Best Lakes for Kayaking Near Duluth
Minnesota
30 kayaking lakes within driving distance of Duluth, Minnesota, ranked by water quality and kayaking-specific filters. Filtered for grade A, B, or C water quality, public access, and ideal paddling size (30-3,000 acres).
Duluth sits in a lake-rich part of the upper Midwest: 30 graded lakes within reach, average grade B. Pike Lake (A) leads the cluster.
The kayaking-specific ranking layered on top of the LakeGrade rubric is what produces the list below: a grade-good lake that does not also support the kayaking use case is less useful than a grade-decent lake that does.
| # | Lake | County | Grade | Distance | Clarity | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pike Lake | St. Louis | A | 11 mi | 18 ft | 60 ft |
| 2 | Smith Lake | St. Louis | A | 26.8 mi | 15 ft | 51 ft |
| 3 | Long Lake | Bayfield | A | 38.5 mi | 16.2 ft | 28 ft |
| 4 | Island Lake | Bayfield | A | 38.5 mi | 17 ft | 51 ft |
| 5 | Buskey Bay Lake | Bayfield | A | 38.8 mi | 21.9 ft | 51 ft |
| 6 | Hart Lake | Bayfield | A | 39.5 mi | 21.5 ft | 54 ft |
| 7 | Sand Bar Lake | Bayfield | A | 39.7 mi | 19 ft | 49 ft |
| 8 | Twin Bear Lake | Bayfield | A | 39.9 mi | 19.5 ft | 59 ft |
| 9 | Bladder Lake | Bayfield | A | 40 mi | 18 ft | 35 ft |
| 10 | Big Lake | Carlton | A | 25.7 mi | 10 ft | 25 ft |
| 11 | White Lake | St. Louis | A | 31.2 mi | 11.5 ft | 29 ft |
| 12 | Stewart Lake | Lake | A | 32.2 mi | 10 ft | 20 ft |
| 13 | George Lake | St. Louis | A | 36.9 mi | 14.3 ft | 18 ft |
| 14 | Caribou Lake | St. Louis | B | 12.5 mi | 10.5 ft | 21 ft |
| 15 | Chub Lake | Carlton | B | 20.5 mi | 13.7 ft | 28 ft |
| 16 | Lake Nebagamon | Douglas | B | 27 mi | 7 ft | 56 ft |
| 17 | Park Lake | Carlton | B | 28.5 mi | 7 ft | 16 ft |
| 18 | Little Hanging Horn Lake | Carlton | B | 34.4 mi | 11.5 ft | 31 ft |
| 19 | Half Moon Lake | Bayfield | B | 36.9 mi | 8 ft | 10 ft |
| 20 | Moose Lake | Carlton | B | 37.9 mi | 10.5 ft | 67 ft |
| 21 | Saint Croix Flowage Lake | Douglas | B | 38.1 mi | 10.5 ft | - |
| 22 | George Lake | Bayfield | B | 38.9 mi | 14 ft | 50 ft |
| 23 | Echo Lake | Carlton | B | 39 mi | 11 ft | 47 ft |
| 24 | Eleven Lake | Pine | B | 39.5 mi | 11 ft | 49 ft |
| 25 | West Twin Lake | St. Louis | B | 23.2 mi | 6.2 ft | 18 ft |
| 26 | Lake Minnesuing | Douglas | B | 27.5 mi | 6.2 ft | 43 ft |
| 27 | Murphy Lake | St. Louis | B | 40 mi | 6.4 ft | 24 ft |
| 28 | Flowage Lake | St. Louis | C | 14.5 mi | 8.5 ft | 15 ft |
| 29 | Spring Lake | St. Louis | C | 20.1 mi | 9.5 ft | 25 ft |
| 30 | Amnicon Lake | Douglas | C | 21.2 mi | 5 ft | 31 ft |
Other activities near Duluth
Where to stay near Duluth
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Duluth — book a place close to the best-rated lakes in the area.
Top-rated places to stay near Duluth
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 Duluth?
Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Duluth — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.