Best Lakes for Kayaking Near Willmar
Minnesota
30 kayaking lakes within driving distance of Willmar, 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).
Willmar sits in a lake-rich part of the upper Midwest: 30 graded lakes within reach, average grade B. Eagle Lake (A) leads the cluster.
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 | Eagle Lake | Kandiyohi | A | 5 mi | 6.9 ft | 67 ft |
| 2 | Elkhorn Lake | Kandiyohi | A | 7.8 mi | 14 ft | 41 ft |
| 3 | Henderson Lake | Kandiyohi | A | 7.9 mi | 13.5 ft | 57 ft |
| 4 | George Lake | Kandiyohi | A | 8.9 mi | 15 ft | 34 ft |
| 5 | Florida Lake | Kandiyohi | A | 9.1 mi | 12.3 ft | 40 ft |
| 6 | Crow R Mill Pond | Kandiyohi | A | 13.4 mi | 7 ft | 14 ft |
| 7 | Long Lake | Kandiyohi | A | 16.6 mi | 10.5 ft | 46 ft |
| 8 | Minnie-Belle Lake | Meeker | A | 25.9 mi | 14.4 ft | 49 ft |
| 9 | Scandinavian Lake | Pope | A | 27.1 mi | 8 ft | 49 ft |
| 10 | Linka Lake | Pope | A | 30 mi | 10.2 ft | 50 ft |
| 11 | Signalness Lake | Pope | A | 37.1 mi | 10.7 ft | 14 ft |
| 12 | Big Fish Lake | Stearns | A | 38.9 mi | 20 ft | 70 ft |
| 13 | Moose Lake | Wright | A | 40 mi | 14.4 ft | 43 ft |
| 14 | School Section Lake | Stearns | A | 40 mi | 9.8 ft | 14 ft |
| 15 | Big Kandiyohi Lake | Kandiyohi | C | 10.2 mi | 5.2 ft | 18 ft |
| 16 | Nest Lake | Kandiyohi | C | 10.3 mi | 7 ft | 40 ft |
| 17 | Carrie Lake | Kandiyohi | C | 12.8 mi | 4.5 ft | 26 ft |
| 18 | Middle Lake | Kandiyohi | C | 13.1 mi | 5.4 ft | 11 ft |
| 19 | Calhoun Lake | Kandiyohi | C | 14.6 mi | 6.9 ft | 13 ft |
| 20 | Games Lake | Kandiyohi | C | 14.8 mi | 5.2 ft | 42 ft |
| 21 | Koronis Lake | Stearns | C | 22.3 mi | 6 ft | 132 ft |
| 22 | Ripley Lake | Meeker | C | 24.8 mi | 4.6 ft | 18 ft |
| 23 | Johanna Lake | Pope | C | 26.1 mi | 5.1 ft | 10 ft |
| 24 | Big Lake | Stearns | C | 31.1 mi | 6.9 ft | 42 ft |
| 25 | Erie Lake | Meeker | C | 31.3 mi | - | 34 ft |
| 26 | Little Mud Lake | Meeker | C | 31.7 mi | 5.9 ft | 42 ft |
| 27 | Allie Lake | Renville | C | 32.5 mi | 3 ft | 12 ft |
| 28 | Washington Lake | Meeker | C | 32.8 mi | 4.5 ft | 17 ft |
| 29 | Grove Lake | Pope | C | 33.9 mi | 5.1 ft | 31 ft |
| 30 | Long Lake | Meeker | C | 36.3 mi | 7.5 ft | 28 ft |
Other activities near Willmar
Where to stay near Willmar
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Willmar — book a place close to the best-rated lakes in the area.
Top-rated places to stay near Willmar
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 Willmar?
Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Willmar — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.