Best Cabin Camping near Balsam, MN

Recent Cabin Reviews near Balsam, MN

205 Reviews of 25 Balsam Campgrounds

• B

  Benjamin C.

  Guide

  

  Jun. 7, 2016

  Jay Cooke State Park Campground

  great stop on the way north

  site: wooded. walk-in sites available. camping cabins available. amenities: very clean. attractions: geocaching. historic sites. nature programs. biking. hiking. I would go camping here again.

• 

  Sara S.

  Legend

  

  Jun. 12, 2016

  Jay Cooke State Park Campground

  family time

  We came with our extended family and while they did tent camping we stayed in a camping cabin. The cabins were great! Our family also was pleased with their tent camping site. This park offered some fun hikes. The views are beautiful- great place to take photos! We came into the stay somewhat unaware of the park, as our family had done the reservations and planning, but we were pleasantly surprised at everything this park offers :)

• 

  Jade K.

  Scout

  

  Jan. 10, 2020

  Cloquet-Duluth KOA

  Our choice for the area!!!

  Came in august for Thomas the train in Duluth. This campground is great. Tons of trees for shade. Everything you Need to enjoy a weekend away. Pool, hot tub, WiFi, showers, arcade, laundry, c store, and lots more. We will be back!!

• 

  Glenda D.

  Ranger

  

  Apr. 5, 2021

  Cloquet-Duluth KOA

  Nice campground & nice staff

  We are KOA members (who stay at a lot of KOAs) - our 1st visit at this Cloquet KOA was Sept 2020:

  The staff were friendly. One staff drove a cart right to our campsite and helped us determine the best way to back in our RV for the most privacy. We needed a couple of items for our RV and the store had everything we needed including a hose adapter, ketchup, buns, dog treats & s’mores fixings. The camp is close to Duluth but still far enough away to get you completely out of the city and, while exploring, we came across Jay Cook State Park (only about 15 min away) which is beautiful!! The camp was relatively quiet. We were about 20 feet from another campsite on one side and 50 feet on the other. There are a lot of trees and wooded areas so our site felt semi-private. Our Pomeranian, who loves to camp, loved the woods!! Across from us were two camping cabins filled with 20 year olds celebrating a 21st birthday but the staff drove through often and we never heard noise. This KOA offers full hookups in some parts of the campground but our site was only water/electric so they offered a complimentary pump-out with a mobile truck during our stay. We will stay here again!

• 

  Makayla B.

  Guide

  

  Oct. 7, 2020

  True North Basecamp

  Lake cabins and tent sites

  I've stayed in both the cabins and the camping area. The cabins are my favorite because of the lake views, proximity to the bathhouse, and heat/AC units. Cabin #5 has the best unobstructed views of the lake. Cabins have WiFi. The campground is nice but only has a primitive toilet adjacent to the campsites. There are no electric or sewer hookups, but there are a couple of tent sites than can accommodate small campers. I camped in site #18 and it either isn't very level or I just did a poor job of setting up my tent because we were slanted all night. Great stargazing at both the cabins and the tent sites. 

  Check-in information is shared via email (key codes for the bathhouse and the cabin locks). The emails are very informative and the owners have been prompt to reply when I had questions. They even offer up the option to have firewood delivered to your site (either cabin or tent site) before you arrive.

  This is my favorite place to stay in Crosby because it's so close to both the Rally Center Trailhead and Crosby. My favorite places in town are Red Raven (great coffee shop with good breakfast and lunch food options), Crosby Pub (wide variety of food - burgers, salads, appetizers), Rafferty's Pizza (pizza and beer plus a couple of arcade games in the back), and Iron Range Eatery (a little fancier than Crosby Pub (but not by much) and offers great food as well). All of these restaurants offer outdoor seating.

• 

  Andrea S.

  Guide

  

  May. 19, 2018

  Jay Cooke State Park Campground

  Before the Shore

  This park is right before Duluth and is a perfect getaway spot if you don’t want to travel all the way up the shore! The campground has tent, hook-up, and cabin sites. The facilities, while somewhat dated, have always been in good condition and clean on my visits. This seems more like a family campground and is quiet pretty early. The trails are just across the street and are beautiful in all seasons. The bridge history is pretty cool too; go see it! One thing I would note for this park is that it definitely blends with the nearby city, which isn’t a bad thing as long as you’re aware. The town has some great breakfast spots too!

• 

  Janet R.

