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Pelican Lake-St. Louis County, Minnesota, USA

Pelican Lake lies adjacent to the small town of Orr in St. Louis County, Minnesota. Pelican Lake has 54 miles of shoreline and is peppered with 53 islands. [There are more than 10 Pelican Lakes in Minnesota; this one is the largest.] Pelican Lake’s shoreline is extensively developed with homes, cottages, and resorts. Pelican Lake is a relatively shallow lake: maximum depth is 38 feet, and 5,789…
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    • All About Pelican Lake-St. Louis County, MN

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

    Pelican Lake lies adjacent to the small town of Orr in St. Louis County, Minnesota. Pelican Lake has 54 miles of shoreline and is peppered with 53 islands. [There are more than 10 Pelican Lakes in Minnesota; this one is the largest.]

    Pelican Lake’s shoreline is extensively developed with homes, cottages, and resorts.

    Pelican Lake is a relatively shallow lake: maximum depth is 38 feet, and 5,789 of its 10,945 acres of water surface are less than 15 feet in depth. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources ranks its water quality as good.

    Abundant aquatic vegetation supports sport fishing. Bass, panfish, northern pike, and yellow perch are the primary sport-fish. Black crappie, bluegill, and bullhead are among the most common. Special regulations protect northern pike, largemouth and smallmouth bass.

    Boating conditions and facilities are excellent. Superior National Forest, Voyageurs National Park, and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness are all within easy reach.

    Birdwatching is also popular; look for eagles, grosbeaks, hawks, hummingbirds, jays, loons, osprey, and woodpeckers. Pelican Lake is named for its pelican-like shape, but is also frequented by statuesque Great White American Pelicans that like the place well enough to return each summer. For decades it’s been a stop on their flyway between Canada and the Gulf of Mexico.

    Pelican Lake lodging runs mostly to cottages and cabins, according to the Resort Association, which promotes Pelican lake as “the perfect marriage between lake recreation and environmental conservation”. Area resorts specialize in family reunions, and several provide first class accommodations.

    Things to Do at Pelican Lake-St. Louis County

    These are some activities in the Pelican Lake-St. Louis County, MN area visitors can enjoy:

    • Fishing
    • Boating
    • Canoeing
    • Cabin Rentals
    • Birding
    • National Park
    • National Forest

    What Kind of Fish Are in Pelican Lake-St. Louis County?

    Pelican Lake-St. Louis County has been known to have the following fish species:

    • Bass
    • Black Bass
    • Black Crappie
    • Bluegill
    • Crappie
    • Largemouth Bass
    • Northern Pike
    • Perch
    • Pike
    • Smallmouth Bass
    • Sunfish
    • Yellow Perch
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    Find Places to Stay at Pelican Lake-St. Louis County

    If you’re considering a Pelican Lake-St. Louis County 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.

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    More Sites to Book a Pelican Lake-St. Louis County Vacation

    Our interactive Pelican Lake-St. Louis County 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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    Pelican Lake-St. Louis County Statistics & Helpful Links

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    Lake Type: Natural Freshwater Lake, Not Dammed

    Water Level Control: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

    Surface Area: 10,945 acres

    Shoreline Length: 54 miles

    Normal Elevation (Full Pond): 1,288 feet

    Minimum Elevation (Min Pond): 1,286 feet

    Maximum Elevation (Max Pond): 1,290 feet

    Maximum Depth: 38 feet

    Trophic State: Eutrophic

    Pelican Lake-St. Louis County Map
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