Bear Head Lake State Park Campground, near Ely, Minnesota, is a fantastic destination for those seeking a mix of adventure and relaxation in the great outdoors. With a variety of camping options, including tent sites, RV spots, and cozy cabins, there's something for everyone to enjoy.

This campground is known for its beautiful, wooded surroundings and well-maintained facilities. Visitors often rave about the spacious sites that provide a sense of privacy, even when the campground is busy. One camper noted, “The campsite was a good size and relatively private,” making it a great place to unwind after a day of exploring. 

For those who love hiking, the trails around Bear Head Lake are a must-see. Some campers have mentioned the thrill of discovering secluded spots, like a quiet lake all to themselves after a tough hike. Just be prepared for some bugs—bring plenty of bug spray to keep those pesky critters at bay! 

If you're into fishing or canoeing, the adjacent lake offers excellent opportunities to cast a line or paddle around. Plus, the nearby Taconite State Trail is perfect for biking and hiking, giving you plenty of ways to soak in the stunning natural beauty of the area. Whether you're here for a weekend or a longer stay, Bear Head Lake State Park Campground is a great choice for your next outdoor adventure.

Bear Head Lake State Park Campground

Are you in need of a campground near Tower, MN? Discover secluded campsites where you can reconnect with nature. Or maybe you like to bring your family and friends along. Either way, there are Tower campgrounds just for you. Find the best campgrounds near Tower, plus reviews and photos from other campers like you.

Tower

The Best Camping Near Tower, Minnesota

Spent one night at Bear Head Lake State Park after several days in the Boundary Waters. It being a holiday week, most of the sites were taken up by families. Even with the amount of people around, the red squirrels and chipmunks were still brave to come within arms length of us. We also were visited by White-Throated Sparrows which were a daily event. The lake which is a couple minute walk is great for fishing and paddling. Good campground overall, but the downsides were being unable to collect our own firewood (state park policy), and showers were a little dirty. Quiet hours were at 10 and it was observed to a point where it was very still and wasn't disruptive like other campgrounds. We stayed here as a layover stop and we were satisfied. 

Quiet and close to nature campground that's greate for layover or long-term

This park is back in the forest away from all the heeby jeeby of nearby towns. The layout of the park is magnificent with private campsites and lots of trails connecting different parts of the park. The fishing in this lake is great too along with a nice large beach and lots of hiking. The lake also seems fairly secluded from boats too witch is hard to find In mn.

Wonderful park 

This park is absolutely Stunning! The park ranger was super nice and helpful!

Stunning

Camper cabins are nice. They have bunk type beds. The beds on bottom are FULL size (can sleep 2 each) and the ones on top are singles. So 6 could sleep here. There was a little table, electric heat and a small screened in porch. An outhouse style bathroom is close by. Easy lake access...it seemed pretty quiet. Nice way to "camp" if the weather is cold. Picnic tables and fire pits outside the cabin. Nice!

Boundary Waters Bound

We booked our weekend and camp site a long time in advance so we lucked out and it rained most of the 4 days we were there. It was the best campground to have chosen. They have a great lounge that was air conditioned, clean, and had tables that we ate at, played board games, and just hid from the rain. Great hiking trails and beach for the few times it did clear up. We loved our stay and will come back for sure!

Great option for a rainy weekend

Bear Head Lake is an established, full service state park that has something for everyone. There are a variety of camping opportunities, from camper cabins to guesthouse to tent campsites with lake access to RV sites. Though you have to hike to the beach, the beach is really lovely and has boat rental. There is an extensive network of trails for both hiking and cross country skiing, with a really great indoor Trail Center that serves as winter warming house, indoor meeting place for rainy days, and classroom for park naturalist events. The lake is great for boating, fishing and paddling. though part of the lake shore is privately owned, the lake is quiet and peaceful overall, nestled in tall pines with easy access to the town of Ely if desired. The vicinity is known for bears and is part of a long term bear research study; visit the American Bear Center nearby if interested! https://www.bear.org/website/

Edge of the wilderness experience

We love this campground!

We camped here the weekend before the Fourth of July and the power amd plumbing went out due to a storm (fallen trees). It was out for two days yet the rangers kept the programming going and checking on all the campers. A ranger took the tIme to talk wIth our kIds about local Insect lIfe. AddItIonally, when we went to chwck out long boards, our favorIte ranger (jodI) gave our kIds a poster and told us about local events. 

We even saw bear (a mother and three cubs and another pair) on two different occasions over the five days we ended up staying (and deer every day) and a fox walked right up the road.

We cannot wait to come back up!

