Best Kayaking Lakes in Minnesota, Wisconsin & 4 More States

The best lakes for kayaking in Minnesota, Wisconsin & 4 More States. Clear, low-nutrient water, public access, ideal paddling size of 50 to 2,000 acres.

Recreation rankings need public-access, beach and launch, depth, and fish-survey data, which currently cover Minnesota, Wisconsin & 4 More States lakes. Water-quality readings themselves span all United States (49 states), Canada (Ontario, Québec, Nova Scotia, British Columbia and Newfoundland and Labrador), and 38 other country hubs. LakeQuality covers.

Lakes

Minnesota

Wisconsin

Illinois

Michigan

Swimming Boating Boat Ramps Kayaking Ice Fishing Camping

Rank	Lake	County	State	Clarity	Area	Depth
1	Hunter Lake	Cass	MN	31 ft	182 acres	48 ft
2	Little Round Lake	Sawyer	WI	17.3 ft	179 acres	38 ft
3	Baumann Park Lake	Winnebago	IL	10.2 ft	-	-
4	Bear Lake Southeast Basin	Kalkaska	MI	36.5 ft	-	-
5	Nine Eagles Lake	Decatur	IA	11 ft	59 acres	-
6	Lost Creek Reservoir	Allen	OH	—	-	-

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes a lake ideal for kayaking?

The best kayaking lakes have clean, clear water (low nutrient and algae readings), public access for launching, and are sized between 50 and 2,000 acres. Too small and there is not much to explore; too large and wind can create dangerous conditions for paddlers.

Can I kayak on any public lake?

Public lakes are generally open to non-motorized watercraft like kayaks and canoes, though individual waters can carry local restrictions. Many lakes on this list have designated paddle-in campsites and nature areas accessible only from the water.