Map showing campground location near Birchdale, Minnesota

Camper submitted image from Franz Jevne State Park Campground

Franz Jevne State Park Campground

Within Franz Jevne State Park along Minnesota's Canadian border, this small wooded campground sits directly on the Rainy River. The park operates year-round with back-in sites accommodating RVs up to 30 feet, though reviewers suggest truck campers work better given the tight gravel loop road and uneven terrain.

Most sites feature covered picnic tables and tent pads, with two sites offering electric hookups. A hand-pump well provides water, though campers note it requires patience to prime and use effectively. Clean vault toilets serve the campground, and a campground host assists visitors during peak season. The boat launch area includes an electrical post that day-users frequently access.

Walk-in site #4 draws particular praise from visitors, positioned about 50 meters from parking on a small hill overlooking the river rapids. "Main campground nice but the real surprise is the walk in site right on the bank of the rainy river looking right at Canada," notes Stephanie K.. Anglers target northern pike and smallmouth bass from the rocky shoreline, with some hoping to catch the lake sturgeon that inhabit these waters.

Cell service reaches the campground reliably, and hiking trails wind through the wooded areas beyond the river access. For different camping experiences, Blueberry Hill Campground offers more developed facilities about 16 miles southwest.

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Location

Public Campground

Franz Jevne State Park Campground is located in Minnesota

Directions

Approximately 320 miles from the Twin Cities. The park is in Koochiching County, east of Birchdale on State Highway 11.

Address

State Hwy 11
Birchdale, MN 56629

Coordinates

48.64205663 N
94.0623022 W

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Access

Walk-In
Park in a lot, walk to your site.

Site Types

Tent Sites
RV Sites
Standard (Tent/RV)

Features

For Campers

Picnic Table
Phone Service
Reservable
Electric Hookups
Toilets
Pets
Fires

For Vehicles

30 Amp Hookups

Contact

General Info

Reservations

Make reservation

Drive Time

3 hrs 10 min from Duluth, MN
3 hrs 14 min from Grand Forks, ND
4 hrs 13 min from Fargo, ND
4 hrs 24 min from St. Cloud, MN

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5 Stars

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1 Star

4.0

out of 5

6 Reviews

Many campers appreciated this hidden gem's peaceful riverside location with private, well-spaced sites and helpful hosts. Some visitors expressed concerns about the challenging hand pump for water access.

Teresa T.

Legend

Reviewed Jun. 29, 2024

Adorable

I kind of got to talk out of coming to this park and I wish I hadn't. I think it's great. The campsites are private. You have great cell phone service so you could work from here. And there's more trails than it implies if you just look at the maps, online. The river is flowing very, very fast, so no paddling around on it today, but during a lower summer, I think you could paddle across to canada. So yeah, it's a lot more interesting of a park than was implied.

Site6

Month of VisitJune

Fred S.

Legend

Reviewed May. 22, 2024

Primitive Camping along the Border

Camped here on Oct 17, 2023. Small wooded state park campground along the Rainy River and the Canadian border. Sites were back-in and had tent pads. I don't recommend anything larger than a truck camper. Some sites were small and not level. Campground host was friendly and helpful. Some hiking trails. Fished on the Rainy River and caught a northern pike. Hand water pump. Clean vault toilet with tp. Our site had a covered picnic table, lattern pole and metal fire ring. The site was wedged inside the gravel campground loop road. I really liked this campground.

Site8

Month of VisitOctober

(10) View All

karl

Guide

Reviewed Aug. 17, 2022

Beautiful

Nice, paeceful campground along Rainy River. Small Rvs can navigate also several nice walk in tent sites on river. 2 sites with electric. All sites first come.

Site1

Month of VisitAugust

HollyRose M.

Ranger

Reviewed Oct. 23, 2020

Quiet, Simple, Peacfull

This is a great little gem on the Canadian border. Minnesota’s smallest state park- but it’s very gorgeous and feels kinda awesome looking out at Canada!

A very cool feature at most sites, is that they have a rustic log overhanging/shelter of sorts. Doesn’t have sides, but some campers strung a tarp on one side to get some actual shelter.

