Lake trip · St. Louis County, Minnesota
Where to stay at Birch Lake
Birch Lake covers 7,074 acres in St. Louis County, with water clarity of about 3.9 ft. Compare cabins, resorts, and vacation rentals below. The water-quality readings cover nutrients and algae; they are not a stay-or-skip rating. Late spring through early fall, with June through August the peak season for swimming, boating, and fishing.
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Places to stay near Birch Lake
Cabins, resorts, hotels, and vacation rentals near Birch Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota — live availability and prices. Add your dates to see totals.
Top-rated places to stay near Birch Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 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.
About the water
Birch Lake has nutrient and algae measurements on record from state and federal monitoring. Water clarity is about 3.9 ft of visibility. Algae (chlorophyll-a) measures 7.5 µg/L. A water-quality reading is not a swimming clearance. The state water agency and county health departments post current advisories; check them before you swim. The readings are not a reason to skip cabins and rentals around the lake.
Best time to visit
Late spring through early fall, with June through August the peak season for swimming, boating, and fishing.
Check the National Weather Service forecast for Birch Lake →
About Birch Lake
Fish: black crappie, bluegill, hybrid sunfish, northern pike, rock bass, smallmouth bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye.
Fishing & license
When to fish Birch Lake — the seasonal windows by species, from state survey data.
Minnesota fishing license
Anglers under 16 are not required to have a license. Residents age 90+ also exempt. · The Minnesota walleye, northern pike, and bass season opens the Saturday two days before Mother's Day. Most other species are open year-round.
Prices as published by Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, 2026.
Camping & RV near Birch Lake
Base your trip at a nearby state park for tent and RV camping and trails, with Birch Lake a short drive away — or search all public campgrounds and RV sites in the area on Recreation.gov.
- Bear Head Lake State Park · State Park11.9 mi
- Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park · State Park19.8 mi
Common questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Cabins, resorts, and vacation rentals around Birch Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota are on the map above with live availability and nightly prices. Waterfront rentals put you on the dock; lodging in the nearest town is usually cheaper with more choice. Bear Head Lake State Park is about 11.9 miles away for campground options.
Birch Lake has nutrient and algae measurements on record from state and federal monitoring. A water-quality reading is not a swimming clearance. The state water agency and county health departments post current advisories; check them before you swim.
Late spring through early fall, with June through August the peak season for swimming, boating, and fishing.
Explore Birch Lake
Every Minnesota lake with its published measurements
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Fish species and best lakes in St. Louis County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Lakes in the Lake Superior Basin (MN+WI), ranked by water quality
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
LakeQuality Lake Trip Planner (2026)
Free trip-planning guide for Birch Lake: how to pick a clean lake, the water-quality signals that matter, best swimming and fishing windows, and where to stay.
Lodging availability and prices are provided by Stay22 and its booking partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia); LakeQuality may earn a commission from bookings at no extra cost to you. Water-quality readings are independent of lodging listings. Always check current health-department advisories and managing-agency conditions before you travel.