Johnson Lake - Northwest St. Louis

Saint Louis County, Minnesota

Johnson Lake is in Northwest St. Louis and Crane Lake Township, Minnesota. The lake is near the Canadian border and under 95 miles from Ely and International Falls.

The Cook Hospital is under 60 miles away, and the Falls International Airport is 72 miles away.

Life on the Water

Johnson Lake is 456 acres in size, with a maximum depth of 18 feet. The lake contains over ten and a half miles of shoreline, offering plenty of space for lake fun.

The lake is excellent for canoeing, fishing, watersports, and even swimming in the clear waters. A public access point is on the southeastern side of the water.

Anglers can find green sunfish, lake trout, lake whitefish, northern pike, northern sunfish, rock bass, smallmouth bass, cisco, walleye, yellow perch, white sucker, golden shiner, and mimic shiner.

Around the Area

Johnson Lake is perfect for outdoor enthusiasts, with numerous state forests and national parks nearby.

Vermillion Falls Overlook is a great opportunity to take a walk through nature and enjoy all of the scenery. The spot is also perfect for short-distance hiking, which leads to an excellent view of the falls.

A bit further to the south is Kabetogama State Park, offering trails for hiking, skiing, ATV vehicles, plus boating and fishing.

Visit Ely

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

Highly rated restaurants call Ely home, like Britton’s Cafe, Boathouse Brewpub & Restaurant, Ely Steak House, and Insula.

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

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

The North American Bear Center is a great place to go if you want to learn more about black bears. This one-of-a-kind educational center features interactive exhibits, daily events, and programs, as well as a forested enclosure for four “ambassador” bears!

Why Johnson Lake?

Johnson Lake is perfect for the outdoor enthusiast or someone looking to get away from the busy, fast pace of the city.