Boating At Lake of the Woods In Minnesota

Free Public Boating & Watersport Activities

Lake of the Woods, situated on the northern border of Minnesota, is one of the largest and most scenic lakes in the state. It straddles the border with Canada, offering visitors a unique experience of being able to fish and explore in both countries. The lake's vast size, covering over 1,700 square miles, provides plenty of opportunities for boating enthusiasts to cruise its expansive waters and enjoy the breathtaking views of the surrounding wilderness.

Boating on Lake of the Woods is a favorite pastime for locals and tourists alike, with its numerous bays, islands, and inlets to explore. Boaters can find marinas scattered along the lake's shores, providing essential services and facilities to ensure a smooth and enjoyable boating experience. Whether visitors are seeking a place to dock, fuel up, or stock up on supplies, the marinas cater to the needs of all boaters.

The lake's expansive waters and calm conditions make it ideal for various water sports, attracting enthusiasts from all over. Water skiing, tubing, wakeboarding, and jet skiing are popular activities that add excitement and thrills to a day on the lake. The combination of crystal-clear waters and stunning scenery create a perfect backdrop for unforgettable water sports adventures.

For those who don't have their own boats, Lake of the Woods offers rental boats for visitors to explore the lake and try their hand at fishing. Whether it's fishing boats for angling or pontoon boats for leisurely rides, rental options are available for various preferences and interests.

Fishing is a major highlight of Lake of the Woods, known for its abundance of fish species. Anglers flock to the lake to catch walleye, sauger, northern pike, muskie, and more. The lake's reputation as a premier fishing destination has earned it the title of "Walleye Capital of the World," making it a must-visit spot for fishing enthusiasts.

Nearby cities, such as Baudette and Warroad in Minnesota, offer convenient access to Lake of the Woods, making it accessible for visitors from different areas. These towns provide accommodations, restaurants, and other amenities to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable stay for those exploring the lake.

The boating season on Lake of the Woods typically runs from spring to fall, giving visitors ample time to indulge in boating, fishing, and water sports. And for those who wish to extend their stay and fully immerse themselves in the scenic beauty of the area, camping options are available along the lake's shores, providing a peaceful and serene experience in the heart of nature.

Boating, camping and fishing.

A boating and vacation paradise as well as a walleye fishing mecca, Lake of the Woods is the ultimate outdoors destination. A couple marinas, several boat launch ramps, plenty of camping, lodging and shopping are all convenient to the lake. Lake Of The Woods is partially in Minnesota, and the balance is in Canada. In addition to excellent walleye fishing, the lake also has good populations of bass, crappie, sunfish, perch, muskie and pike. Ice fishing in winter can deliver nice stringers from this 950,000-acre lake on the northern border of the state. During the warm seasons, fishing enthusiasts are treated to about 65,000 miles of shoreline to explore. Fishing from the bank is often very productive, but boats allow anglers to reach considerably more water and see the natural beauty. There is plenty of water to fish within Minnesota, where all you are required to have is a MN fishing license. However, if you intend to fish Canada portion, you’ll need a Manitoba and/or Ontario license. Local fishing guides offer a variety of boating and ice fishing packages throughout the year.

Area Amenities

Marina: YES
Boat Rental: YES
Boat Launch Ramp: YES
Campgrounds: YES
RV Hookups: YES
Lodging: YES
Convenience Store: NEARBY
Bait & Tackle: YES
Restaurant: YES

Camping

Lake of Woods Campground - 218 634-1694

Birch Ridge RV Campground - 218 452-8226

Warroad City Campground - 218 386-1004

Young's Bay Resort Campground - 218 223-8031

Ken-Mar-Ke Resort RV Campground - 218 634-2072

Lake of the Woods Map

Fishing

Fish species found in Lake of the Woods include smallmouth bass, black crappie, white crappie, walleye, pumpkinseed sunfish, rock bass, yellow perch, muskie, northern pike and sauger.

Smallmouth bass Black crappie White crappie Walleye Pumpkinseed Sunfish Rock Bass Yellow Perch Muskie Northern pike Sauger