Oyster Lake
About Oyster Lake
Oyster Lake is a 763-acre lake near Ely in St. Louis County, Minnesota. It reaches 130 feet at its deepest point, and has roughly 8.7 miles of shoreline. DNR surveys put average water clarity at about 8.2 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. 7 campgrounds are mapped close to the shoreline for overnight stays.
Plan Your Visit to Oyster Lake
- 763 acres, up to 130 feet deep, near Ely
- Carry-in access only — bring a boat you can hand-launch unless you confirm a ramp
- Average water clarity around 8.2 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
- 763 acres
- Max depth
- 130 ft
- Shoreline
- 8.7 mi
- Water clarity
- 8.2 ft
- Shallows (under 15 ft)
- 234 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 carry-in accesses
- Camping (7 mapped)
Best For
- Lakeside camping
- Quiet paddling
- Ice is never completely safe — check thickness yourself before walking or driving on any lake
Camping & Reservations
7 campgrounds are mapped on or near Oyster 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 Oyster Lake
Compare Oyster Lake against the top-ranked lakes nearby, then map your route.
Nearby Lakes
Rocky Lake
32 out of 100 Lake ScoreSt. Louis · Crane Lake120 acres
1.3 miles away
Hustler Lake
52 out of 100 Lake ScoreSt. Louis · Crane Lake277 acres
2.2 miles away
Green Lake
31 out of 100 Lake ScoreSt. Louis · Crane Lake160 acres
2.4 miles away
Lake Agnes
55 out of 100 Lake ScoreSt. Louis · Crane Lake1,045 acres
2.6 miles away
Ramshead Lake
33 out of 100 Lake ScoreSt. Louis · Crane Lake553 acres
3 miles away
Ge-Be-On-Equat Lake
53 out of 100 Lake ScoreSt. Louis · Crane Lake660 acres
3.9 miles away
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Oyster Lake?
Oyster Lake is in St. Louis County, Minnesota, near Ely. It covers 763 acres and reaches 130 feet deep.
How big and how deep is Oyster Lake?
Oyster Lake covers 763 acres with about 8.7 miles of shoreline. Its maximum depth is 130 feet.
What fish can you catch at Oyster Lake?
The DNR has no fish survey on file for Oyster Lake.
Is there a public boat launch on Oyster Lake?
Public access is on record, but not a trailer ramp: carry-in access only.
Can you swim at Oyster Lake?
There is no mapped public swim beach at Oyster 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 Oyster Lake?
Yes. A campground is mapped on or near the shore. Confirm whether sites are reservable or first-come, first-served before you go.