Bear Head Lake State Park
Bear Head Lake State Park is a state park in St. Louis County. It was established in 1961. 8 graded lakes are within 15 miles of the park, including Bear Head Lake, Eagles Nest Lake, Bear Island Lake.
Bear Head Lake State Park State Park spans 4,522 acres in Minnesota — a designated recreation destination with the full set of facilities the state park system provides. The park is paired with 8 graded lakes nearby — enough for a multi-lake visit. Average grade among them: B.
For visitors planning around water quality, the nearby-lakes list below is the practical tool: a park is only as good as the lake you intend to use it from, and the LakeGrade for that lake gives you the water-clarity, nutrient, and algal-pressure context you need.
Official Resources
Nearby Graded Lakes (within 15 mi)
Lakes closest to Bear Head Lake State Park, weighted by size. Click a lake for its full water quality grade, fish species, and depth.
| Lake | County | Grade | Surface Area | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear Head Lake | St. Louis | A | 662 acres | 0.9 mi |
| Eagles Nest Lake | St. Louis | A | 1,028 acres | 1.9 mi |
| Bear Island Lake | St. Louis | B | 2,362 acres | 4.5 mi |
| Armstrong Lake | St. Louis | A | 382 acres | 3.8 mi |
| Little Armstrong Lake | St. Louis | A | 70 acres | 3.3 mi |
| Clear Lake | St. Louis | B | 113 acres | 4.4 mi |
| Burntside Lake | St. Louis | A | 7,314 acres | 10 mi |
| Johnson Lake | St. Louis | D | 456 acres | 7.1 mi |
Other Parks in the Area
- Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park— State Park, 8 mi
- Iron Range Off-Highway Vehicle State Recreation Area— State Recreation Area, 31.2 mi
- McCarthy Beach State Park— State Park, 45.4 mi
- George H. Crosby Manitou State Park— State Park, 49.7 mi
Where to stay near Bear Head Lake State Park
Compare cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Bear Head Lake State Park — find a place to stay close to the park and its nearby lakes.
Top-rated places to stay near Bear Head Lake State Park
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.