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Tait Lake

Lutsen, Minnesota — Cook County.

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348Surface acres
3Public access sites

Surface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 120020636).

Location & fast facts

Where Tait Lake is in Minnesota

The red circle marks Tait Lake.

Fast facts

About Tait Lake

  • County: Cook
  • Town: Lutsen
  • Mapped as: Lake or pond (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Distance: about 232 mi from Minneapolis and 98 mi from Duluth, straight-line (not driving distance)

Towns and counties: U.S. Census Bureau boundaries overlaid on the USGS lake outline.

Fishing in Minnesota

Official Minnesota DNR pages. Rules and fees change; check before you go.

Good for & watch for

Good for

  • Boating. 3 public trailer launches listed (see access)
  • Fishing. Walleye, Northern pike, Bluegill and Yellow perch
  • Camping. 36 campgrounds within 15 mi (list)

Watch for

  • Boat traffic. A public trailer launch means motorboats share the water; expect more traffic on summer weekends.
  • Cold water. Water stays cold well into late spring and turns cold again in fall. Wear a life jacket when paddling in the shoulder seasons.

Built only from the data on this page: official access lists, OpenStreetMap beaches and trails, campground listings, state and USGS invasive-species records. We don't rate crowds or water quality.

Official lake survey (Minnesota DNR)

15 ftMaximum depth
355Acres (state figure)

Fish species found in Minnesota DNR lake surveys: Bluegill, Northern pike, Pumpkinseed, Walleye, White sucker, Yellow perch.

Average depth not published.

Shallow (littoral) area: 355 of 355 acres

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources LakeFinder record for Tait Lake (DOW 16038400), with lake survey reports, depth maps and stocking history. Acreage here can differ slightly from our mapped outline.

Lake map

Tait Lake shoreline, boat launches & beaches

Boat ramp (Boat launch)1Boat ramp (Boat launch)2Tait Lake Public Water Access Site (Boat launch)3½ mileN

Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.

Boat launch
  1. 1Boat ramp
    Boat launch · Lutsen
  2. 2Boat ramp
    Boat launch · Lutsen
  3. 3Tait Lake Public Water Access Site
    Boat launch · Lutsen

Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 120020636), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: Minnesota DNR public water access sites (Minnesota Geospatial Commons) and OpenStreetMap boat ramps (ODbL). Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.

Campgrounds near Tait Lake

We found 36 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Tait Lake, 2 of them within 5 miles. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.

14 more within 15 miles

All campgrounds & RV parks in Minnesota

Green tent icons on the lake map mark campgrounds near the shore, and the interactive map shows the closest 12. Amenities are listed only where a source records them; call or check the campground's website before you go, since seasons and rates change every year.

Campground data: Recreation.gov (RIDB) · OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Pulled Oct 12, 2026.

Conditions right now

Air temperature & conditions (nearest NWS station)Loading…
Fetching the latest National Weather Service observation…

Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (47.8196, -90.6791). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Tait Lake. No live water-temperature sensor is shown because we haven't found a public one for this lake.

Sun, moon & best fishing times

Sun & moon at Tait Lake

Best fishing times

Major periodMinor periodDaylight

    Based on solunar theory, an estimate. Major periods (about 2 hours) center on when the moon is directly overhead or underfoot; minor periods (about 1 hour) center on moonrise and moonset. The 0–100 activity score rises during those periods and gets a boost near sunrise and sunset and around the new and full moon. Weather, water temperature and pressure often matter more. Sun and moon times are calculated in your browser from the lake's coordinates with standard astronomy formulas, shown in CT (America/Chicago), and accurate to within a few minutes.

    Boat launches & access sites

    3 public access sites listed, 3 with a boat ramp or trailer launch.

    SiteTownOwnerTypeParkingFeeUsesMap
    Boat rampLutsen—Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating47.8242, -90.6764
    Boat rampLutsen—Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating47.8131, -90.6849
    Tait Lake Public Water Access SiteLutsenU.S. Forest ServiceTrailer launch · Concrete slab ramp6 trailer, 6 car—Fishing, Boating
    Restroom
    47.8199, -90.7102

    Minnesota DNR public water access sites (Minnesota Geospatial Commons) and OpenStreetMap boat ramps (ODbL)

    Fees, hours and rules change; confirm with the site owner before you go.

    Contact & official info

    Questions about Tait Lake

    How big is Tait Lake?

    Tait Lake covers about 348 acres in Lutsen, Minnesota (Cook County).

    How deep is Tait Lake?

    The maximum recorded depth is 15 feet, according to the Minnesota DNR LakeFinder.

    What fish are in Tait Lake?

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder lists Walleye, Northern pike, Bluegill, Yellow perch, Pumpkinseed and White sucker.

    Is there a public boat launch on Tait Lake?

    Yes. 3 public trailer launches are listed: Tait Lake Public Water Access Site, Boat ramp and Boat ramp. Check posted fees and parking rules.

    Are there campgrounds near Tait Lake?

    Yes. We list 36 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles, 2 of them within 5 miles.

    What towns are on Tait Lake?

    Tait Lake touches Lutsen in Cook County, Minnesota.

    Share a tip or fishing report

    Know Tait Lake? Tell us about the launch, parking, where they're biting or anything a first-time visitor should know. Tips go privately to the LakeRipple editor; nothing is posted automatically. Helpful tips may be featured on this page (we'll use your first name only if you give one).

    Lakes & ponds nearby

    Straight-line distance between lake centers. All Minnesota lakes & ponds · All waters in Lutsen