Best Lakes Near Ely, MN
50 lakes within 50 miles of Ely ranked by water quality grade.
Within reasonable driving distance of Ely sit 50 graded lakes — a lake-dense area that gives residents real choice on any given weekend. The average grade across the nearby set is A.
The lakes below are sorted by overall letter grade. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White Iron Lake | 4.1 mi | Lake | A | 47 ft | 10 |
| Garden Lake | 6 mi | Lake | A | 55 ft | 12 |
| Burntside Lake | 6 mi | St. Louis | A | 126 ft | 15 |
| Farm Lake | 6.5 mi | Lake | A | 56 ft | 12 |
| Fenske Lake | 6.5 mi | St. Louis | A | 43 ft | 8 |
| Fall Lake | 6.7 mi | Lake | A | 32 ft | 12 |
| Bear Island Lake | 10.2 mi | St. Louis | A | 62 ft | 13 |
| Ed Shave Lake | 12.4 mi | St. Louis | A | 17 ft | 6 |
| Bear Head Lake | 12.9 mi | St. Louis | A | 46 ft | 9 |
| Big Lake | 13.7 mi | St. Louis | A | 22 ft | 8 |
| August Lake | 15.5 mi | Lake | A | 19 ft | 7 |
| Dunnigan Lake | 17.5 mi | Lake | A | 14 ft | 5 |
| Slate Lake | 18.2 mi | Lake | A | 7 ft | 8 |
| Wampus Lake | 21.2 mi | Lake | A | 6 ft | 1 |
| Middle Mcdougal Lake | 24.1 mi | Lake | A | 7 ft | 8 |
| Sarah Lake | 24.4 mi | Rainy River District | A | - | 0 |
| Argo Lake | 24.7 mi | Rainy River District | A | - | 0 |
| Mitawan Lake | 25.4 mi | Lake | A | 24 ft | 9 |
| Isabella Lake | 27.5 mi | Lake | A | 19 ft | 11 |
| Sheridan Lake | 28.8 mi | Rainy River District | A | - | 0 |
| Colby Lake | 29 mi | St. Louis | A | 30 ft | 15 |
| Louisa Lake | 30 mi | Rainy River District | A | - | 0 |
| Sabin Lake | 30.2 mi | St. Louis | A | 52 ft | 10 |
| Burt Lake | 30.4 mi | Rainy River District | A | - | 0 |
| Whitewater Lake | 30.5 mi | St. Louis | A | 73 ft | 15 |
| Pine Lake | 30.8 mi | St. Louis | A | 14 ft | 8 |
| Wynne Lake | 30.9 mi | St. Louis | A | 52 ft | 10 |
| Dumbbell Lake | 34.2 mi | Lake | A | 40 ft | 6 |
| Cedar Island Lake | 35.5 mi | St. Louis | A | - | 0 |
| Silver Island Lake | 35.7 mi | Lake | A | 16 ft | 11 |
| Cadotte Lake | 36.2 mi | St. Louis | A | 18 ft | 5 |
| Windy Lake | 38.7 mi | Lake | A | 39 ft | 7 |
| Wilson Lake | 40 mi | Lake | A | 53 ft | 4 |
| Silver Lake | 40.9 mi | St. Louis | A | 29 ft | 10 |
| Crooked Lake | 42 mi | Lake | A | 4 ft | 0 |
| Ninemile Lake | 42.9 mi | Lake | A | 40 ft | 6 |
| Ely Lake | 43 mi | St. Louis | A | 70 ft | 14 |
| Jean Lake | 43.7 mi | Rainy River District | A | - | 0 |
| St. Marys Lake | 44.3 mi | St. Louis | A | 44 ft | 14 |
| Pleasant Lake | 45.2 mi | St. Louis | A | 33 ft | 11 |
| Beaverhouse Lake | 45.5 mi | Rainy River District | A | - | 0 |
| Squeers Lake | 46.8 mi | Rainy River District | A | - | 0 |
| Saganaga Lake | 47 mi | Cook | A | - | 0 |
| Sea Gull Lake | 47.5 mi | Cook | A | 40 ft | 12 |
| Tetagouche Lake | 47.6 mi | Lake | A | 20 ft | 2 |
| Gull Lake | 48.6 mi | Cook | A | - | 0 |
| Bean Lake | 48.8 mi | Lake | A | 26 ft | 3 |
| Round Lake | 49.1 mi | Cook | A | 45 ft | 5 |
| Bear Lake | 49.2 mi | Lake | A | 31 ft | 4 |
| Stewart Lake | 49.8 mi | Lake | A | 20 ft | 7 |
Top-Rated Lakes Near Ely
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many lakes are near Ely?
There are 50 graded lakes within 50 miles of Ely, Minnesota. 50 of these have an A water quality grade (excellent).
What are the best lakes near Ely for fishing?
38 lakes near Ely have documented fish species data. The best fishing lakes combine good water quality grades with diverse fish populations. 33 lakes within 50 miles have 5 or more documented fish species.
Where to stay near Ely
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Ely — book a place close to the best-rated lakes in the area.
Top-rated places to stay near Ely
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.