Best rangers in the biz

I really enjoyed this Campground for the water activities! we rented paddle boards everyday we were here. The lake is so relaxing to paddle board around and the water is so clear and fun to look at. Best part was a quiet Sunday morning watching a deer drink from the lake while we were out there! Campistes were not super secluded but well maintained and nice. 

Water Activities & Camping!

this state park was very well maintained and clean. A storm passed through a few days before I camped there and crews had already cleared all of the roads and hiking trails. A great family friendly park with a swimming beach, boat rentals, and trails. 

glorious weekend

Quiet campground with a short walk to the lake. RV and tent camping had separate areas. Restrooms and showers were clean. Close to Ely. 

nice sites for tent camping

I would like to say this park is very tranquil. Great sites and nice fishing!

Tower and Ely are near to get bait or items if needed.

Our most visited favorite park!

Beautiful Park. Beautiful area. 

The campground is nice. The sites are very private which I enjoyed. Had boat rentals available to go out on the beautiful lake.

Excellent campground 

Camping spaces are standard, geared more towards RVs and campers unless you pick the hike in sites. For those of us who tent or find ourselves too lazy and recline in the back of a vehicle, your needs will be met. On a whim we left for northern MN and were grateful for the last site at this park. Love that a Wednesday in August has full campgrounds. Also love that this park still has Rangers on site. A few years back the state moved to a 3rd party reservation center and funding for Rangers decreased. 


Scenic, quiet 

Wow! What a beautiful campground. I camped here in #8 for an overnight stay. Geocaching the State Parks, this was night 3 of a 4 night trek! Very nice Trail Center and cool puzzle. Watching the sunset was fabulous!!

Very Nice!!

Great fishing, canoeing!! Secluded sites!!

Have camped here a few times!!!  LOVE it!!  Generous secluded  sites!!  

Bear Head Lake State Park is just south of the Boundary Waters, and shares a comparable wilderness element.  The shoreline is beautiful and very fun to explore by kayak.

**Campground features:**
Cabin rentals, tent sites, and RV sites.  The campground is open in fall &amp; winter. The campsites are private, well shaded, and level. Each campsite has a picnic table and fire pit. Flush toilets, hot showers, dump station, group sites, and electric are also available.

**Hiking at Bear Head Lake State Park**

*   Bear Head Lake State Park Trail is a moderate 3.2 mile trail. This hike is a loop route. Dogs are allowed but only on leash.
*   Norberg Lake Trail is a easy 1.5 mile trail. It is a trail for all skill levels and dogs are allowed but only on leash. Mostly wooded.
*   Blueberry Lake Trail is a easy 4.5 mile trail. Longer than the other listed trails. It is an out and back hike that is mostly wooded. Dogs are allowed on leash.
*   Becky Lake Trail is a easy 2.7 mile hike. Beck Lake is a loop hike that is mostly wooded. Dogs are allowed on leash.

**Fishing at Bear Head State Park**

Bass, northerns, walleye, panfish, and trout can be caught at this State Park. Many people fish from the fishing dock or shoreline. Panfish are all over the lake and most likely the first ones biting. Good walleye fishing after 6pm.

**Other activities:**

Boat rentals, cross country ski trail (groomed), snowshoe trails, and snowmobile trails.

Secluded in the Northwoods

All around great place to camp. I have been going here since I was a child. Campsites are big,private. Bathroom always clean. Beautiful lake,good fishing. Wish I could stay all summer

Awesome 

Lots of trees and lots that are just secluded enough. Perfect for anyone!

Lovely north woods campground

Swimming beach has nice clean water.  Trails are well kept.  Beautiful trout lakes.

Great Northern MN Campground

Stayed just one night here on our way through. Site was a little tight but still nice for our 30’ travel trailer. Bathrooms and showers were nice. Our kids had a blast biking the trails. Didn’t get a chance to do much else but hope to come back with more time to enjoy getting out on the lakes for fishing and the swimming beach. The campground was full but it was still private enough to feel secluded. Bugs weren’t bad at all for the beginning of July. Star gazing at night from our site was beautiful! Hope to be back soon.

Fun Place

Secluded and beautiful sites. Wonderful lake with boats available for rent. Not many hiking trails (my only complaint).

Amazing Experience !!!

Campground is quite busy, but there is enough foliage in the summer to make it more private. Sites are good sizes and a good distance from each other.  Great for families. Very picturesque, provides perfect "up north" experience with fishing, canoeing, hiking, all amongst the tall pines! 

Perfect "up north" experience

Stopped here on the way to the Boundary Waters. A lot of the campground was closed and there was some rough weather, but still had a great time. At the campground you can do some hiking and also some water sports. 

