Lake Pepin is a naturally occurring lake located approximately 60 miles downstream from Saint Paul, Minnesota. It is a widening of the river on the border between Minnesota and Wisconsin, created by the backup of water behind the sedimentary deposits of the Chippewa River’s delta. With a surface area of about 40 square miles and an average depth of 21 feet, Lake Pepin is the largest Lake on the entire Mississippi River and a very popular destination for recreational sailing. The largest settlement on Lake Pepin’s waterfront is Lake City, Minnesota, home of the Lake City Marina (where the Winds Aloft’s sailing vessel Francis B is docked – scroll down for more information). Frontenac State Park takes up much of the rest of the Minnesota side, with the villages of Maiden Rock and Stockholm bordering on the Wisconsin side. Lake Pepin is also home to the historic Pickle Factory Waterfront Grille, a fun lake-accessible restaurant occupying the former building of the Pepin Pickling Company. To read more about the features history of Lake Pepin, eplore the links below.

Lake City Marina is the home of Winds Aloft’s sailing vessel Francis B. With 635 dedicated slips, a 900-foot breakwater, and an extensive array of marine facilities including a 2-story administration/bath building, it is the largest and most well-equipped Marina on Lake Pepin. The surrounding township of Lake City, Minneosta, is the largest and most vibrant settlement on the shores of Lake Peppin with plenty of opportunities for shopping, lodging, food, and entertainment. Lake City also offers several top-notch medical and urgent care facilities, including an extension of the Mayo Clinic Health System.