Nestled in north-central Minnesota, Leech Lake sits inside the Chippewa National Forest, close to the Leech Lake Indian Reservation. This area features a breathtaking place to relax and enjoy the great outdoors. If you’re looking for a destination to escape the hassles of daily life, Leech Lake is ideal as it boasts lakefront homes with docks and immediate access to fishing and swimming. Moreover, around the lake and the national forest area are small towns offering a variety of activities and attractions. Find vacation rentals at Leech Lake, and book your stay today. Check out the most relaxing towns and cities near Leech Lake.
1. Whipholt
Along the southern edge of Leech Lake is the friendly town of Whipholt with vacation rentals lining the water’s edge as well as more modestly priced offerings close enough to bike to the lake. Spend your day’s canoeing, fishing, and boating on the lake. At the Whipholt Roadside Park, you and the family can spend the day on the beach, soaking up the sun, enjoying a picnic, and playing in the water. Stop by Your Boat Club and rent a pontoon boat for a day on the water, where you can teach the kids to fish.
2. Brevik
Northeast of the Whipholt area is the town of Brevik that also sits on the lake shore. All year round, this area attracts visitors. In the winter months, use a rustic cabin along the lake to fill your days with ice fishing or ice skating on the lake. Bring your own snowmobiles or rent some from a local outfitter to explore the area while enjoying the wind blowing in your face. In the summer, enjoy one of the many festivals that occur around Leech Lake, such as the Walker Fourth of July Celebration.
3. Blackduck Point Area
Enjoy the isolation and natural beauty when you take your family to the Blackduck Point area. Spend time reconnecting with your kids and catching up on their daily lives while exploring the lake on kayaks or enjoy an afternoon hiking in the nearby national forest with its variety of hiking trails. Bring your bike and spend an afternoon riding around the lake and the Blackduck Point area. Gather up your fishing poles and drive over to Blackduck Lake to see if the fish are biting there.
4. Federal Dam
In this town, choose a vacation rental along the lake or one of its tributaries close to the dam that moderates the lake’s water levels. In the summer months, try to schedule your trip to arrive in time for the Leech Lake Regatta and watch the sailboats cruising around the lake as they try to finish first. In the winter months, bring your cross country skis and use the local hiking trails to explore the snow covered lake area.
5. Birch Ridge Area
Stay on the northeastern side of the lake, when you select a vacation rental along the lake or one near the Birch Ridge Resort. While away the days on the lake, fishing, boating, kayaking, and paddle boarding. Pack the kids in the car and drive over to the Hole in the Bog Peatland Scientific and Natural Area. Spend the day hiking along the trails while paying close attention to all the flora and fauna. Bring binoculars because this is a popular bird watching area. In the winter months, some of the trails are open for snow mobiles.
6. Benedict
Just a few minutes from the lake sits the town of Benedict with its easy access to all your favorite activities. Bike around the town or pack the kids in the car for a day at the lake, fishing, canoeing, and swimming. Send the golf lover in your family to the Long Bow Golf Club for a few holes of golf with the beauty of the lake in the background. Lester Lake Scientific and Natural Area offers your family a day of hiking and bird watching in a protected area.
7. Walker
The town of Walker sits along the shores of Walker Bay that meets Leech Lake just a couple of miles to the north. This thriving area offers the Tianna Country Club, where you can take the family for a day of golfing and hanging out by the pool. Each year, this town hosts the Eelpout Festival, where people flock to the lake for ice fishing in February and the chance to catch the most of these bottom-dwelling fish.
8. Ah-gwah-ching
Just south of Walker, Ah-gwah-ching welcomes visitors all year long with a friendly smile and advice on the best place on the lake to catch fish. If you want to visit the Tianna Country Club, you’ll find a day of golf and a swimming pool is only a few minutes away. Stop by Shingobee Bar And Marina to enjoy a drink with an amazing view, pick up supplies for your vacation rental, or rent a boat to spend a day on the water.
9. Onigum
Relax and rejuvenate with a vacation rental in the Onigum area that offers easy access to Walker Bay, Agency Bay, and Traders Bay that all lead to Leech Lake. Take your hubby out for a night of fun at the Northern Lights Casino to try your luck at blackjack, poker, or slots. You can also book tickets for a live entertainment show at the casino or enjoy dinner in one of the dining rooms.