Located along Minnesota’s northern border, Lake of the Woods is one of the state’s premier freshwater fishing destinations and one of the largest lakes in North America.
The Minnesota side of the lake has an exceptional concentration of established fishing resorts and lodges. The regional tourism organization lists more than 65 resorts, lodges and cabin accommodations around Lake of the Woods and its surrounding shoreline. Lake of the Woods Tourism
Unlike lakes where visitors may need to arrange accommodations, boats and guides separately, many Lake of the Woods resorts are built specifically around fishing vacations. Anglers can find waterfront cabins, traditional fishing lodges, charter boats, marinas, boat launches, fish-cleaning facilities and complete fishing packages.
During winter, the area becomes a major ice-fishing destination, with many resorts operating heated fish houses, sleeper houses and transportation onto the lake.
Lake of the Woods Resorts & Fishing Lodges
Ballard’s Resort
Location: Baudette / South Shore
Type: Fishing Resort + Cabins + Guided Fishing
Ballard’s Resort is a long-established fishing resort on the south side of Lake of the Woods. The Ballard family has operated the resort for generations, and the property has developed into a full-service destination centered heavily around fishing.
Guests can stay in housekeeping cabins and combine their accommodations with guided fishing packages. During the open-water season, the resort operates guided fishing trips, while winter brings ice-fishing packages and access to the lake’s famous walleye fishery. Ballards Resort
The Main Lodge also provides a gathering place after a day on the water, including dining and a bar and grill.
Best For: Dedicated fishing trips, groups and anglers wanting lodging and guided fishing in one package.
Official website: Ballard’s Resort
Border View Lodge
Location: Baudette / Rainy River
Type: Fishing Lodge + Cabins + Charter Fishing
Border View Lodge is a family-owned fishing resort located along the Rainy River near its entrance into Lake of the Woods.
The resort has a particularly large selection of accommodations, ranging from one-bedroom suites and riverside cabins to larger group lodges. Cabins include kitchens or cooking facilities, making the property suitable for both short fishing trips and longer stays.
Fishing is central to the operation. Border View offers guided charter fishing during open water and heated fish houses during winter. Border View Lodge
An on-site restaurant and bar add to the full-service fishing-resort experience.
Best For: Walleye anglers, ice fishing, groups and visitors looking for a full-service fishing lodge.
Official website: Border View Lodge
Cyrus Resort
Location: Bostic Bay / Baudette
Type: Fishing Resort + Cabins + Charter Fishing
Cyrus Resort is a family fishing resort located on Bostic Bay along the south side of Lake of the Woods.
Accommodations include modern two-, three- and four-bedroom cabins capable of accommodating fishing groups and families. Cabins include features such as decks or screened porches, with some offering fireplaces.
Cyrus operates summer charter-fishing packages aboard 27-foot Sportcraft boats with U.S. Coast Guard-licensed guides. Winter visitors can book ice-fishing packages as well. Cyrus Resort
The main lodge includes a bar, grill and gift shop.
Best For: Families, fishing groups, charter fishing and winter fishing trips.
Official website: Cyrus Resort
Ken-Mar-Ke Resort
Location: Bostic Bay / South Shore
Type: Fishing Resort + Cabins + Marina
Ken-Mar-Ke Resort is a family-owned fishing resort on Bostic Bay near Four Mile Bay and the Rainy River.
The resort offers modern two-, three- and four-bedroom cabins along with a lodge, restaurant and bar. For anglers bringing boats, Ken-Mar-Ke has a protected harbor, two private launch ramps and dock slips. Boat rentals are also available. kenmarke.com
Guided charter fishing is available for anglers wanting assistance finding Lake of the Woods walleye, while winter operations include heated fishing houses and transportation.
Its location places anglers close to productive areas around Morris Point Gap, Four Mile Bay and the south shore.
Best For: Walleye fishing, anglers bringing boats, charter trips and ice fishing.
