Ash Lake - Northwest St. Louis

Saint Louis County, Minnesota

Ash Lake is in Orr, Minnesota, under 80 miles from Ely. For another big-city trip, Grand Rapids is under 130 miles away.

The Falls International Airport is 40.2 miles away, and the Falls Memorial Hospital is 43.2 miles away.

Expansive Coves

Spanning 690 acres, Ash Lake has plenty of room for residents to enjoy recreation and relaxation.

Popular activities include boating, kayaking, canoeing, swimming, fishing, taking in the views, and exploring nature. Many homes have docks, but a public access point is on the northern side of the water.

Anglers can find black crappie, bluegill, brook trout, northern pike, pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass, sunfish, walleye, yellow perch, white sucker, bluntnose minnow, common shiner, creek chub, golden shiner, and Johnny darter.

Explore Ely

Those looking for fun off the water can discover everything Ely has to offer.

One popular attraction is Kawishiwi Falls Trail, where visitors can hike through the woods and relax in nature.

Another popular attraction is the International Wolf Center, where visitors can go and see a variety of wolves living inside the preserve.

Visit Grand Rapids

If you’re interested in learning the history of logging in this part of the state, head down to the Forest History Center. You can see a recreation of a white pine logging camp from 1900, listen to stories from loggers and forest service patrolmen from different eras, or get a bird’s eye view from a 100-foot fire tower.

Follow the yellow brick road to the Judy Garland Museum, where you can get a glimpse at the world’s largest Judy Garland and Wizard of Oz collection, including the world-famous ruby-red slippers from the movie.

If you’re getting hungry, you can check out the great restaurants that Grand Rapids has to offer, like Mitu Srilankan and Indian Cuisine, Donkey Taqueria, and Heritage Restaurant.

Live in a Natural Paradise

Those seeking to live in a lakeside, natural paradise will love calling Ash Lake home.