Best Lakes for Kayaking Near Ely
Minnesota
4 kayaking lakes within driving distance of Ely, 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).
Lakes near Ely are sparser (4 graded lakes within reach), so the choices are limited. Whitewater Lake (A) is the standout.
Filtered for kayaking, the nearby-lake list narrows further. kayaking-specific signals — fish species, public access, depth profile, motor-boat congestion — interact with the LakeGrade rubric in different ways depending on the use case.
| # | Lake | County | Grade | Distance | Clarity | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Whitewater Lake | St. Louis | A | 30.8 mi | 15.4 ft | - |
| 2 | Wilson Lake | Lake | A | 40 mi | 10.3 ft | - |
| 3 | Fall Lake | Lake | C | 6.2 mi | 5.6 ft | - |
| 4 | Wind Lake | Lake | C | 17.2 mi | 9 ft | - |
Other activities near Ely
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.