Official website: Ken-Mar-Ke Resort
Sportsman’s Lodge
Location: Wheeler’s Point / Rainy River
Type: Full-Service Fishing Lodge + Marina
Sportsman’s Lodge is a year-round fishing resort located on the Rainy River near the south shore of Lake of the Woods, approximately 12 miles north of Baudette.
The resort offers a different accommodation mix than many of the smaller cabin operations. Visitors can choose from lodge rooms as well as additional lodging options, while the property includes dining, marina facilities and other resort amenities.
Fishing packages are a major part of the operation, with open-water fishing and Minnesota ice-fishing trips offered during their respective seasons. Sportsmans Lodges
Best For: Full-service fishing vacations, groups, families and anglers who prefer a larger lodge operation.
Official website: Sportsman’s Lodge
River Bend Resort
Location: Rainy River / Baudette
Type: Fishing Resort + Cabins + Charter Fishing
River Bend Resort – Lake of the Woods Fishing Resort sits on the Rainy River approximately 11 miles north of Baudette, with Lake of the Woods only a short boat ride away.
The resort offers cabin rentals, RV and camping accommodations, charter-fishing packages and winter fish-house rentals. River Bend Resort
Its Rainy River location gives anglers convenient access to both river fishing and the main lake. The resort also operates Miles Lab Bar & Grill, providing dining directly at the property.
Best For: Walleye trips, groups, charter fishing, ice fishing and anglers wanting access to both the Rainy River and Lake of the Woods.
Official website: River Bend Resort
Wigwam Resort
Location: Four Mile Bay / Baudette
Type: Fishing Resort + Lodge Rooms + Cabins
Wigwam Resort is one of the area’s historic fishing resorts, with roots dating to 1917.
Today the resort combines 12 cabins with lodge rooms, dining and bar facilities. The cabins have full kitchens, while the resort also provides dock space for anglers bringing their own boats. Wigwam Resort
Fishing remains the major attraction. Summer visitors can arrange guided charter fishing, while winter visitors have access to heated fish houses and maintained ice roads. Wigwam Resort
Best For: Traditional fishing-resort vacations, groups, charter fishing and ice fishing.
Official website: Wigwam Resort
Arnesen’s Rocky Point Resort
Location: Rocky Point / South Shore
Type: Fishing Resort + Cabins + Charter Fishing
Arnesen’s Rocky Point Resort is located directly along the Minnesota shoreline of Lake of the Woods near Roosevelt.
Its location differs from the cluster of resorts around the Rainy River, providing anglers with direct access to the western portion of the lake.
The resort offers lodging along with open-water fishing, charter fishing, boat rentals and extensive winter ice-fishing services. Rock Harbor Lodge provides on-site dining. Arnesen’s Rocky Point Resort
Best For: Anglers wanting direct lake access, open-water fishing and winter ice fishing.
Official website: Arnesen’s Rocky Point Resort
Long Point Resort
Location: Long Point / Williams
Type: Fishing Resort + Cabins
Long Point Resort is another established fishing resort located directly along the Minnesota side of Lake of the Woods.
The property offers cabin accommodations and fishing packages, making it particularly suitable for anglers who want to stay away from the busier Rainy River resort area while maintaining direct access to Lake of the Woods. Long Point Resort
Best For: Fishing groups, families and anglers looking for a traditional Lake of the Woods cabin resort.
Official website: Long Point Resort
Springsteel Resort & Marina
Location: Warroad
Type: Resort + Marina + Cabins
Springsteel Resort & Marina is a year-round resort and marina on Lake of the Woods near Warroad.
The property combines cabins and camping with seasonal docks, boat rentals, guided fishing, a boat launch, bait and tackle, and an on-site bar and grill. Winter operations include ice fishing and sleeper houses. VisitWarroad.com
For anglers travelling with their own boats, the marina facilities make Springsteel particularly convenient.
