Mukooda Lake Campground in Voyageurs National Park is surrounded by forested terrain and numerous lakes. The area experiences temperatures ranging from lows of 10°F in winter to highs of 80°F in summer. Nearby, visitors can explore the natural beauty of Kabetogama Lake and the historic Ellsworth Rock Gardens.

All Frontcountry and Backcountry campsites are water-based, require a permit, and can only be accessed by boat. Most campsites in the park are Frontcountry sites, meaning they are directly accessible by boat. 15 of our campsites are in the Backcountry, meaning the trail head is only accessible by water before you start your hike in.

Mukooda Lake Campground — Voyageurs National Park

Join the fun near Crane Lake. With tons of outdoor activities and scenic camping, this is an excellent vacation spot for all kinds of travelers. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in. Experience some of the most stunning views that Minnesota camping has to offer. Get the dirt on all the best camping near Crane Lake. Browse campgrounds by amenities, site types, and more.

Crane Lake

The Best Camping Near Crane Lake, Minnesota

Note: the cost for the campsite is $20.00 per night, and there is also a $10.0 fee for reserving online, which you have to do before arriving. There are discounts if you have a national park senior or military pass, or free for veterans. 

Mukooda Lake is an ecologically unique inland lake within Voyageurs Natioanl Park. Access is best via the crane Lake entrance on the southeast part of the park. Getting to the campground involves a bit of an expedition! You need use a small motorboat or  paddle a canoe or kayak from Crane Lake to SandPoint Lake, then turn  west into a small bay and dock at the Mukooda Access (no houseboats allowed!). If you don't have a boat, you can hire a water taxi from Crane Lake, they can drive you to the Mukooda access and arrange to pick you up again some days hence. Then you need to hike west across the Sand Point Narrows into Mukooda Lake, where you will find a day use area with beach and picnic area, trailhead for several hiking trails, and 5 separate small campgrounds spread like a string of pearls along a trail north of the day use area.  Each campsite has a tent pad, fire ring, picnic table, and bear box, and there is a central solar outhouse in the day use area. The campsites are beautiful, and secluded, the hiking is great, and the fishing is exceptional. There is a unique subspecies of lake trout found here that is found nowhere else in the world; also, the lake has a unique substrate and hydrology and is very pristine. For those reasons, to protect the ake ecosystem ad the fishery, no outside boats may be portaged into Mukooda, even if you paddled your own canoe or kayak into the access. If you want to get out onto Mukooda Lake itself, there are boats already located there which you can reserve and rent for day use.  That is a great idea for fishing, or for exploring the lake and its several islands! Some of the vendors for that option include:

[https://scottspeacefulvalley.com/mukooda-lake/](https://scottspeacefulvalley.com/mukooda-lake/)

[https://www.voyagaire.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/2019-Optional-Equipment-Rentals.pdf](https://www.voyagaire.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/2019-Optional-Equipment-Rentals.pdf)

Boat rentals to get up to SandPoint before you hike into Mukooda can be arranged at one of these outfitters: [https://www.visitcranelake.com/outdoor-activities/boat-rentals/](https://www.visitcranelake.com/outdoor-activities/boat-rentals/)

Hiking trail at Mukooda: [https://www.voyageurs.org/mukoodatrail](https://www.voyageurs.org/mukoodatrail)

General info about Voyageurs National Park: [https://www.nps.gov/voya/index.htm](https://www.nps.gov/voya/index.htm)

Latest news about Mukooda lake: [https://www.nps.gov/search/?affiliate=nps&amp;query=mukooda&amp;sitelimit=www.nps.gov%2Fvoya](https://www.nps.gov/search/?affiliate=nps&amp;query=mukooda&amp;sitelimit=www.nps.gov%2Fvoya)

Mukooda Lake expedition

Cannot say enough wonderful things about this campsite. Besides being excellently maintained, the site itself felt luxurious with stake-able tent pads, easy rock-based water access, and an incredibly easy and nice fire pit with a grate. The vault toilets were well lit, well maintained, and barely stinky. There is also a fresh water well so no iodine needed here. We saw bald eagles and otters, and found many blueberries along the nice hiking loop. Would come here again, it was unexpectedly quite friendly to someone new to canoe camping and i would recommend it to other new campers, or anyone starting/ending their voyageurs trip. Get here through the king williams narrows from crane lake, the sign for voyageurs was down when we came through.

Photos of Mukooda Lake Campground — Voyageurs National Park

Real photos from real campers