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Crab Lake

lakeSt. Louis County, Minnesota · near Ely420 acres37 out of 100 Lake Score Lake Score

About Crab Lake

Crab Lake is a 420-acre lake near Ely in St. Louis County, Minnesota. It reaches 57 feet at its deepest point, and has roughly 10.5 miles of shoreline. DNR surveys put average water clarity at about 7.4 feet.

The DNR has no fish survey on file for this lake, so treat any fishing as exploratory.

Public access is carry-in only — plan on a canoe, kayak or small boat you can hand-launch. 11 campgrounds are mapped close to the shoreline for overnight stays.

Plan Your Visit to Crab Lake

What to Know Before You Go
  • 420 acres, up to 57 feet deep, near Ely
  • Carry-in access only — bring a boat you can hand-launch unless you confirm a ramp
  • Average water clarity around 7.4 feet
  • Camping close to the water

Access & Fees

Public access
Carry-in access only
Launch fee
Free at DNR accesses
Managed by
US Forest Service

Conditions

Surface area
420 acres
Max depth
57 ft
Shoreline
10.5 mi
Water clarity
7.4 ft
Shallows (under 15 ft)
219 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

  • 2 carry-in accesses
  • Camping (11 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

11 campgrounds are mapped on or near Crab 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

Carry-In AccessCampground

Fish Species

No survey on file

Plan your trip to Crab Lake

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

Best camping lakes in St. Louis County

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Nearby Lakes

Lunetta Lake

30 out of 100 Lake Score

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Burntside Lake

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3.9 miles away

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Coxey Pond

31 out of 100 Lake Score

St. Louis · Burntside Lake192 acres

4 miles away

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Cummings Lake

54 out of 100 Lake Score

St. Louis · Burntside Lake1,038 acres

4.2 miles away

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Wolf Lake

57 out of 100 Lake Score

St. Louis · Ely289 acres

4.5 miles away

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Mud Lake

56 out of 100 Lake Score

St. Louis · Ely176 acres

4.8 miles away

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Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Crab Lake?

Crab Lake is in St. Louis County, Minnesota, near Ely. It covers 420 acres and reaches 57 feet deep.

How big and how deep is Crab Lake?

Crab Lake covers 420 acres with about 10.5 miles of shoreline. Its maximum depth is 57 feet.

What fish can you catch at Crab Lake?

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

Is there a public boat launch on Crab Lake?

Public access is on record, but not a trailer ramp: carry-in access only.

Can you swim at Crab Lake?

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

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