Lake trip · St. Louis County, Minnesota
Where to stay at Upper Estuary Lake
Upper Estuary Lake covers 10,255 acres in St. Louis County, with water clarity of about 1.9 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 Upper Estuary Lake
Cabins, resorts, hotels, and vacation rentals near Upper Estuary Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota — live availability and prices. Add your dates to see totals.
Top-rated places to stay near Upper Estuary Lake
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.
About the water
Upper Estuary Lake has nutrient and algae measurements on record from state and federal monitoring. Water clarity is about 1.9 ft of visibility. Algae (chlorophyll-a) measures 1.7 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 Upper Estuary Lake →
About Upper Estuary Lake
Fish: American eel, black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brook trout, brown bullhead, brown trout, burbot.
Fishing & license
When to fish Upper Estuary 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 Upper Estuary Lake
Base your trip at a nearby state park for tent and RV camping and trails, with Upper Estuary Lake a short drive away — or search all public campgrounds and RV sites in the area on Recreation.gov.
- Jay Cooke State Park · State Park4.2 mi
Common questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Cabins, resorts, and vacation rentals around Upper Estuary 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. Jay Cooke State Park is about 4.2 miles away for campground options.
Upper Estuary 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 Upper Estuary Lake
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LakeQuality Lake Trip Planner (2026)
Free trip-planning guide for Upper Estuary 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.