Minnesota's Rainy Lake Now Ranks With Best Swimming Lakes In U.S.

Now that we're in the middle of summer, countless people are enjoying outdoor recreation activities throughout Minnesota.

One very popular activity is lake swimming, which should come as no surprise since Minnesota is, of course, known as the "Land of 10,000 Lakes," so there are numerous opportunities for swimming, with many lakes providing public access and beaches.

But, while Minnesota has plenty of lakes to swim in, how do they compare with all the other lakes within the United States? A recent study was done to find the '26 Best Lakes For Swimming In The U.S.', and it's a great sign that one Minnesota lake stood out and made the cut.

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The Best Lakes For Swimming In The United States

To locate the 26 best lakes for swimming in the country, several factors were considered, including easy access to the water, lakes with clean water, lakes that provided an amazing view, and more.

The one lake in Minnesota that made the list was Rainy Lake, a large, glacial lake that straddles the border between the U.S. and Canada.

The study says that within the "Land of 10,000 Lakes", Rainy Lake is a must.

Highlights of the lake are two small beaches that provide access to warm-ish water on this stunning lake, which is part of Voyageurs National Park’s chain of large interconnected lakes that include Lake Kabetogama, Namakan Lake, Sand Point Lake, and Crane Lake.

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Furthermore, they were wildly impressed that the remote North Woods region is home to more than 50 species of mammals, including moose, wolves, bears, and otters, who can often be seen playing in the water surrounding the Lake Kabetogama Visitor Center. The icing on the cake is that, if you get lucky, you also get to see the Northern Lights dancing in the sky during your visit.

Everyone in Minnesota has their favorite lake for swimming, but it's certainly hard to argue with Rainy Lake being the best in the state. If you've never been there, now is the perfect time to plan a little getaway up north.

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