Map showing campground location near Grand Marais, Minnesota

Camper submitted image from BWCA Elephant Lake

BWCA Elephant Lake

Within Superior National Forest, BWCA Elephant Lake provides boat-in and hike-in access for campers seeking a backcountry experience. This US Forest Service campground requires advance reservations and sits along Elephant Lake, accessible via the Eagle Mountain Trail system. The 7-mile trek leads through both Superior National Forest and Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness territory.

Campers find primitive sites with rock fire pits, separate cooking grates, and pit toilets positioned away from camping areas. Cell phone coverage drops to zero bars at the lake, with only sporadic single-bar service during the hike. The trail parking lot fills quickly during summer months, often forcing visitors to park roadside. All gear must be carried in without cart assistance, making this spot well-suited to experienced backpackers comfortable with camping spots near Superior National Forest conditions.

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Map & DirectionsBWCA Elephant Lake is located in Minnesota near Grand Marais

Public Campground

Coordinates

47.89270084 N
90.5445 W

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Access

Hike-In
Backcountry sites.
Boat-In
Sites accessible by watercraft.

Site Types

Tent Sites

Features

For Campers

Reservable
Toilets
Alcohol
Pets
Fires

Contact

General Info

Visit Website

Reservations

+12183871750

Drive Time

2 hrs 36 min from Duluth, MN
4 hrs 52 min from Eau Claire, WI
4 hrs 56 min from St. Cloud, MN
6 hrs 3 min from Wausau, WI

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Reviews1 Camper Review - BWCA Elephant Lake

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out of 5

1 Review

TyAnn J.

Ranger

Reviewed Aug. 22, 2018

Untouched Wilderness with a beautiful view.

Did you know that the state of Minnesota’s highest and lowest elevations are only a few miles apart? It’s true!! The lowest point in our state is the shoreline of Lake Superior (692 feet above sea level) and the highest point is Eagle Mountain just northwest of Grand Marais, MN. If you would like to get off the beaten path, away from anything modern (Cel phone signal included) and see some amazing views, a trip to Eagle Mountain is just what the doctor ordered!!

Make sure you pack comfortable hiking shoes and an extra few pairs of dry socks when you head to Eagle Mountain Trail. The trail is a 7 mile trek that is partially in the Superior National Forest and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. If you want to just hike for the day, there is a self issue permit at the trail entry point (#79) and if you want to camp overnight, you need to set up a reservation at The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness webpage https://www.recreation.gov/permits/Boundary_Waters_Canoe_Area_Wilderness/r/permitCalendar.do?page=calendar&contractCode=NRSO&parkId=72600 . There is a parking lot at the trailhead that is available for overnight use, but during the summer months the lot fills up very quickly and people are left to park on the side of the road outside the trailhead. There are no carts so you have to carry in everything you need.

Our campsite was very primitive and situated on the banks of Elephant Lake just after the trail split between Eagle Mountain Trail (#79) and the Brule Lake Trail (#78) There is a rock fire pit with a separate rock surrounded fire grate for cooking,and a bench that was made from a downed tree (watch for slivers!!) The pit toilet was a good distance from our site, but the path was well worn and easy to follow. Cell phone signal was at zero bars at our site, and very spotty at one bar during our hike. We are by no means expert hikers, but we felt it was pretty easy to reach the top and back down again. We did not rush and stopped along the way to take water breaks as it reached 85 degrees. The hike took us a little over 4 hours to accomplish. This was on my camping “bucket list”, and am so glad we made it!!

Month of VisitAugust