Lake Vermilion, Minnesota, USA

Known as “Lake of the Sunset Glow” by its ancient Ojibwe inhabitants, northeastern Minnesota’s sunny Lake Vermilion is a positively ideal getaway. This immaculate body of water is enormous, featuring a surface area of 40,557 acres and an average depth of 76 feet. Smack in the middle of the Minnesota wilderness, the region is bordered by untamed Superior National Forest. With its exquisite sunsets, unbelievable fishing opportunities,…
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    • All About Lake Vermilion, MN

    Lake Locations: USA - US Midwest Region - Minnesota - Northeast Minnesota -

    Known as “Lake of the Sunset Glow” by its ancient Ojibwe inhabitants, northeastern Minnesota’s sunny Lake Vermilion is a positively ideal getaway. This immaculate body of water is enormous, featuring a surface area of 40,557 acres and an average depth of 76 feet. Smack in the middle of the Minnesota wilderness, the region is bordered by untamed Superior National Forest. With its exquisite sunsets, unbelievable fishing opportunities, and array of water activities, it is no wonder the natural freshwater lake is one of the most popular in the state.

    Lake Vermilion’s extensive history goes all the way back to 7000 B.C., when humans first began to prosper there. French traders built a harbor at Lake Vermilion in 1670, in order to better trade furs with the Sioux Indians. Today, residents of the Chippewa tribe still reside in the surrounding areas. A gold rush in 1865 proved itself fruitless just a few years later, but nonetheless served to attract many settlers to the lake. Iron ore deposits were discovered shortly thereafter, providing a convenient replacement for the recently established gold mining industry. Nearby towns, such as Soudan and the City of Tower, began to grow and thrive. Finally, a dam was constructed in 1890 to support the expanding communities.

    These days, anglers travel from far and wide to trawl Lake Vermilion’s depths for 13 species of fish: black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, burbot, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkin seed, rock bass, smallmouth bass, tullibee, walleye, white sucker, and yellow perch. As a participant in Minnesota’s fisheries monitoring program, known as the Large Lake Program, water quality and fish populations are meticulously researched and measured on an annual basis. The program acts as an environmental safeguard confirming that fishermen are following the lake’s rules and regulations, while simultaneously ensuring that local fish populations are sustained for generations to come.

    There is truly something for everyone at Lake Vermilion, with activities ranging from boating to berry picking. From June to August, surrounding woods supply vast amounts of juicy raspberries, blueberries, cherries, strawberries, and blackberries just ripe for the plucking. Paddle boating and canoeing are idyllic methods of exploring the lake’s hidden shores and 365 lonely islands (one for each day of the year). Hydrobikes, motorized vehicles somewhat similar to two kayaks connected by a bike seat, can be rented on a daily or weekly basis, as can kayaks, bicycles, and jet skis. Windsurfing, water skiing, fishing, tubing, and horseback riding are other popular diversions. Numerous biking and hiking trails located throughout the park are wonderful for bird and wildlife lovers, and vary from easy to moderate in intensity. During the winter, snowmobiling, skiing, snowboarding, ice fishing, and dog sledding are exciting entertainment alternatives.

    Due to its breathtaking natural beauty and incredible variety of activities, Lake Vermilion is the perfect destination for those in search of a lakeside vacation rental or real estate property. Facilities include restaurants, budget to upscale hotels and cabins, boat docks and picnic areas. There is no better place than Lake Vermilion to enjoy superb fishing, Minnesota’s rich history, and the great outdoors.

    *note* shoreline length statistic does not include islands.

    Things to Do at Lake Vermilion

    These are some activities in the Lake Vermilion, MN area visitors can enjoy:

    • Vacation Rentals
    • Fishing
    • Ice Fishing
    • Boating
    • Canoeing
    • Kayaking
    • Jet Skiing
    • Water Skiing
    • Tubing
    • Picnicking
    • Cabin Rentals
    • Hiking
    • Biking
    • Snowboarding
    • Snowmobiling
    • Dog Sledding
    • Horseback Riding
    • Wildlife Viewing
    • National Forest

    What Kind of Fish Are in Lake Vermilion?

    Lake Vermilion has been known to have the following fish species:

    • Bass
    • Black Bass
    • Black Crappie
    • Bluegill
    • Brown Bullhead
    • Burbot
    • Crappie
    • Largemouth Bass
    • Northern Pike
    • Perch
    • Pike
    • Smallmouth Bass
    • Sucker
    • Sunfish
    • Walleye
    • Yellow Perch
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    Find Places to Stay at Lake Vermilion

    If you’re considering a Lake Vermilion lake house rental or hotel, we’ve made it super easy to find the best rates and compare vacation accommodations at a glance. Save time using this interactive map below.

    Note: These are affiliate links and we may earn a small commission if you click and make a purchase. Read our full disclosure policy here.

    More Sites to Book a Lake Vermilion Vacation

    Our interactive Lake Vermilion lodging map above is an easy tool for comparing VRBO rental homes and nearby hotels with Booking.com, but there could be times when you need to expand your search for different types of accommodations. Here are some other lake lodging partners we recommend:

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    Lake Vermilion Statistics & Helpful Links

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    Lake Type: Natural Freshwater Lake, Dammed

    Surface Area: 40,557 acres

    Shoreline Length: 202 miles

    Normal Elevation (Full Pond): 1,358 feet

    Minimum Elevation (Min Pond): 1,356 feet

    Maximum Elevation (Max Pond): 1,360 feet

    Average Depth: 19 feet

    Maximum Depth: 76 feet

    Drainage Area: 495 sq. miles

    Trophic State: Mesotrophic

    Lake Vermilion Map
    Lake Water Level
    Local Weather Forecast

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    Lake Winnibigoshish, MN

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