  

The Campground Beach...not too much of a beach as it is a shallow spot, but it is still perfect for families to lounge in on a hot day. There are lots of shade trees to relax under if you like so that is nice. 

  

The Hiking...I hiked all the hikes and I can honestly say there are some good sites to see. I would recommend Blueberry Lake and Becky Lake hike. It is a mixture of rolling grass and rocky terrain. I did it in the rain so mosquitos were not as bad and was able to pass by the back country sites as well. You are mostly covered under the pine forest but you do get to glance some of the views. The hiking club hike (Norberg) isn't too bad, but it is very heavily trafficked. I saw more nature on the backcountry hike than the hiking club. 

  

The water...some good look nooks to get into in the east and north bays. The actual lake itself is pretty windy and made kayaking difficult. I would say it would be a great paddle on a calm day or early morning. Caught several pikes and many bass. There are also loads of panfish. The shallows have crystal clear water so it is nice to just sneak up on the pan fish to see them. 

  

The campground...I was in site 43 and it was pretty nice and secluded. The DNR had blocked off over half the sites due to the Covid. They also had the bathrooms closed along with the fish cleaning shanty. The cabins were opening up on the 1st for families. The sites that are back to back with the other loop (59-73 and 26-39) don't have much privacy at the back of their sites. Most sites have simple pathways to the sites on either side, but mines was pretty secluded and a good location. The sites along the water (51,52,53,54,55,56,57,58) all have pathways down to the water and some docks to hold boats over. It was a nice campground and there really is a lot to do. The sunset are great and the big field by the campground cabin was a great place to put a blanket and watch the sun set behind the trees.

Great Northern Minnesota Option

Sites leaning towards more of an rv type of site with the gravel and lots of large rocks in the ground but an amazing location. The hiking trails are fantastic and they have many hike in sites that appear to be in super cool locations. We are definitely making a return trip here! 

Beautiful Wilderness

6/25-6/27/20. BP5

Bear Head Lake has it all. Camping, fishing, boating, swimming and hiking. The lake itself is fully private and the only access is through the state park. There was very little boat traffic during our stay and we were able to paddle most of the lake. We really enjoyed some of the calmer bays.  The temps were close to 90 during our stay and the beach was busy. There is a nice sandy area and the water shallow and warm.  There are several small docks along the campground for people to tie up motorboats, it was a fun little section to walk. Sites 51-58 are closest to the lake  (but they don’t have actual lake views) and have the nearest access to these docks, though anyone can use them.  There is also a fishing pier and another dock by the beach. 

Not only is the lake a huge draw, but so is the hiking. Norberg Lake was absolutely gorgeous and the trail that passed through. There is also a little sandy spot and people (and dogs) were swimming here. We also enjoyed the Blueberry Lake trail (around the backpack sites) and the Becky Lake trail. 

The sites in the campground seems very close together and small. Even the sites near the water. We prefer more remote sites and were able to book BP5. This site was on Bear Head lake itself so we were able to paddle across the water from the beach area. Our site had its own dock and I think it was the best in the park. The site itself was very spacious, with a bear locker, fire pit, picnic table, hammock spot and sunset views. We were able to go into two other backpack sites because they were vacant and they were also very spacious and private   We loved our time at Bear Head and will be returning next summer.   



Epitome of northern MN

The sites weren’t particularly large, the singular available vault toilet for the tenting sites was usually in disarray and the general noise level was surprising....but even with all of these unexpected speed bumps the trip was great! 

Everyone was super friendly and I appreciated being able to have my 3-legged companion along for the adventure. Sites were clearly marked and easy to find, along with trails to the beach area. Lots of families with children, so if you’re looking for a place to bring your littles, this should be on your list.

Family Friendly

I spent 3 nights in a tent and my friends had a large camper in the same site. They were clean and the chipmunks were our pets for the weekend. The docks are convenient for your boats or pontoons. The fishing is phenomenal and beautiful! Definitely recommend for hiking, site seeing, swimming at the beach, fishing and other things 😊

Great, clean sites. Gorgeous lake!! 

Stayed at a camper cabin- had the park to ourselves! Absolutely gorgeous. The drive off the main highway is a few miles, so you really end up out in the wilderness! We also appreciated that this park doesn’t allow hunting so you know you are safe during that season. 

  

The campground is along a series of winding lakes, with multiple access points to the water. Very spaced out and easy access to vaulted toilets and water. A couple of different fishing piers and docks right near the campground itself. Has electric and non-electric sites. Definitely impressed with the campground itself. Very pretty no matter where you camp. 

