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Rainy Lake, Minnesota USA & Canada

Rainy Lake’s sprawling 221,000 acres straddle the border of the United States and Canada. Known as a water sports lover’s paradise, Rainy Lake is located in the Northeastern Region of Minnesota near International Falls and Ranier. Canada’s portion of Rainy Lake consists of 75% of this massive body of water, while the United States is home to the remaining 25%. With so much water it is no…
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    • All About Rainy Lake, MN / Canada

    Lake Locations: Canada - Ontario, Canada - USA - US Midwest Region - Minnesota - Northeast Minnesota -

    Rainy Lake’s sprawling 221,000 acres straddle the border of the United States and Canada. Known as a water sports lover’s paradise, Rainy Lake is located in the Northeastern Region of Minnesota near International Falls and Ranier. Canada’s portion of Rainy Lake consists of 75% of this massive body of water, while the United States is home to the remaining 25%. With so much water it is no wonder sports enthusiasts are drawn to this recreational wonderland. Activities on and around the lake include boating, canoeing, kayaking, camping, swimming, hiking, and fishing.

    Rainy Lake is a glacier-formed natural lake that was dammed in both the USA and Canada. Fort Frances-International Falls Dam was built in 1909, while the Kettle Falls Dam was built in 1914. Each dam is controlled by Boise Cascade Corporation in the United States and Abitibi Consolidated Inc. in Canada.

    Not only does Rainy Lake boast of having 929 miles of exterior shoreline, its water also laps against 635 miles of shoreline around 1,600 islands. With so much lakefront property, real estate and vacation rentals are plentiful to suit everyone’s taste, including homes, cabins, cottages, and houseboats. Home owners or guests can soothe away their cares as they enjoy the sun setting over Rainy Lake from their lakeview deck. Two other lakes – Kabetogama and Namakan – adjoin Rainy Lake, while the 80-mile-long Rainy River provides a connection to Lake of the Woods.

    Rainy Lake offers access to Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota’s only national park. Start your adventure at the Rainy Lake Visitor Center east of International Falls. The Center offers a free boat ramp for visitors who want to launch their own boat, canoe or kayak. The Center also offers guided boat tours during the summer, searching for wildlife and stopping at Little American Island to explore the 1890’s Rainy Lake gold rush. When the waters of Rainy Lake freeze, visitors can reach Voyageurs National Park by driving across plowed roads on the lake, or they can travel by snowmobiles, cross-country skis, or snowshoes. Once in Voyageurs National Park, nature lovers can pitch their tents on designated park islands. While camping, observant watchers may spot loons, eagles, otters, deer, black bear, or moose.

    Sandpoint Island Provincial Park is on the Canadian side of the lake. Accessible only by boat, the Park offers beach swimming, hiking, and wildlife viewing, but has no visitor facilities.

    Regarded as an angler’s paradise and one of the most scenic fishing destinations in the United States, Rainy Lake is known to be one of the world’s top multi-species fisheries. Rainy Lake boasts large populations of northern pike, black crappie, walleye, sauger, and smallmouth bass. In 2006 Rainy Lake was, for the third time, selected as the site of the prestigious Governor’s Fishing Opener, attracting large numbers of pro and amateur anglers. Anglers also enjoy fishing from nearby Rainy River which is another world-class fishery. The 80-mile long river offers the largest spring walleye spawning run in the world. There are public boat accesses to both Rainy Lake and Rainy River, and they are open to boats, canoes, and kayaks.

    Sightseers may want to plan a trip to nearby International Falls and the little resort village of Ranier in their Rainy Lake travel plans. The towns offer restaurants, antique shops, and golf with beautiful views of the Rainy River. For those who take pleasure in observing nature while bicycling will find the Rainy Lake Bike Trail a satisfying diversion. The trail begins in International Falls and ends near the entrance to Voyageurs National Park. For additional activities that may be happening in the area, visitors should take a stop at the International Falls Visitor’s Bureau.

    Since Rainy Lake is located on an international border, many visitors enjoy crossing into Canada or the United States via the International Bridge. When traveling from the United States, tourists must check in with Canadian Customs.

    Vacation rentals and sales are available on Rainy Lake, so visitors can unwind in a lakefront home, rustic cabin, or just enjoy being close to nature at a lakeside campsite. Whether you choose to call Rainy Lake home, or you take delight in vacationing on this scenic lake, you are sure to find the natural beauty of Rainy Lake to be mesmerizing.

    Things to Do at Rainy Lake

    These are some activities in the Rainy Lake, MN / Canada area visitors can enjoy:

    • Vacation Rentals
    • Fishing
    • Boating
    • Swimming
    • Beach
    • Canoeing
    • Kayaking
    • Golf
    • Camping
    • Cabin Rentals
    • Hiking
    • Biking
    • Snowmobiling
    • Snowshoeing
    • Wildlife Viewing
    • Birding
    • Provincial Park
    • National Park
    • Antiquing

    What Kind of Fish Are in Rainy Lake?

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

    • Bass
    • Black Bass
    • Black Crappie
    • Crappie
    • Northern Pike
    • Perch
    • Pike
    • Sauger
    • Smallmouth Bass
    • Walleye
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    Find Places to Stay at Rainy Lake

    If you’re considering a Rainy Lake 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 Rainy Lake Vacation

    Our interactive Rainy Lake 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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    Rainy Lake Statistics & Helpful Links

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    Lake Type: Natural Freshwater Lake, Dammed

    Water Level Control: Boise Cascade (USA); Abitibi Corp. (Canada)

    Surface Area: 221,000 acres

    Shoreline Length: 929 miles

    Normal Elevation (Full Pond): 1,108 feet

    Minimum Elevation (Min Pond): 1,105 feet

    Maximum Elevation (Max Pond): 1,109 feet

    Maximum Depth: 161 feet

    Completion Year: 1909

    Lake Area-Population: 20,000

    Trophic State: Mesotrophic

    Rainy Lake Map

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