.9 mi	St. Louis	10.2 ft	18 ft	5
Pleasant Lake	45.7 mi	St. Louis	10 ft	33 ft	11
St. Marys Lake	48.6 mi	St. Louis	13.1 ft	44 ft	14
Pine Lake	48.7 mi	St. Louis	7.5 ft	14 ft	8
Ely Lake	49.2 mi	St. Louis	17.1 ft	70 ft	14
Bear Lake	49.5 mi	Lake	17.4 ft	31 ft	4
Amnicon Lake	21.2 mi	Douglas	5 ft	31 ft	5
West Twin Lake	23.2 mi	St. Louis	6.2 ft	18 ft	7
Lake Nebagamon	27 mi	Douglas	7 ft	56 ft	5
Lake Minnesuing	27.5 mi	Douglas	6.2 ft	43 ft	5
Half Moon Lake	36.9 mi	Bayfield	8 ft	10 ft	3
St Croix Flowage Lake	38 mi	Douglas	6.8 ft	-	0
Saint Croix Flowage Lake	38.1 mi	Douglas	10.5 ft	-	0
Long Lake	38.5 mi	Bayfield	16.2 ft	28 ft	4
Elliot Lake	39.7 mi	St. Louis	6.2 ft	13 ft	11
Sand Bar Lake	39.7 mi	Bayfield	19 ft	49 ft	3
Tomahawk Lake	40.1 mi	Bayfield	14 ft	42 ft	4
Eagle Lake	40.3 mi	Carlton	7 ft	35 ft	12
Eagle Lake	40.4 mi	Bayfield	17 ft	52 ft	6
Whitefish Lake	41.1 mi	Douglas	25 ft	102 ft	5
Leader Lake	42.6 mi	Douglas	15.3 ft	56 ft	4
Robinson Lake	42.9 mi	Bayfield	13.5 ft	36 ft	4
Middle Eau Claire Lake	43.5 mi	Bayfield	18.2 ft	66 ft	6
Lower Eau Claire Lake	43.7 mi	Bayfield	14.1 ft	41 ft	6
Upper Eau Claire Lake	44.4 mi	Bayfield	18.7 ft	92 ft	6
Cranberry Lake	44.7 mi	Bayfield	9 ft	12 ft	5
Red Lake	45 mi	Douglas	12 ft	37 ft	4
Upper Kimball Lake	45.4 mi	Washburn	10 ft	11 ft	3
Middle Kimball Lake	46 mi	Washburn	16 ft	77 ft	3
Siskiwit Lake	46.1 mi	Bayfield	—	13 ft	5
Gilmore Lake	46.5 mi	Washburn	10 ft	36 ft	4
Lower Kimball Lake	46.5 mi	Washburn	6 ft	6 ft	3
Pigeon Lake	47.3 mi	Bayfield	13 ft	26 ft	3
Lake Nancy	48.2 mi	Washburn	14 ft	39 ft	6
Horseshoe Lake	49 mi	Washburn	13 ft	21 ft	4
North Twin Lake	50 mi	Washburn	9 ft	-	0
St. Louis Bay Lake	6.3 mi	Douglas	1.3 ft	-	0
Spirit Lake	8 mi	St. Louis	1.3 ft	-	0
Upper Estuary Lake	11 mi	Douglas	2.1 ft	-	0
Upper Estuary Lake	11.1 mi	St. Louis	1.9 ft	55 ft	33

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Cleanest Lakes Near Duluth

Third Lake

19.7 mi · Carlton County · 8.5 ft clarity

Pat Martin Lake

21.1 mi · Carlton County · 6.6 ft clarity

East Twin Lake

22.6 mi · St. Louis County · 2.8 ft clarity

Big Lake

25.7 mi · Carlton County · 10 ft clarity

Dodo Lake

26.4 mi · St. Louis County · 12.8 ft clarity

Rose Lake

26.8 mi · St. Louis County

Plan a lake trip in Minnesota

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many lakes are near Duluth?

There are 50 lakes with water-quality readings on record within 50 miles of Duluth, Minnesota. 36 of them have a recorded public access point and 48 have a clarity reading.

What are the best lakes near Duluth for fishing?

40 lakes near Duluth have documented fish species data. The best fishing lakes combine favourable water-quality readings with diverse fish populations. 26 lakes within 50 miles have 5 or more documented fish species.

Where to stay near Duluth

Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Duluth — book a place close to the cleanest lakes in the area.

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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.