  

Park has:

\- fishing pier

\- hiking trails

\- fish cleaning building

\- stocked backcountry fishing lakes

\- canoe rental

\- a trail center with a community fire ring and comfy chairs

\- dump station

\- RV sanitation station

\- camper cabins

\- group camp

\- swimming beach

\- trailer access

\- watercraft and backpack sites 

  

We enjoyed night walks and star gazing- we decided it was the best stars we had ever seen! Even saw shooting stars. Cooked some great meals, and enjoyed the hiking club walk through the woods to some super-secret small lakes. 

  

Checked out the group site- so cool. Right on the water with a personal dock and toilets.

  

This park is truly in the wilderness, felt like actually being in the Boundary Waters! Crystal clear water, thick gorgeous forests, and an amazing sky. 

  

Head into Ely, maybe 20 mins, if you need supplies or a break from the woods. Also can access the BWCAW there too. 

  

We appreciated that this park is open year-round, but can’t wait to go back in the summer!

Feels Like Wilderness

Well kept campground with 73 camping sites. 24 have no electricity.  Has public boat launch for canoes and kayaks.  Has a beach for swimming.  Most sites can handle a medium sized 5th wheel, some are very shallow.  We have a 27ft pop up and there was just enough room for it and my truck.  Planning our next trip here again soon

Secluded and beautiful

This was a wonderful stay. Very family friendly with a lot to do! There are modern facilities in the drive in campground, nothing fancy but they got the job done. We stayed mid-week and the park was busy but not overly full. You can rent kayaks, canoes, etc. at the park office of a decent price. Lots of critters to see and hear. Ely is a short drive down the road. We will definitely be coming back to this campground. 

Beautiful State Park

This is a popular spot and it was pretty noisy. The camp host were great. I didn’t have reservations so I had to move around a lot because I wanted to stay for a few days. There’s lots of things to do And the water is just beautiful. Great places to hike around.￼

Good times.

We have enjoyed staying here. Minnesota does a nice job with their state parks. The campsites are varied in types, sizes and layouts. Ours works great for our 26’ travel trailer and truck, and includes electrical.  Main restroom has showers.  Nice canoeing lake adjacent to the campground.  The Taconite State Trail is nearby.   Only complaints are campsites are close to each other and only one bar of service on T-Mobile phone. 


Great state park near Ely/BWCA

The trails were so beautiful and it felt like there were options to explore everywhere. Firewood was about $7/bundle and restrooms were clean. I want to go back and try to fish next time! There’s individual docks for fishing!

Beautiful land!

I was so impressed by the trails and the lake-it felt very well maintained and also quite private. I can’t wait to stay again!

Beautiful land with so much to offer!

Heavily wooded campground, sites are a little close but acceptable.

Beautiful wilderness experience 

There was quite a few other campers here and we were pleasantly surprised how ‘private’ the camping sites are. Don’t get me wrong you can still hear your neighbors and see signs of life but you’re definitely not combat camping here! 

Peaceful Place

The view from this campsite was absolutely incredible. It’s right off Blueberry Lake, which is an appropriate name as we found plenty of wild blueberries near our campsite. 

The hike to get to this campsite was rough. Trails were very overgrown and there was an unfortunate amount of black flies and mosquitoes. Bug nets, permethrin treated clothing and bug spray were no match for the amount of bugs we encountered. 

They do have a bear locker available which is nice as this campsite is very remote. No pit toilet though so be sure to pack a trowel. 

If you are looking for a rugged, backpacking adventure then this campsite is for you!

Bring plenty of bug spray…

Tough hike in to the backpack site. But once we arrived we had a beautiful little lake all to ourselves. Didn't pass another person in the 1.5 mile hike in. Quiet, secluded, and relaxing. Site had some log benches and a table if I remember correctly as well as a bear box.

Beautiful and secluded backpacking spot

Campsite was good size and relatively private in the non electric area. Beautiful park overall and love the proximity from Ely and Lake Vermillion. I did find bear scat near our site so be sure to practice proper bear safety precautions. 

Classic Northwoods camping/hiking

Camped in site 14 as part of our visit to all MN state parks. Very familiar with the area due to the BWCA but not this state park. Our site had a great combination of open area for wind flow and sun and shade to put our tent in. Again faced with great bathrooms a short walk and showers/larger rest room a short distance away. The site itself offered some of the more sheltered/remote camping locations of our trip (found those on the North Shore to be stacked on top one another) which is becoming nicer and nicer with the increase in RVs and generators in state parks. Lovely park, friendly staff, would love to visit again!

Photos of Bear Head Lake State Park Campground

Real photos from real campers