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Howard Lake

lakeCook County, Minnesota · near Tofte166 acres48 out of 100 Lake Score Lake Score

About Howard Lake

Howard Lake is a 166-acre lake near Tofte in Cook County, Minnesota. It reaches 125 feet at its deepest point, and has roughly 4.1 miles of shoreline. DNR surveys put average water clarity at about 20 feet, which is exceptionally clear for Minnesota.

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. 5 campgrounds are mapped close to the shoreline for overnight stays.

Plan Your Visit to Howard Lake

What to Know Before You Go
  • 166 acres, up to 125 feet deep, near Tofte
  • Public access on record — bring a boat you can hand-launch unless you confirm a ramp
  • Average water clarity around 20 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
166 acres
Max depth
125 ft
Shoreline
4.1 mi
Water clarity
20 ft
Shallows (under 15 ft)
38 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 (5 mapped)

Best For

  • Lakeside camping
  • Quiet paddling
Know Before You Go
  • Ice is never completely safe — check thickness yourself before walking or driving on any lake

Camping & Reservations

5 campgrounds are mapped on or near Howard 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.

Backcountry sites

Campground locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Confirm details with the operator.

Activities

PaddlingCamping

Amenities

Campground

Fish Species

No survey on file

Plan your trip to Howard Lake

Compare Howard Lake against the top-ranked lakes nearby, then map your route.

Best camping lakes in Cook County

See how Howard Lake ranks among camping lakes nearby.

Best paddling lakes in Cook County

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Nearby Lakes

Peter Lake

56 out of 100 Lake Score

Cook · Tofte282 acres

0.9 miles away

FishingIce FishingPaddlingCanoe Tripping

French Lake

41 out of 100 Lake Score

Cook · Grand Marais121 acres

1.9 miles away

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Gabimichigami Lake

48 out of 100 Lake Score

Cook · Tofte1,186 acres

1.9 miles away

PaddlingCanoe TrippingCamping

Jasper Lake

46 out of 100 Lake Score

Cook · Grand Marais246 acres

2.7 miles away

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Elm Lake

33 out of 100 Lake Score

Cook · Tofte109 acres

2.7 miles away

PaddlingCamping

Gillis Lake

57 out of 100 Lake Score

Cook · Grand Marais616 acres

2.9 miles away

FishingIce FishingPaddlingCanoe Tripping

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Howard Lake?

Howard Lake is in Cook County, Minnesota, near Tofte. It covers 166 acres and reaches 125 feet deep.

How big and how deep is Howard Lake?

Howard Lake covers 166 acres with about 4.1 miles of shoreline. Its maximum depth is 125 feet.

What fish can you catch at Howard Lake?

The DNR has no fish survey on file for Howard Lake.

Is there a public boat launch on Howard Lake?

Public access is on record, but not a trailer ramp: public access on record.

Can you swim at Howard Lake?

There is no mapped public swim beach at Howard 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 Howard Lake?

Yes. A campground is mapped on or near the shore. Confirm whether sites are reservable or first-come, first-served before you go.