Best Lakes Near St. Paul, MN
50 lakes within 50 miles of St. Paul ranked by water quality grade.
Within reasonable driving distance of St. Paul 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunfish Lake | 5.4 mi | Dakota | A | - | 0 |
| Rogers Lake | 6.2 mi | Dakota | A | 8 ft | 7 |
| East Vadnais Lake | 7.1 mi | Ramsey | A | 58 ft | 15 |
| Snail Lake | 8.4 mi | Ramsey | A | 30 ft | 11 |
| Olson Lake | 8.4 mi | Washington | A | 15 ft | 11 |
| Jane Lake | 9.1 mi | Washington | A | 39 ft | 11 |
| Birch Lake | 9.2 mi | Ramsey | A | - | 0 |
| White Bear Lake | 9.9 mi | Washington | A | 83 ft | 18 |
| Turtle Lake | 10.1 mi | Ramsey | A | 28 ft | 15 |
| Elmo Lake | 10.2 mi | Washington | A | 140 ft | 13 |
| Holland Lake | 11.7 mi | Dakota | A | 55 ft | 6 |
| Otter Lake | 12 mi | Ramsey | A | 21 ft | 12 |
| Wood Pile Lake | 12.1 mi | Washington | A | - | 0 |
| Pine Tree Lake | 12.2 mi | Washington | A | - | 8 |
| Sweeney Lake | 12.3 mi | Hennepin | A | 28 ft | 12 |
| O'Brien Lake | 12.3 mi | Dakota | A | - | 0 |
| Sweeney-Twin Lake | 12.4 mi | Hennepin | A | - | 0 |
| Master Man Lake | 12.6 mi | Washington | A | - | 0 |
| Laddie Lake | 13.9 mi | Anoka | A | 4 ft | 0 |
| Edith Lake | 13.9 mi | Washington | A | 43 ft | 0 |
| Sunset Lake | 14.5 mi | Washington | A | 17 ft | 11 |
| Lily Lake | 14.6 mi | Washington | A | 51 ft | 10 |
| Bush Lake | 16.4 mi | Hennepin | A | 28 ft | 12 |
| Lost Lake | 16.8 mi | Hennepin | A | 6 ft | 0 |
| Lac Lavon Lake | 17.8 mi | Dakota | A | 32 ft | 9 |
| Little Carnelian Lake | 18.3 mi | Washington | A | 68 ft | 10 |
| Big Carnelian Lake | 18.4 mi | Washington | A | 66 ft | 12 |
| West Boot Lake | 19.1 mi | Washington | A | 34 ft | 8 |
| East Boot Lake | 19.3 mi | Washington | A | 27 ft | 7 |
| Twin Lake | 19.6 mi | Washington | A | - | 0 |
| Clear Lake | 19.6 mi | Washington | A | 27 ft | 6 |
| Pomerleau Lake | 19.6 mi | Hennepin | A | 26 ft | 5 |
| Square Lake | 19.7 mi | Washington | A | 68 ft | 9 |
| Mays Lake | 19.8 mi | Washington | A | 25 ft | 0 |
| Big Marine Lake | 20.7 mi | Washington | A | - | 0 |
| White Rock Lake | 21 mi | Washington | A | - | 0 |
| Howard Lake | 21.4 mi | Anoka | A | - | 12 |
| Cate'S Lake | 21.5 mi | Scott | A | - | 0 |
| Marion Lake | 22.3 mi | Dakota | A | 21 ft | 14 |
| Halfbreed Lake | 22.5 mi | Washington | A | 34 ft | 10 |
| Riley Lake | 22.5 mi | Hennepin | A | 49 ft | 11 |
| Netta Lake | 22.8 mi | Anoka | A | - | 0 |
| Round Lake | 23.7 mi | Anoka | A | - | 0 |
| Grass Lake | 25.6 mi | Anoka | A | - | 0 |
| Minnewashta Lake | 25.7 mi | Carver | A | 70 ft | 14 |
| St Joe Lake | 26.6 mi | Carver | A | 52 ft | 10 |
| Courthouse Lake | 27 mi | Carver | A | 57 ft | 10 |
| Brickyard Lake | 27.3 mi | Carver | A | 43 ft | 0 |
| Fireman'S Lake | 27.6 mi | Carver | A | 23 ft | 8 |
| Spider Lake | 28.5 mi | Chisago | A | 9 ft | 7 |
Top-Rated Lakes Near St. Paul
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Frequently Asked Questions
How many lakes are near St. Paul?
There are 50 graded lakes within 50 miles of St. Paul, Minnesota. 50 of these have an A water quality grade (excellent).
What are the best lakes near St. Paul for fishing?
32 lakes near St. Paul have documented fish species data. The best fishing lakes combine good water quality grades with diverse fish populations. 32 lakes within 50 miles have 5 or more documented fish species.
Where to stay near St. Paul
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near St. Paul — book a place close to the best-rated lakes in the area.
Top-rated places to stay near St. Paul
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.