Best Lakes for Kayaking Near St. Paul
Minnesota
30 kayaking lakes within driving distance of St. Paul, 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).
Within reasonable driving distance of St. Paul sit 30 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 kayaking-specific ranking layered on top of the letter grade 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 | Rogers Lake | Dakota | A | 6.2 mi | 6.6 ft | 8 ft |
| 2 | Snail Lake | Ramsey | A | 8.4 mi | 11 ft | 30 ft |
| 3 | Jane Lake | Washington | A | 9.1 mi | 13 ft | 39 ft |
| 4 | White Bear Lake | Washington | A | 9.9 mi | 14.4 ft | 83 ft |
| 5 | Turtle Lake | Ramsey | A | 10.1 mi | 7.5 ft | 28 ft |
| 6 | Elmo Lake | Washington | A | 10.2 mi | 11.1 ft | 140 ft |
| 7 | Otter Lake | Ramsey | A | 12 mi | 11.5 ft | 21 ft |
| 8 | Lily Lake | Washington | A | 14.6 mi | 10.5 ft | 51 ft |
| 9 | Bush Lake | Hennepin | A | 16.4 mi | 13 ft | 28 ft |
| 10 | Lac Lavon Lake | Dakota | A | 17.8 mi | 12.1 ft | 32 ft |
| 11 | Big Carnelian Lake | Washington | A | 18.4 mi | 14.5 ft | 66 ft |
| 12 | Square Lake | Washington | A | 19.7 mi | 17 ft | 68 ft |
| 13 | Marion Lake | Dakota | A | 22.3 mi | 7 ft | 21 ft |
| 14 | Halfbreed Lake | Washington | A | 22.5 mi | 5.2 ft | 34 ft |
| 15 | Riley Lake | Hennepin | A | 22.5 mi | 11.5 ft | 49 ft |
| 16 | Minnewashta Lake | Carver | A | 25.7 mi | 11.5 ft | 70 ft |
| 17 | Spider Lake | Chisago | A | 28.5 mi | 6.5 ft | 9 ft |
| 18 | Kroon Lake | Chisago | A | 30.3 mi | 5.9 ft | 30 ft |
| 19 | Piersons Lake | Carver | A | 31 mi | 9.9 ft | 40 ft |
| 20 | South Lindstrom Lake | Chisago | A | 32.2 mi | 5.6 ft | 34 ft |
| 21 | East Twin Lake | Anoka | A | 33.1 mi | 10.7 ft | 68 ft |
| 22 | Charlotte Lake | Wright | A | 34.8 mi | 17.1 ft | 46 ft |
| 23 | West Hunter Lake | Sherburne | A | 39.2 mi | 10.2 ft | 6 ft |
| 24 | Pine Lake | Polk | B | 33 mi | 13 ft | 34 ft |
| 25 | Church Pine Lake | Polk | B | 35.2 mi | 13 ft | 45 ft |
| 26 | Wind Lake | Polk | B | 35.4 mi | 10 ft | 7 ft |
| 27 | Big Lake | Polk | B | 35.6 mi | 9 ft | 24 ft |
| 28 | Mccarron Lake | Ramsey | C | 3.3 mi | 11.5 ft | 57 ft |
| 29 | Tanners Lake | Washington | C | 5.3 mi | 6.6 ft | 46 ft |
| 30 | Owasso Lake | Ramsey | C | 6.1 mi | 7.4 ft | 37 ft |
Other activities near St. Paul
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
Prices for Sep 18–20, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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 St. Paul?
Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near St. Paul — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.