Clean vaulted toilets, running water, garbages throughout the camp and an electric post at the boat launch (doesn’t really seem like it’s an actual camp site, I saw multiple cars pulling up to it to utilize the power, and it’s right in the middle of the boat launch).

Tent pads dry, big, and soft ground. Sites spread out decently, plenty of buffer between most of them. Feels pretty rugged and backwoodsy.

Saw quite a few eagles, the clearest stars ever, and enjoyed a peaceful hike along the river and then through the woods. My site was #4, a walk in site, and for sure the best one in the park! Just about 50 meters from the parking spot, up a little trail to the top of a small hill with great view and bench overlooking the rapids.

Clearly a place for fisher people. The camp boasts Lake Sturgeon fishing and in the evening, I saw multiple boats at the rapids, so something must have been biting!

Ralph, the park caretaker was absolutely amazing, and helped me out with some car trouble. That was a godsend! Nice to know that even in the middle of nowhere, you still got some backup if needed.

Just a fun little kinda secret spot, very basic but still with the necessities and with a backwoods feel, which I definitely appreciate!

(8) View All

Matthew

Traveler

Reviewed Aug. 25, 2020

Great hidden gem

This park is a great hidden gem. Right up against the Rainy River. We spent 3 nights out here and it was wonderful. Only reason we docked it one star was the water. It has an old manual hand pump that takes forever to prime and use.

We spent the day fishing here and the small mouth along the rocks we fun fights. No signs of the sturgeon that live in this river sadly.

Stephanie K.

Guide

Reviewed Aug. 3, 2020

Best walk in site

Main campground nice but the real surprise is the walk in site right on the bank of the rainy river looking right at Canada. Secluded big hike in spot. Definitely check it out

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping facilities and amenities are available at Franz Jevne State Park?

Franz Jevne State Park Campground offers several back-in sites with tent pads, including two sites with electrical hookups. Many campsites feature rustic log overhangs/shelters that provide some cover. Water is available from an old manual hand pump that requires priming. The campground can accommodate small RVs, but is not recommended for anything larger than a truck camper as some sites are small and not level. All sites are first-come, first-served. This is Minnesota's smallest state park, providing a peaceful setting along the Rainy River with views of Canada.

What do visitor reviews say about camping at Franz Jevne State Park?

Campers describe Franz Jevne as a "hidden gem" and praise its peaceful atmosphere and gorgeous setting on the Rainy River with views of Canada. The park earns high marks for its private, wooded campsites and the unique walk-in site right on the riverbank. Visitors appreciate the log shelters at most sites, which some use to hang tarps for additional coverage. The campground host is noted as friendly and helpful. The only common critique involves the manual water pump, which takes considerable effort to prime and use. Cell phone service is reportedly excellent.

What activities can visitors enjoy at Franz Jevne State Park on the Rainy River?

Franz Jevne State Park offers excellent fishing opportunities on the Rainy River, particularly for smallmouth bass along the rocky areas. Hiking is popular on several trails throughout the wooded park. The unique location on the Canadian border provides interesting views across the river. Wildlife observation is another common activity, and the park's small size and peaceful setting make it ideal for relaxation. During warmer months, visitors can enjoy the riverfront, while the park's natural beauty makes it a great destination for photography and nature appreciation.

Is there a trail map or campground map available for Franz Jevne State Park?

Yes, trail and campground maps are available for Franz Jevne State Park. The park actually has more hiking trails than what's shown on online maps. While specific map distribution points aren't mentioned, visitors can typically obtain maps from the campground host or at park information boards. For the most current and detailed maps, check with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources website or contact the park directly before your visit.

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Location

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Is Franz Jevne State Park Campground sold out?

Connectivity

Access

Site Types

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Drive Time

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What camping facilities and amenities are available at Franz Jevne State Park?

What do visitor reviews say about camping at Franz Jevne State Park?

What activities can visitors enjoy at Franz Jevne State Park on the Rainy River?

Is there a trail map or campground map available for Franz Jevne State Park?