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Merritt Lake

lakeSt. Louis County, Minnesota · near Tower198 acres31 out of 100 Lake Score Lake Score

About Merritt Lake

Merritt Lake is a 198-acre lake near Tower in St. Louis County, Minnesota. It reaches 8 feet at its deepest point, and has roughly 3.3 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. A campground is mapped close to the shoreline for overnight stays.

Plan Your Visit to Merritt Lake

What to Know Before You Go
  • 198 acres, up to 8 feet deep, near Tower
  • 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
198 acres
Max depth
8 ft
Shoreline
3.3 mi
Shallows (under 15 ft)
198 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 (1 mapped)

Best For

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

Camping & Reservations

1 campground is mapped on or near Merritt 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 Merritt Lake

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

Best camping lakes in St. Louis County

See how Merritt Lake ranks among camping lakes nearby.

Best paddling lakes in St. Louis County

See how Merritt Lake ranks among paddling lakes nearby.

Nearby Lakes

Trout Lake

73 out of 100 Lake Score

St. Louis · Tower7,425 acres

1.9 miles away

FishingIce FishingPaddlingCamping

Oriniack Lake

46 out of 100 Lake Score

St. Louis · Tower744 acres

2.2 miles away

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Little Trout Lake

62 out of 100 Lake Score

St. Louis · Soudan528 acres

4 miles away

FishingIce FishingBoatingPaddling

Wolf Lake

39 out of 100 Lake Score

St. Louis · Tower179 acres

4.3 miles away

FishingIce FishingPaddlingCanoe Tripping

Vermilion River

62 out of 100 Lake Score

St. Louis · Buyck1,071 acres

5.1 miles away

FishingBoatingPaddlingCamping

Gowan Lake

30 out of 100 Lake Score

St. Louis · Buyck134 acres

5.6 miles away

PaddlingCamping

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Merritt Lake?

Merritt Lake is in St. Louis County, Minnesota, near Tower. It covers 198 acres and reaches 8 feet deep.

How big and how deep is Merritt Lake?

Merritt Lake covers 198 acres with about 3.3 miles of shoreline. Its maximum depth is 8 feet.

What fish can you catch at Merritt Lake?

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

Is there a public boat launch on Merritt Lake?

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

Can you swim at Merritt Lake?

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

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