Caribou Lake
About Caribou Lake
Caribou Lake is a 539-acre lake near Duluth in St. Louis County, Minnesota. It reaches 21 feet at its deepest point, with an average depth of about 9 feet, and has roughly 5.6 miles of shoreline. DNR surveys put average water clarity at about 8.1 feet.
Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys list 11 fish species here, including walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, black crappie, bluegill, and pumpkinseed. The DNR has stocking records for the lake, so check the stocking report for the most recent species and year classes. The most recent fisheries survey on file dates to 2025.
There are 3 public boat launches (concrete surface) managed by the Minnesota DNR and county. Ice typically goes out around April 23, based on 6 years of DNR ice-out records.
Plan Your Visit to Caribou Lake
- 539 acres, up to 21 feet deep, near Duluth
- 3 public boat launches (concrete) — managed by the Minnesota DNR and county
- Game fish on the DNR survey: walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, black crappie, bluegill, and pumpkinseed
- Average water clarity around 8.1 feet
Access & Fees
- Public access
- 3 public boat launches (concrete)
- Launch fee
- Free at DNR accesses
- Managed by
- Minnesota DNR, county
Conditions
- Surface area
- 539 acres
- Max depth
- 21 ft
- Average depth
- 9 ft
- Shoreline
- 5.6 mi
- Water clarity
- 8.1 ft
- Shallows (under 15 ft)
- 486 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
- 3 public boat launches (concrete)
Best For
- Walleye fishing
- Ice fishing
- Ice is never completely safe — check thickness yourself before walking or driving on any lake
Angler's Report
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder- Species on survey
- 11
- Game fish
- 8
- Stocked
- Yes
- Last DNR survey
- 2025
- Special regulations
- No
- Fishing pier
- No
- Ice fishing
- Yes
- Boat launch
- Yes
Fishing data: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Regulations change — confirm with the current DNR fishing regulations.
Ice-Out History
- Median ice-out
- April 23
- Years of record
- 6
- Earliest
- April 11, 2005
- Latest
- May 3, 2008
- Most recent
- April 25, 2020
See every lake on the ice-out tracker. Ice-out data: Minnesota DNR State Climatology Office.
Activities
Amenities
Fish Species
Plan your trip to Caribou Lake
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Nearby Lakes
Long Lake
8 out of 100 Lake ScoreSt. Louis · Twig109 acres
1.9 miles away
Pike Lake
71 out of 100 Lake ScoreSt. Louis · Hermantown488 acres
2.3 miles away
Fish Lake Flowage
64 out of 100 Lake ScoreSt. Louis · Duluth3,259 acres
3.9 miles away
Grand Lake
62 out of 100 Lake ScoreSt. Louis · Twig1,665 acres
4.5 miles away
Little Grand Lake
47 out of 100 Lake ScoreSt. Louis · Saginaw176 acres
5.7 miles away
Wild Rice Lake
47 out of 100 Lake ScoreSt. Louis · Duluth2,372 acres
6.1 miles away
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Caribou Lake?
Caribou Lake is in St. Louis County, Minnesota, near Duluth. It covers 539 acres and reaches 21 feet deep.
How big and how deep is Caribou Lake?
Caribou Lake covers 539 acres with about 5.6 miles of shoreline. Its maximum depth is 21 feet and its average depth is about 9 feet.
What fish can you catch at Caribou Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys list Walleye, Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, Yellow Perch, and Rock Bass and other species. A Minnesota fishing license is required for anyone 16 and older.
Is there a public boat launch on Caribou Lake?
Yes. Caribou Lake has 3 public boat launches (concrete), managed by the Minnesota DNR and county. DNR public water accesses are free to use.
Can you swim at Caribou Lake?
There is no mapped public swim beach at Caribou 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.
Is Caribou Lake stocked?
Yes. The Minnesota DNR has stocking records for Caribou Lake; species and numbers vary by year, so see the stocking report on DNR LakeFinder.
When does the ice go out on Caribou Lake?
The median ice-out date is April 23, from 6 years of Minnesota DNR records. The earliest on record is April 11, 2005 and the latest is May 3, 2008.