Bootleg Lake
About Bootleg Lake
Bootleg Lake is a 347-acre lake near Burntside Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota. It reaches 26 feet at its deepest point, and has roughly 5.3 miles of shoreline.
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. 2 campgrounds are mapped close to the shoreline for overnight stays.
Plan Your Visit to Bootleg Lake
- 347 acres, up to 26 feet deep, near Burntside Lake
- Public access on record — bring a boat you can hand-launch unless you confirm a ramp
- Camping close to the water
Access & Fees
- Public access
- Public access on record
- Launch fee
- Free at DNR accesses
Conditions
- Surface area
- 347 acres
- Max depth
- 26 ft
- Shoreline
- 5.3 mi
- Shallows (under 15 ft)
- 126 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 (2 mapped)
Best For
- Lakeside camping
- Ice is never completely safe — check thickness yourself before walking or driving on any lake
Camping & Reservations
2 campgrounds are mapped on or near Bootleg 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 Bootleg Lake
Compare Bootleg Lake against the top-ranked lakes nearby, then map your route.
Nearby Lakes
Gowan Lake
30 out of 100 Lake ScoreSt. Louis · Buyck134 acres
3.2 miles away
Niswi Lake
24 out of 100 Lake ScoreSt. Louis · Burntside Lake105 acres
3.7 miles away
Little Trout Lake
62 out of 100 Lake ScoreSt. Louis · Soudan528 acres
4.8 miles away
Chad Lake
44 out of 100 Lake ScoreSt. Louis · Burntside Lake265 acres
5 miles away
Buck Lake
16 out of 100 Lake ScoreSt. Louis · Burntside Lake208 acres
5.4 miles away
Cummings Lake
54 out of 100 Lake ScoreSt. Louis · Burntside Lake1,038 acres
5.4 miles away
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Bootleg Lake?
Bootleg Lake is in St. Louis County, Minnesota, near Burntside Lake. It covers 347 acres and reaches 26 feet deep.
How big and how deep is Bootleg Lake?
Bootleg Lake covers 347 acres with about 5.3 miles of shoreline. Its maximum depth is 26 feet.
What fish can you catch at Bootleg Lake?
The DNR has no fish survey on file for Bootleg Lake.
Is there a public boat launch on Bootleg Lake?
Public access is on record, but not a trailer ramp: public access on record.
Can you swim at Bootleg Lake?
There is no mapped public swim beach at Bootleg 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 Bootleg Lake?
Yes. A campground is mapped on or near the shore. Confirm whether sites are reservable or first-come, first-served before you go.