In the Land of 10,000 Lakes you never run out of options for aquatic recreation in the summer. From beautiful beaches to fishing coves, our lakes offer everything you need to have a magical season. These 14 lakes are some of our favorites and among the most beautiful lakes in Minnesota to visit year-round.

Bear Head Lake
Bear Head Lake, MN 55732, USA
Tony Webster/Flickr
One of the most beautiful lakes in Minnesota is Bear Head Lake. Located in the equally beautifu Bear Head Lake State Park, this lake is a recreation dream and looks stunning under the sunset.
2. Minnesota Lake
Minnesota Lake, MN 56068, USA
Chuy Murguía/Google Maps
Named for the Land of 10,000 Lakes, it's no wonder that this lake in particular is so gorgeous. Boating, water skiing, fishing, and swimming are among the popular activities here.
3. Lake Brophy
Lake Brophy, La Grand Township, MN 56308, USA
Brophy Lake Resort/Google Maps
This resort lake near Alexandria is always beautiful in the summer, and has wonderful fishing. Ask the locals and they'll tell you that Lake Brophy is among the most beautiful lakes in Minnesota.
4. Pearl Lake
Pearl Lake, Maine Prairie Township, MN 55353, USA
Pearl Lake Facebook Page
This big, beautiful lake in central Minnesota is stunning. The summer sunsets here are amazing and along the shore is a great place to sit and watch as the colors change on the horizon.
5. East Gull Lake
East Gull Lake, MN 56401, USA
jpellgen (@1179_jp)/Flickr
One of the best Northern resort lakes, East Gull is surrounded by fun places to take the family!
6. Prior Lake
Prior Lake, MN, USA
jpellgen (@1179_jp)/Flickr
Prior Lake is located in its namesake town, which is one of the most beautiful parts of the state. Only a short drive from downtown Minneapolis, there are the Upper Prior Lake and Lower Prior Lake areas, together offering a wealth of watersports activities for the locals and visitors from around the region.
7. Buchanan Lake
Buchanan Lake, Minnesota 56571, USA
Flickr/Ryan Bowley
Located in Ottertail County, scenic Buchanan Lake is a wonderful place to getaway for some peace and quiet. (By the way, there are more lakes here than any county in America!).
8. Ottertail Lake
Otter Tail Lake, Minnesota, USA
Ken Lund//Flickr
Ottertail Lake is a spectacular large lake which has plenty of resort and recreation options. Whether you enjoy swimming, water skiing, boating, or other sports, you can enjoy them here with a backdrop of pure scenic beauty.
9. Hegman Lake
South Hegman Lake, Slim Lake, MN 55731, USA
Joel Schleicher/Google Maps
Located within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, Hegman Lake stands out as one of the best lakes in Minnesota for its beauty and for the nearby pictographs.
10. Lake Winona
Lake Winona, Winona, MN 55987, USA
Jay Gannett/Flickr
Whether at East Lake Winona or West Lake Winona, all of Lake Winona offers some of the best views of the bluffs, and they always look postcard ready!
11. Clear Lake
Clear Lake, MN 55319, USA
Lorie Shaull/Flickr
Located near the town of Gibbon, Clear Lake has some great places to camp and enjoy the summer views.
12. Little Lake Osakis
Little Lake Osakis, Leslie Township, MN 56360, USA
leslie fenlon/Google Maps
A favorite for cabin owners, this little lake in the town of Osakis is always gorgeous in the summer, particularly in the evenings.
13. Deer Lake
Deer Lake, MN, USA
Sam/Flickr
Beautiful Deer Lake near Grand Rapids is surrounded by charming vacation rentals and has some phenomenal views you can enjoy while fishing and boating in seclusion. It is definitely one of the most popular lakes to visit in Minnesota this summer.
14. Pelican Lake
Pelican Lake, Minnesota, USA
Dilated Time/Flickr
Another favorite northern resort lake, Pelican Lake is perfect for fishing and relaxation. Nothing beats a weekend away and enjoying the spectacular sunsets here.

What is your favorite lake memory in Minnesota? We’d love to see your photos and hear about your experiences.

If you’re looking for more outdoor activities, you definitely need to explore some of Minneapolis’ wonderful state parks.

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Lakes in Minnesota

Lysa Allman-Baldwin | July 15, 2022

What kind of activities can you do at St. Croix State Park?

St. Croix State Park is the largest state park in Minnesota and it is a beauty! Located in the town of Hinckley a little over an hour north of Saint Paul, the park offers a wealth of recreational activities like kayaking, camping, swimming, and bird watching, just to name a few. You’ll find 34,000 acres of expanse here, so there is never a lack of things to see, do, or experience.

I’m looking for haunted places in Minnesota.

The North Star State is peppered with supernatural places and each one offers a unique perspective of the history of the destination where it is located. If you’re in the Minneapolis area you might want to test your wits at Minneapolis City Hall. The 5th floor is said to be one of the scariest spots in the building, as this is where a convicted felon was hanged in the late 1800s. I guess he’s getting the last creepy laugh when we wanders the halls at night, scaring those working the night shift! 

I’m looking for family fun in the winter in Minnesota.

It gets pretty cold, to put it mildly(??) in the winter in Minnesota and it doesn’t take long for the family to start suffering from cabin fever. So how about taking everyone out for a fun day of ice bumper cars! You will find this winter take on traditional bumper cars at the Iron Trail Motors Event Center in the town of Virginia. It’s a game that everyone in the family can play and boy is it a lot of fun!

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