---
type: guide
title: "Best Lakes Near Duluth and the North Shore: Superior and the Inland Lakes"
description: "Where to go near Duluth and up the North Shore: Lake Superior access, Island Lake, Fish Lake and Boulder Lake, plus Gunflint Trail and inland lakes."
category: "Destinations"
updated: 2026-10-01
url: https://www.minnelakes.org/guides/best-lakes-near-duluth-north-shore
---

# Best Lakes Near Duluth and the North Shore: Superior and the Inland Lakes

## Key Takeaways

- Lake Superior is for scenery, shoreline walks and brief cold swims. Warm-water swimming and easy fishing are on the inland lakes.
- Island Lake Reservoir, Fish Lake and Boulder Lake sit within about 30 minutes of Duluth and each has its own walleye regulation.
- Superior National Forest campgrounds on North Shore inland lakes cost $18 to $24 a night in 2026, and several small ones are first-come only.
- The Gunflint Trail lakes are deep, clear and cold, with lake trout and direct access to the Boundary Waters.
- Spiny waterflea is in many of these lakes, so drain and dry all gear between waters.

Around Duluth there are two different kinds of lake trip. Lake Superior is the reason people come, but it is cold, powerful and mostly a look-at lake. The inland lakes, starting 20 minutes north of the city and continuing up the North Shore and the Gunflint Trail, are where you actually swim, paddle and catch walleye. Sizes and regulations below are from Minnesota DNR lake data; campground details are from the Superior National Forest's 2026 camping guide.

## Lake Superior access

### In Duluth

Park Point (Minnesota Point) is the long sand spit across the Aerial Lift Bridge, and it is the city's beach. On a hot day with an offshore breeze the shallows can be pleasant; when the wind turns, cold water wells up and the temperature drops fast. Rip currents are a known hazard along the point in onshore wind and waves. Canal Park and the Lakewalk are the easy no-effort access for watching ships come through the canal.

### Up Highway 61

The string of state parks north of Duluth gives the best public shoreline: Gooseberry Falls, Split Rock Lighthouse, Tettegouche, Temperance River, Cascade River and Judge C.R. Magney, among others. Expect cobble beaches, basalt ledges and river mouths rather than sand. A state park vehicle permit is $7 a day or $35 a year in 2026, and campsites book 120 days out; see the [reservations guide](https://www.minnelakes.org/guides/minnesota-lake-camping-reservations).

### What Superior is and is not good for

- **Good for:** shoreline hiking, rock picking, photography, sea kayaking for experienced paddlers on calm days, and trout and salmon fishing from boats or at river mouths.
- **Not good for:** casual swimming, small open boats, or beginners in canoes. The water is cold enough all year to incapacitate a swimmer quickly, and conditions change with little warning. Read our piece on [lake water temperatures](https://www.minnelakes.org/guides/how-cold-are-minnesota-lakes-water-temperature) before taking a paddleboard out.

Anglers should check trout and salmon stamp requirements and the Lake Superior section of the [DNR fishing regulations](https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/regulations/fishing/index.html), which differ from inland rules.

## Inland lakes near Duluth

A cluster of reservoirs on the Cloquet River system north of town gives Duluth its nearby warm-water fishing. All three are dark, tannin-stained water typical of the region.

| Lake | Size | Max depth | 2026 walleye rule | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Island Lake Reservoir | 8,001 acres | 94 ft | 15-20 inches released; limit 10, one over 20 inches | Walleye, muskie, big-water boating |
| Fish Lake Flowage | 3,259 acres | 36 ft | Keep only 13-17 inches, plus one over 26; limit 3 | Panfish, walleye, family fishing |
| Boulder Lake Reservoir | 3,260 acres | 18 ft | Check current regulations | Paddling, quiet fishing |

### Island Lake Reservoir

The biggest water close to Duluth, with islands, rock points and a long list of species: walleye, [muskellunge](https://www.minnelakes.org/fish/muskellunge), smallmouth bass, northern pike and crappie. The generous walleye limit of 10 comes with a protected slot from 15 to 20 inches, which means most keepers are small. As a reservoir its level fluctuates, and stumps and rock reefs come and go with it. Run carefully away from the main channels.

### Fish Lake

Shallower and friendlier for small boats. The DNR's 2026 listing has a five-fish daily limit on crappie and sunfish here, and a walleye rule under which you may keep only fish from 13 to 17 inches, plus one over 26 inches, with a possession limit of three.

### Boulder Lake

Shallow, island-filled and far less developed than the other two. It is the pick for canoes and kayaks, with walleye, pike and perch for anglers. Much of the surrounding shoreline is managed for recreation and environmental education, with water-access campsites; confirm current camping rules locally before planning an overnight.

