Gordon Lake
About Gordon Lake
Gordon Lake is a 135-acre lake near Grand Marais in Cook County, Minnesota. It reaches 95 feet at its deepest point, and has roughly 7 miles of shoreline. DNR surveys put average water clarity at about 12.8 feet, clearer than most lakes in the state.
The DNR has no fish survey on file for this lake, so treat any fishing as exploratory.
The DNR lists public water access for the lake; confirm the launch type before towing a trailer in. 4 campgrounds are mapped close to the shoreline for overnight stays.
Plan Your Visit to Gordon Lake
- 135 acres, up to 95 feet deep, near Grand Marais
- Public access on record — bring a boat you can hand-launch unless you confirm a ramp
- Average water clarity around 12.8 feet — very clear
- Camping close to the water
Access & Fees
- Public access
- Public access on record
- Launch fee
- Free at DNR accesses
- Managed by
- US Forest Service
Conditions
- Surface area
- 135 acres
- Max depth
- 95 ft
- Shoreline
- 7 mi
- Water clarity
- 12.8 ft
- Shallows (under 15 ft)
- 63 acres
Rules & Regulations
- A Minnesota fishing license is required for anglers 16 and older
- Drain plugs must be out and all water drained before leaving any access; remove aquatic plants from boats and trailers
- Children under 10 must wear a life jacket on a boat that is underway
Facilities
- Camping (4 mapped)
Best For
- Lakeside camping
- Quiet paddling
- Ice is never completely safe — check thickness yourself before walking or driving on any lake
Camping & Reservations
4 campgrounds are mapped on or near Gordon Lake. Minnesota state park sites are booked through the DNR reservation system, national forest campgrounds through Recreation.gov, and most state forest campgrounds are first-come, first-served.
Campground locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Confirm details with the operator.
Activities
Amenities
Fish Species
Plan your trip to Gordon Lake
Compare Gordon Lake against the top-ranked lakes nearby, then map your route.
Nearby Lakes
Frost Lake
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1.2 miles away
Cherokee Lake
55 out of 100 Lake ScoreCook · Tofte837 acres
1.8 miles away
Long Island Lake
58 out of 100 Lake ScoreCook · Grand Marais884 acres
2.2 miles away
Karl Lake
46 out of 100 Lake ScoreCook · Grand Marais121 acres
2.3 miles away
North Temperance Lake
41 out of 100 Lake ScoreCook · Lutsen185 acres
2.8 miles away
South Temperance Lake
32 out of 100 Lake ScoreCook · Lutsen214 acres
3.9 miles away
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Gordon Lake?
Gordon Lake is in Cook County, Minnesota, near Grand Marais. It covers 135 acres and reaches 95 feet deep.
How big and how deep is Gordon Lake?
Gordon Lake covers 135 acres with about 7 miles of shoreline. Its maximum depth is 95 feet.
What fish can you catch at Gordon Lake?
The DNR has no fish survey on file for Gordon Lake.
Is there a public boat launch on Gordon Lake?
Public access is on record, but not a trailer ramp: public access on record.
Can you swim at Gordon Lake?
There is no mapped public swim beach at Gordon Lake. Minnesota's public waters are open to swimming where you have legal access, but there are no lifeguards or water-quality monitoring away from designated beaches.
Can you camp at Gordon Lake?
Yes. A campground is mapped on or near the shore. Confirm whether sites are reservable or first-come, first-served before you go.