Otto Lake
- 7.4 mi
- round trip
- 552 ft
- climb
- 1,673 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- May–Sep
- best months
Is Otto Lake open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Superior National Forest. It doesn't name Otto Lake, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).
Post Wildfire Closures, Effective October 1, 2026
Agency closure covering Superior National Forest · Order 09-09-00-26-11 · USFS · Superior National Forest
Closure Notice for Public Safety – Laurentian District
Agency closure covering Laurentian Ranger District · USFS · Laurentian Ranger District
Forest Road Improvement Projects
Agency alert covering Superior National Forest · USFS · Superior National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Superior National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Otto Lake is an easy, out-and-back hike of about 7.4 miles in the Laurentian Ranger District of Superior National Forest in northern Minnesota. The trail is managed by the Forest Service and sits at an elevation of about 1,620 feet, with a high point of roughly 1,670 feet and a total climb of about 130 feet. The route is natural-surfaced and allows bikes, so it works for hikers and riders alike. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show July highs around 76°F with lows near 50°F, while winter highs stay in the teens and 20s. The trail starts at the Otto Harris Trail Head, which is open year-round. The Otto Lake Spur GC lies about a mile away, and the Otto Harris Connector Trail and Harris Lake are each about 3 miles off. For an overnight stay, Cadotte Lake campground is about 5 miles away.
Local outfitters
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Best time to go · May–Sep
Best time to visit Otto Lake
Best months: May–September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
18° / -4°
9 wet
Feb
23° / -2°
7 wet
Mar
36° / 11°
8 wet
Apr
48° / 24°
9 wet
May
63° / 36°
12 wet
Jun
72° / 46°
12 wet
Jul
76° / 50°
12 wet
Aug
74° / 48°
11 wet
Sep
65° / 41°
11 wet
Oct
50° / 31°
12 wet
Nov
34° / 18°
10 wet
Dec
22° / 4°
9 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Brimson 2s, MN, 7 mi away at 1,486 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Closures we've recorded since August 2026
Forest-wide Fire Restrictions
Superior National Forest · Order dated July 12, 2026; seen Aug 23, 2026 → lifted Aug 25, 2026 · Forest Service
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
Photo: Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Tommila Lake
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0.54-mile out-and-back trail to Tommila Lake in Minnesota
Photo: chief_huddleston, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)BIRD LAKE
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8.04-mile loop trail at Bird Lake in Minnesota with 376 ft elevation gain
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Yukon South
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Yukon South is a 47.31-mile out-and-back trail in Minnesota with 1,024 feet of elevation gain.
Photo: chief_huddleston, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)East Range Multi-Use Trail
~28 min drive
Easy 1.88-mile out-and-back trail in Minnesota's Iron Range region.
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Harris Lake
~5 min drive
5.38-mile out-and-back trail to Harris Lake in Minnesota with 271 ft gain.
Photo: Tony Webster, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Cadotte Lake Campground
~9 min drive
0.60-mile out-and-back trail at Cadotte Lake Campground in Minnesota.
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BUNDLE LAKE SPUR A
~14 min drive
8.12-mile out-and-back trail in Minnesota with 661 ft elevation gain.
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OTTO HARRIS CONNECTOR TRAIL
~5 min drive
4.7-mile out-and-back trail in Minnesota with 594 ft elevation gain
HIKE
Stone
~23 min drive
3.98-mile out-and-back trail in Minnesota with 243 ft gain.
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Jenkins Hunter Walking
~7 min drive
1.85-mile loop with 3,336 ft gain/loss in Minnesota
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