Best For: Boaters, anglers bringing their own boats, families and ice-fishing trips.
Official website: Springsteel Resort & Marina
Sunset Lodge
Location: Oak Island / Northwest Angle
Type: Remote Fishing Lodge + Cabins + Boat Rentals
Sunset Lodge provides a very different Lake of the Woods experience. The full-service resort is located on Oak Island in the Northwest Angle rather than along the more accessible south shore.
The lodge offers accommodations, protected private docks, boat slips, bait, tackle and fuel. Lund fishing boats and fishing guides are also available. Lake of the Woods Resort
Access is part of the adventure. During summer, guests can reach Sunset Lodge by boat or floatplane. Winter access includes snowmobile, aircraft and seasonal ice-road travel. Lake of the Woods Resort
Best For: Anglers seeking a more remote Lake of the Woods fishing experience and access to the Northwest Angle and island waters.
Official website: Sunset Lodge
Fishing on Lake of the Woods
Lake of the Woods is especially well known for walleye and sauger, and the concentration of fishing resorts around the lake reflects how important angling is to the local tourism industry.
Northern pike are another major target, while different portions of the lake and connected waters provide opportunities for additional freshwater species.
The fishing infrastructure is one of the lake’s biggest advantages. Instead of simply renting a waterfront cabin and figuring everything else out independently, visitors can choose resorts that provide lodging, charter boats, guides, bait, tackle, fish cleaning and other fishing services.
Bringing Your Own Boat?
Lake of the Woods has plenty of options for anglers travelling with their own boats.
Several resorts provide docks, protected harbors or boat-launch facilities. For example, Ken-Mar-Ke operates a protected harbor and two launch ramps, while Wigwam provides dock slips for resort guests. kenmarke.com
Because Lake of the Woods is an exceptionally large body of water, anglers should consider where they intend to fish before selecting a resort.
The Baudette and Rainy River area provides convenient access to the south shore and river.
The Rocky Point and Long Point areas provide another starting point for exploring the lake.
The Warroad area provides access from the western side.
The Northwest Angle and Oak Island area provides a considerably more remote experience among the lake’s northern islands.
Lake of the Woods Ice Fishing
Lake of the Woods is also a major winter destination.
Many of the same resorts that operate charter boats during summer transition into extensive ice-fishing operations once conditions permit. Depending on the resort, anglers can find heated day houses, sleeper fish houses, maintained ice roads and transportation onto the lake.
This makes Lake of the Woods particularly useful for a fishing-resort directory because accommodations are not limited to the traditional summer cottage season.
Choosing a Lake of the Woods Fishing Resort
The best location depends heavily on the kind of fishing trip you’re planning.
Choose a Baudette or Rainy River resort if you want a large selection of established fishing operations, charter services and convenient access to both the river and south shore.
Consider Rocky Point or Long Point if you want to stay directly along another section of the Minnesota shoreline.
Look toward Warroad if you want western lake access and marina facilities.
For a more remote fishing experience, Oak Island and the Northwest Angle provide access to an extensive maze of islands, channels and northern Lake of the Woods fishing water.
Plan Your Lake of the Woods Minnesota Fishing Trip
Lake of the Woods stands out because of the sheer number of established fishing businesses surrounding the lake. The Minnesota tourism directory alone reports more than 65 resorts, lodges and cabin accommodations in the region. Lake of the Woods Tourism
Before booking, visit each resort’s official website directly to compare current accommodations, charter packages, boat slips, launches, fish houses and seasonal services.
Anglers bringing their own boats should confirm docking, launching and trailer-storage arrangements with the individual resort. Winter visitors should likewise confirm current ice conditions and resort access because conditions and operations can change throughout the season.
With traditional fishing lodges, waterfront cabins, full-service resorts, marinas, guided charter operations and extensive winter fishing infrastructure, Lake of the Woods is an excellent starting point for the Minnesota Fishing Lodges & Resorts directory.