Bimijiwan Recreation Area

Camped here for a quiet weekend away. Had a beautiful view of the Knutson Dam, and out onto Cass lake. There was some ATV traffic, but they did most the riding outside the camp area, on forest roads. Primative camp with one outhouse for 14 sites, but never had to wait 😄. Sites vary from fully wooded to partly shaded. Was lucky to see the northern lights on this trip.

The Knutson Dam is a recreation access point and campground within the Chippewa National Forest. It is a smaller, quieter, out of the way campground on the northeast side of Cass Lake, about a 20 mile drive from the main National Forest campgrounds and visitors center at the Norway Beach location on the south side of Cass Lake.

This is not a campground I would specifically choose for a quality camping experience if there was space available at Norway Beach or further south on Pike Bay. It might be considered more of an "overflow" campground for campers if the sites at the main campgrounds are filled. As the official Forest Service description says, this campground is known for its "nicely manicured sites" meaning that the whole campground is open and lawn-like, with some trees around the periphery. You dont exactly get a secluded woodsy experience for camping at this location.

However, there are several specific reasons why you might choose to camp here if you are mainly there to pursue other kinds recreational activities.

First, this is a terrific site from which to launch a boat or canoe if you want to out onto Cass Lake for fishing, and as you can see by the flock of pelicans hanging around at the rapids near the campground boat launch, fish congregate here because of the rocky natural-ladder outlet of Cass Lake as its waters flow east into the Mississippi River. So, this would be a quiet and convenient spot to just sack out at night if you plan to spend the whole day on the lake fishing. It is also the closest most and most convenient boat launch if you want to access the spectacular Star Island for a day trip of hiking and swimming.

As a useful campground for stopovers, this is also recommended for anyone paddling the Turtle River water trail from the north, or the Mississippi River watertrail east from Itasca or Bemidji en route to Lake Winnie. This campground has a great pull-out for your canoe, and is a good place of respite after the long paddle across Cass Lake as it is right at the eastern confluence of Cass Lake and the Mississippi River. For Bikers on the Mississippi River Bike Route, or car trippers travelling the Scenic Ladyslipper Highway or the Great River Road, this is also the most convenient campground to stop at on your journey, without going too far off the official route.

Another plus regardless of your preferred recreation or mode of travel, the best site of the whole campground is the handicapped accessible site, complete with its own fishing pier, paved picnic area, view over the river, and reasonable distance to toilets.

There is a campground host who maintains the grounds and sells wood, and there is a source of good water here, but the campground is a good 1/2 hour from a grocery store or other amenities of the town of Cass Lake, so be prepared.

Also note, if you are going to do any kind of water based recreation: you must clean your watercraft carefully, as invasive exotic zebra mussels have been found in Cass Lake. Also, though there isnt a great swimming spot here, be advised that there is swimmers itch in the lake later in summer, so be sure to rinse off