Little Deer Lake

About Little Deer Lake

Often referred to as the "Lake of Changing Colors," Deer Lake is a jewel of Minnesota in the North Forest. Located in Itasca County, part of the Northeast Minnesota tourist region, it is not to be confused with the smaller Deer Lake in northern Itasca County.

Deer Lake and the northern forests of Minnesota have been home to the Chippewa and Ojibwe people for thousands of years.

The rich natural resources attracted researchers and fur traders to the lakes and rivers of northern Minnesota as early as the 16th century. In the 19th century, the timber industry began to drastically change the forest landscape from Michigan to Minnesota.

In 1872 a timber warehouse was built on the northwest shore of the Hirschsee and in 1890 a railway was built. Deforestation continued until 1902, when conservation efforts forced Congress to enact a national forest. Since then, the timber industry has been actively harvesting timber and reforesting the landscape to preserve the region's fragile ecosystem. In the late 19th century, the communities around Hirschsee began to grow, due to the increasing timber production in the area and the creation of new communities.

The mineral content of Deer Lake transforms the water into a prism of blue and green colors that contrast breathtakingly with the deep evergreen greenery of the surrounding forest. Water, forest and wildlife, trees and vegetation merge to create a unique environment where wildlife and landscape can intersect with visitors.

Boaters, canoeists and kayakers enjoy island hopping, but boaters have access to the many rockfalls that lie beneath the surface of Deer Lake, allowing them a view of the lake's many lakes, rivers, lakes and streams.

The changing colors of the lake include 25 islands scattered across it, and Bear Island was acquired as a wildlife management area. Here birdwatchers can see eagles nesting in white pine trees, ducks and geese nesting on the shores of the 25 hectares of islands.

Between Kocemba Bay and Deer Lake there is an additional Aquatic Management Area. This swamp and rocky swamp area consists of a variety of fish species, birds, reptiles and amphibians, as well as birds of prey. The other fish species found in the Deer Lake are bees, trout, mussels, wallises, bluefish, perch and other species.

For fishing, game watchers can pack their game gear and go into the trees to see the wolves, coyotes, lynxes and foxes that frequently visit the area.

The sparkling water of Deer Lake comes from the rainwater of the ground and underground springs, and the Deer River is the outlet for the changing colors of the lake.

Part of the rich history of Dear Lake is the old wooden dam on the northwest bank of what is now the dam. Founded in 1938 and modified in 1983, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources manages the Deer Lake Dam, which has a capacity of 1,500 cubic feet per second (cubic meters) of water. Public access to Deer Lake is limited to Comfort Cove on the Southwest Bank and the South Bank.

Those lucky enough to stay long can look forward to about 400 cottages and an estimated 400 cottages on the shores of Deer Lake. Just five kilometres southwest of the city lies Comfort Cove, a small town with a population of just over 1,000. There are weekend fishermen here, but around the corner a new landscape unfolds.

Around the lake and the wetlands there are about 400,000 hectares of forest, about three quarters of which are located in the Leech Lake Indian Reserve.

The Ojibwe and the US Forest Service are working together to protect this fragile forest-only ecosystem while continuing to provide recreational activities. For those who need a touch of urban life, the Grand Rapids Deer River is less than 15 miles from Deer Lake. The Forestry Service maintains a number of developed and scattered campsites for camping, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, canoeing, kayaking and fishing.

Choose a vacation rental on the property, enjoy a day of sightseeing or shopping, take a break from cooking classes, play a round of golf or try your luck at the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe casino. If you're spending the weekend of your life, you can swim, canoe, kayak, fish and do other recreational activities in Deer Lake. Relax in the sun and watch the daylight dance across the blue waters.

Start your canoe and ride the gentle waves to the coast, where eagles fly high above the water in the sky above Deer Lake. Watch the sunrise over the lake as it turns into a liquid golden sunset, and watch the birds of prey swimming and behaving everywhere in the water. If you live in Deer Lake, you can also stay at the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Casino for a day of shopping, dining and camping.