Crescent Lake Campground, near Tofte, Minnesota, is a fantastic spot for those looking to escape into nature. Set within the Superior National Forest, this campground offers a peaceful retreat with beautiful lakeside sites that are perfect for relaxing and soaking in the scenery.

The campground is known for its clean facilities, including well-maintained pit toilets and drinking water stations. Campers appreciate the friendly camp host who keeps everything tidy and is always ready to share a smile or a chat with the local chipmunks. As one visitor noted, “The Camp Host is great and keeps the place very clean.”

For outdoor activities, the lake is a highlight, offering opportunities for paddle boarding and fishing, though some campers have mentioned that the fishing can be hit or miss. Be prepared for mosquitoes during the summer months, so bring your bug spray and maybe a screen tent to keep the little pests at bay. 

Crescent Lake Campground is a bit off the beaten path, requiring a drive down a gravel road, but that just adds to its charm. It’s a great base for exploring nearby areas like Grand Marais and Lutsen, making it easy to enjoy both the tranquility of the campground and the attractions of the North Shore. Whether you’re camping in a tent or an RV, this spot offers a serene getaway that keeps campers coming back year after year.

## Overview

 Crescent Lake is an undeveloped lake surrounded entirely by the remote Superior National Forest. This quiet campground has waterfront campsites with easy access to fishing, exploring the nearby wilderness and simply enjoying the beauty of the natural area. Superior National Forest, located in northeastern Minnesota's arrowhead region, is comprised of 3 million acres. The forest spans 150 miles along the United States-Canada border. Visitors can find recreation opportunities year-round, including travel in the famous Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
## Recreation

 The fishing is good for walleye, northern pike and muskie. Crescent Lake allows motorized boat use without limit on horsepower, but is most appropriate for small fishing or similar type boats. The surrounding national forest offers a wide variety of recreational opportunities, including hiking in secluded woodlands and canoeing in pristine lakes and rivers. View [recreation guides and maps][1] of hiking trails and canoe routes in the national forest.
## Natural Features

 Superior National Forest is known for its boreal forest ecosystem, numerous clean lakes and diversity of plants and animals. The entire campground is heavily wooded with white pines, red pines, spruce, balsam, birch and aspen. Birds and wildlife are abundant, from moose and bear to bald eagles and loons. 
## Nearby Attractions

 The concessionaire Sawbill Canoe Outfitters maintains a store with showers, laundry, fishing licenses, fishing bait and tackle, ice, grocery and convenience items, canoe and camping gear rental and a pay telephone. It is 13 miles from the campground. Numerous outdoor recreation opportunities lie within Superior National Forest, including the nearby Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Over one million acres in size, the Boundary Waters extend nearly 150 miles along the United States-Canada border and contain over 1,200 miles of canoe routes, 12 hiking trails and over 2,000 designated campsites. [Additional sites of interest][2]. 

[1]: http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/superior/maps-pubs/?cid=stelprdb5202373
[2]: http://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/superior/home/?cid=fsm91_049663&width=full

Crescent Lake Campground

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Lutsen

The Best Camping Near Lutsen, Minnesota

This is an area that my family has camped at regularly over the past 20+ years.  Great fishing, cold water and some decent trails around the lake.  It is not very crowded as it is a bit of a drive, but I think it's worth it to get away.  If I had photos I would have posted them, but no camera the last time I was there.

Lots of great memories

We arrived very late, having spent too much time in Duluth, and set up in the dark. It was easy enough to find the site and we thought we had located the tent in the best place, until daylight revealed our mistake. We were pleased to find a pleasant, quiet campground. The only drawback was the shallow layout put us close to the road. It seemed most sites were similarly positioned. The restrooms were clean, the water point easy to find and use. I was out of propane and had to drive to Sawbill, but that was pleasant as well, not too far, and I saw a moose.

I would return.

Very nice

We love the peaceful, private campsites. The lake is beautiful. Fishing is great when you know where to go. Very rustic and clean. Nearest supplies are about 15 miles away, so double check inventory before you leave Hwy 61.

Yearly Camper at Crescent Lake

The tent sites or sites not on the water were EXTREMELY lacking. Site 25 specifically was awful. Brush is over grown making very limited space to set up a tent and the path up to the small clearing up the hill is being taken over by growth BUT the sites on the water are breath taking. Knowing this we will be back. 
Bathrooms are clean, water access is great, and water is available for drinking and cleaning that’s really a great set up. 
-Mosquitoes are BAD (as to be expected) so bring a screen tent. 
-Fire pits have a GREAT cooking set up that swivels over the fire, downside is some of them are broken or need upkeep as dirt has settled under it and it won’t move anymore (needs to be dug out). 
-camp host is SUPER nice and has the cutest relationship with the chipmunks, if you need wood stop by and say hi and meet the cute and bossy chipmunks.

Dog loved it there, it’s quiet, beautiful, campsites are generally well maintained, tent sites are just VERY small and getting smaller.

Gorgeous, kind, incredible

Mosquitos are outta control at this campsite in June and July! If you don’t have bug spray…. Don’t come these months. We stayed at 15- great for 50’. Picnic table and fire pit. 
The lake wasn’t great for fishing for us this trip. Others only caught small mouth bass. 
There is no internet access. You get some cell service at the fishing deck. 3G and LTE with 2-3 bars. 

Very peaceful… the lake was beautiful. Expect a 13 mile gravel road from Tofte. 

No dump, no water and no electric hookups. There are several clean bathrooms with hand sanitizer and drinking water stations. 

Excellent Paddle Boarding

Don't expect cell service. I had Verizon and was teased with 1 bar, but really no service. The lake side sites are amazing. The Camp Host is great and keeps the place very clean and the pit toilets, don't worry about those, they are great some of the best maintained I've ever seen. This campground is a long way out there, but worth the drive. You can do a trip into Grand Marias, Lutsen or other Northshore areas fairly easily. Don't let it being on a gravel road and right next to the BWCA scare ya.

Photos of Crescent Lake Campground

Real photos from real campers