---
type: lake
name: "Caribou Lake"
county: "St. Louis"
nearest_town: "Duluth"
lake_type: "lake"
acres: 539
max_depth_ft: 21
latitude: 46.89928
longitude: -92.31299
lake_score: 57
dnr_lake_id: "69048900"
url: https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/st-louis-county/caribou-lake
---

# Caribou Lake

Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota, near Duluth

- **Surface Area**: 539 acres
- **Max Depth**: 21 ft
- **Average Depth**: 9 ft
- **Shoreline**: 5.6 miles
- **Water Clarity**: 8.1 ft
- **Lake Type**: lake
- **Public Access**: 3 public boat launches (concrete)
- **Lake Score**: 57/100 (composite of public data, not a visitor rating)

## About

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.

## Access

- **Public access**: 3 public boat launches (concrete)
- **Managed by**: Minnesota DNR, county
- **Launch fee**: Free at DNR public water accesses

## Fishing

- **Species on DNR survey**: 11
- **Stocked**: Yes
- **Last DNR survey**: 2025
- **Special regulations**: No
- **Ice fishing**: Yes

## Activities

Fishing, Ice Fishing, Boating, Paddling

## Amenities

Boat Ramp

## Fish Species

Walleye, Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, Yellow Perch, Rock Bass, Black Bullhead, Hybrid Sunfish, White Sucker

## Ice-Out

- **Median ice-out**: April 23
- **Years of record**: 6
- **Earliest**: 2005-04-11
- **Latest**: 2008-05-03

## Nearby Lakes

- [Long Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/st-louis-county/long-lake-twig) - 1.9 miles, 109 acres
- [Pike Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/st-louis-county/pike-lake) - 2.3 miles, 488 acres
- [Fish Lake Flowage](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/st-louis-county/fish-lake-flowage) - 3.9 miles, 3,259 acres
- [Grand Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/st-louis-county/grand-lake) - 4.5 miles, 1,665 acres
- [Little Grand Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/st-louis-county/little-grand-lake) - 5.7 miles, 176 acres
- [Wild Rice Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/st-louis-county/wild-rice-lake) - 6.1 miles, 2,372 acres

## Links

- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=46.89928,-92.31299)
- [Minnesota DNR LakeFinder](https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/lakefind/lake.html?id=69048900)
- [All lakes in St. Louis County](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/st-louis-county)

---
*Source: [MinneLakes.org](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/st-louis-county/caribou-lake)*