Other easy options: **Pike Lake** (488 acres) and **Caribou Lake** (539 acres) just northwest of the city, and **Indian Lake** in Cloquet Valley State Forest, where the DNR runs a 25-site first-come campground at $17 a night. More local detail is in [fishing near Duluth](https://www.minnelakes.org/guides/fishing-near-duluth).

## North Shore inland lakes

A few miles up any of the forest roads from Highway 61, the country changes to spruce, cedar and small walleye lakes. The Superior National Forest's fee campgrounds are the simplest way in.

| Campground lake | Nearest town | Sites | 2026 fee | Reservable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ninemile Lake | Finland/Tofte area | 26 | $18 | Yes |
| Sawbill Lake | Tofte | 52 | $20 | Yes |
| Crescent Lake | Tofte/Lutsen | 33 | $20 | Yes |
| Devil Track Lake | Grand Marais | 16 | $22 | No |
| Two Island Lake | Grand Marais | 38 | $22 | No |
| Kimball Lake | Grand Marais | 10 | $22 | No |

**Sawbill Lake** (834 acres) is a Boundary Waters entry point with an outfitter at the landing, which makes it the easiest place on the shore to try a day paddle into the wilderness on a free self-issued permit. **Devil Track Lake** (1,876 acres) is the big lake just above Grand Marais. **Crescent** (755 acres) and **Two Island** (754 acres) are classic walleye-and-pike camping lakes.

The forest also keeps free rustic campgrounds with a handful of sites each on lakes such as Baker, Clara, Fourmile, Toohey, White Pine and Wilson. No water, no trash pickup, no fee.

## The Gunflint Trail

From Grand Marais the Gunflint Trail climbs away from Superior and runs northwest to the border lakes. These are Canadian Shield lakes: deep, clear, rock-rimmed and cold.

- **Gunflint Lake** (4,009 acres, 200 feet deep) lies on the Ontario border and holds [lake trout](https://www.minnelakes.org/fish/lake-trout), walleye and smallmouth bass.
- **Poplar Lake** (764 acres) and **Hungry Jack Lake** (474 acres) are mid-trail lodge lakes with easy paddling into the Boundary Waters.
- **Clearwater Lake** (1,344 acres, 130 feet deep) is a long, cliff-lined lake; motors are capped at 10 horsepower.
- **East Bearskin Lake** (593 acres) has a 32-site campground and cabins, and **Flour Lake** has 37 sites, both $24 a night in 2026.
- **Saganaga** (about 18,800 acres, 280 feet deep) is at the end of the road, served by the 32-site Trail's End campground. It is enormous and island-filled; the DNR lists a walleye possession limit of three with one over 20 inches.

Overnight trips into the wilderness from any of these need a quota permit from May through September. The [Boundary Waters guide](https://www.minnelakes.org/guides/boundary-waters-lakes-guide) covers that.

## Before you go

- Treat Lake Superior as cold ocean, not as a big version of an inland lake. Save the swimming for inland water.
- Island, Fish and Saganaga each have walleye rules that differ from statewide limits, and border waters such as Gunflint add another layer. Look up every lake.
- The DNR lists spiny waterflea in Island, Fish and Gunflint lakes, among others. Drain everything and wipe down lines and downrigger cables. See [St. Louis County](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/st-louis-county), [Lake County](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/lake-county) and [Cook County](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/cook-county) for more lakes.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Can you swim in Lake Superior near Duluth?

Yes, and people do, mostly along the sand of Park Point. The water is cold all summer and can change by many degrees in a day when the wind shifts. Rip currents form along Park Point in onshore wind, so check the beach flags and forecast before swimming.

### What is the closest good fishing lake to Duluth?

Island Lake Reservoir, about 20 miles north, is the largest at roughly 8,000 acres and holds walleye, muskellunge, smallmouth bass and crappie. Fish Lake and Boulder Lake are close by. Each has a special walleye regulation, so check before keeping fish.

### Are there walleye limits specific to Island Lake Reservoir?

Yes. In 2026 the DNR lists a rule that all walleye from 15 to 20 inches must be released, with a possession limit of 10 and only one over 20 inches. That differs from the statewide limit, so read the current regulations.

### Where can I camp on an inland lake along the North Shore?

Superior National Forest campgrounds sit on Devil Track, Two Island, Kimball, Crescent, Sawbill, Ninemile and several Gunflint Trail lakes. In 2026 single sites ran $18 to $24 a night. Some take reservations on Recreation.gov, and smaller ones such as Devil Track, Two Island and Kimball are first-come.

### How is the Gunflint Trail different from the North Shore?

The North Shore follows Lake Superior on Highway 61. The Gunflint Trail is a paved road running inland from Grand Marais into border-lake country, with lodges, campgrounds and Boundary Waters entry points on deep, rocky lakes such as Gunflint, Poplar, Hungry Jack and Saganaga.

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*Source: [MinneLakes.org](https://www.minnelakes.org/guides/best-lakes-near-duluth-north-shore)*