Iron Range Off-Highway Vehicle State Recreation Area
Iron Range Off-Highway Vehicle State Recreation Area is a state recreation area in St. Louis County. 8 lakes with water-quality readings are within 15 miles of the park, including West Vermilion Lake, Fourteen Lake, Big Rice Lake.
Iron Range Off-Highway Vehicle State Recreation Area is a Minnesota State Recreation Area — a public-land designation focused on recreation rather than ecological preservation. 296,526 acres are protected. 8 measured lakes are within easy reach of the park. Big Rice Lake has the lowest nutrient and algae readings of the set.
Reading the per-lake measurements alongside the park designation gives a fuller picture than either alone: the park tells you what land is protected, the readings tell you what condition the water in that protected area is in.
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Official Resources
Nearby Lakes (within 15 mi)
Lakes closest to Iron Range Off-Highway Vehicle State Recreation Area, weighted by size. Click a lake for its water-quality readings, fish species, and depth.
| Lake | County | Surface Area | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Vermilion Lake | St. Louis | 39,272 acres | 10.9 mi |
| Fourteen Lake | St. Louis | 386 acres | 8.7 mi |
| Big Rice Lake | St. Louis | 1,917 acres | 13.7 mi |
| Sand Lake | St. Louis | 779 acres | 12 mi |
| Thirteen Lake | St. Louis | 80 acres | 8.6 mi |
| Elbow Lake | St. Louis | 1,695 acres | 14.9 mi |
| Dark Lake | St. Louis | 231 acres | 12 mi |
| Susan Lake | St. Louis | 276 acres | 13 mi |
Other Parks in the Area
- McCarthy Beach State Park— State Park, 16.3 mi
- Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park— State Park, 23.5 mi
- Bear Head Lake State Park— State Park, 31.2 mi
- Scenic State Park— State Park, 38.9 mi
Where to stay near Iron Range Off-Highway Vehicle State Recreation Area
Compare cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Iron Range Off-Highway Vehicle State Recreation Area — find a place to stay close to the park and its nearby lakes.
Top-rated places to stay near Iron Range Off-Highway Vehicle State Recreation Area
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.