A Year on Loon Lake: Four Seasons on a Small Lake
From the first open water in spring to the hush of a frozen winter morning, a walk through the year on Loon Lake.
On a big lake, the seasons arrive like weather systems. On a small lake like Loon, they arrive like guests you know well. You notice the first open water along your own shoreline. You watch the lily pads rise in your own bay. You hear the ice settle at night. At about 50 acres, Loon is small enough that the whole lake becomes part of your daily life.
Here is what a year on Loon tends to look like.
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Spring: ice-out
Ice-out timing changes from year to year, and lake residents compare dates every spring. On a small, sheltered lake, the change can feel sudden: dark ice one week, open water the next. The shallows warm, fish move toward the edges, and docks and lifts go back in. The Minnesota fishing opener in May marks the start of the open-water season for many people on the chain.
Summer: paddles, lily pads and the channel
Summer on Loon is about the small pleasures. Paddling the shoreline in the early morning. Swimming off the dock. Watching the white and yellow waterlilies the DNR found in its survey of Island and Loon open in the sheltered water. With a maximum depth of about 30 feet and no public launch, Loon tends to stay a calm home lake even on busy weekends across the chain.
When you want more, the chain is right there. Crow Wing County's ordinance makes the channel from Loon to Island Lake a slow no-wake zone, and the channel from Island to Whitefish Lake as well. Two easy idles bring you to the open water of Lower Whitefish and Upper Whitefish, and from there toward Cross Lake.
Because Loon sits near County Road 66, Crosslake is close for supplies, a meal out or events such as Crosslake Days.
Fall: color on a small shoreline
Fall may be the season small lakes do best. The whole shoreline is in view, so when the color turns, it surrounds you. Boat traffic on the chain drops off, the water often lies flat, and the evenings call for a fire. As the water cools, fish move back toward the remaining green weeds.
It is also the season for taking out docks and lifts and winterizing boats. Since the whole chain is designated infested waters for zebra mussels, clean, drain and dry anything that moves between lakes.
Winter: ice season
When Loon freezes, the lake becomes a quiet white field. Ice fishing, walking and snowshoeing become ways to see it from the middle. Crosslake's WinterFest brings people out in the cold months.
Ice is never guaranteed. The Minnesota DNR recommends at least 4 inches of new, clear ice for walking, 5 to 7 inches for a snowmobile or small ATV, 7 to 8 inches for a larger side-by-side and 9 to 10 inches for a small car or SUV. Keep well away from the channel to Island Lake, where moving water can keep the ice thin.
A little history
The Whitefish Chain owes its shape partly to the logging era. According to the DNR, the Pine River Dam at Cross Lake, built in the 1880s, raised water levels and created the permanent channels that link the lakes. Today the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers operates the dam and the Cross Lake Recreation Area beside it, with beaches, fishing piers, a boat ramp and a seasonal campground. The Crosslake Historic Log Village recreates life in the area during the 1800s.
It is tempting to say Loon Lake was named for its loons, and the DNR did record the common loon as the most frequently observed species of greatest conservation need across the Whitefish Chain in its 2012 survey. But we have not found a verified record of how the lake got its name, so we will not claim one.
Things to do nearby, all year
- Watch the water at the Pine River Dam in the Cross Lake Recreation Area.
- Visit the Crosslake Historic Log Village.
- Drive the eastern part of the Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway through Crosslake and Manhattan Beach.
- Join Crosslake events like Crosslake Days, WinterFest and the St. Patrick's Day parade.
- Golf at one of the area's courses in summer.
Questions
When does Loon Lake lose its ice?
Ice-out varies from year to year with the weather. It happens in spring, and small, sheltered lakes can change quickly once the ice starts to go.
Is it safe to walk on Loon Lake in winter?
Only on enough ice. The DNR recommends at least 4 inches of new, clear ice for walking. Check thickness often and avoid the channel to Island Lake.
Was Loon Lake named for loons?
We have not found a verified source for the name's origin. The common loon is the most frequently recorded species of greatest conservation need across the Whitefish Chain, according to the DNR.
More about Loon: the Loon Lake guide, fishing on Loon Lake, and living on Loon Lake.
David Olson has 20+ years of experience and a family cabin on the Whitefish Chain in Crosslake, so he knows these seasons firsthand. Call or text 218.513.2677 or email david@whitefishpropertyfinder.com. Buying or selling, he is glad to help.
Sources: Minnesota DNR, Sensitive Lakeshore Survey, Whitefish Chain of Lakes (2012); Crow Wing County Water Surface Use Ordinance; Minnesota DNR ice safety guidance; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Cross Lake Recreation Area; Explore Minnesota, Crosslake; Minnesota DNR news release on Whitefish Chain infested waters (2013).