  Legend

  

  Jul. 7, 2018

  Jay Cooke State Park Campground

  Geology and more at Jay Cooke

  This state park is a real gem in terms of its location (near Dulluth, and first in a series of state parks that go up the North Shore of Lake Superior) as well as its educational and recreational opportunities. It is located in a rocky gorge on the St Louis River, which provides a great destination for anyone who wants to study geology of the region. There are also miles of hiking trails, access to the Oberstar Bike trail, park naturalist programs, and nearby rentals for whitewater kayaking for those who are very adventurous. The campsites are wooded and nicely spaced, and the park camper cabins (where I stayed) are really cozy and nice!

  WARNING: One current downfall of the park, which will be a problem for the coming yea, is that the park experienced a massive water main break during a recent storm, and the park currently has no drinking water, showers or bathrooms available. You will need to bring your own jugs of water for drinking and washing up, and be prepared to use outhouses. This applies to campsites as well as camper cabins. Major construction is going on in the west part of the campground, too, as a new line is put in and the bath houses are rebuilt, so be prepared for some construction noise.

• 

  Amy G.

  Legend

  

  Mar. 9, 2023

  Mont du Lac Resort

  Winter camping was cozy in the cabin

  This was my first time at this location and we decided to do a cabin (package) so that we could stay and ski (well, they skied I snowshoed). The cabin was nicely located close to the slope but not in the way of the action.

  Cabin 1 was an RV Cabin (as they call it) which is sort of RV shaped but not on wheels.  Wooden cabin, 2 bedrooms and a loft with plenty of space for sleeping. It was carpeted with outlets and windows and lights .  We had three teenage boys up there and could easily have slept 2 to 3 more.  A mini kitchen with fridge, stove, pots, pans, dishes, soap and microwave as well as full bathroom with shower.  All linens provided. Ah yes - and it's heated/cooled too! Not with a wood stove, but an actual thermostat adjustable heater. Bedrooms have mini plug in ceramic type heaters for extra warmth.

  If you stay in a cabin or campsite (they are open in summer) you get a discount on lift tickets. During the summer, there is a lazy river, mini water slide type of platform and a summer tubing area that runs through the trees!

  While I can not speak for the actual campsites since they were snow covered, I can say that they do have them.

  Additionally, all sites have a fire ring, picnic table and the cabins have BBQ grills. Firewood available for purchase.

• D

  Des

  Scout

  

  Jul. 12, 2022

  Jay Cooke State Park Campground

  So beautiful and incredibly BUSY!

  Jay Cooke has always been one of our favorite places to camp. It has gotten so busy it’s not even that enjoyable anymore. It’s always well maintained and clean!! We booked a walk in site ( 83 ) which was beautiful! The down side was it’s very close to the camper cabins and many families with children running around unattended. They ran into out campsite yelling and screaming with flashlights and banging bat’s against the trees  while the parents did nothing even after my husband asked them nicely.  We had planned to have a quiet getaway from the city and zone out peacefully.  I have not been back since. Busses and busses of kids pulling up the the park and a 25 minute wait to cross the swing bridge.  But it is absolutely gorgeous there despite the hoards of people.

• 

  Janet R.

  Legend

  

  Apr. 14, 2019

  Jay Cooke State Park Campground

  Winter cabin camping

  I love Jay Cooke year round! The tent camping is great, the park is amazing for hiking and geology study, and there are camper cabins that I have often stayed at as well. This was my first time staying in winter, the camper cabins are cozy and fully heated and really nice. People use them when coming here in winter for the terrific cross country skiing or snowshoeing. The cabins are very simple and have beds, table, heat, and electricity, but no water inside (water punps are nearby, so bring a bucket ir canteen) and no bathroom (but you can use the outhouse nearby, and the campground will have a new bath house by early summer, it is inder construction and almost finished!) . You can use the facilities at the visitor center during the day but they arent open in the evening and are a bit of a trek from the campground. But, it you want to camp in warmth and relative comfort, and want to explire this amazing state park, the camper cabins are a great way to go year round! You can reserve campsites too if you have an RV or dont mind winter camping

• 

  Anni O.

  Scout

  

  Jul. 6, 2019

  Fond du Lac City

  Peaceful

  We stayed here for two nights over the 4th of July. A little crowded on the river front but our site was tucked into a more secluded area not far from the river. The hosts were very nice and accommodating. This campground does not take reservations. It is on a first come basis. We had no problem finding a place to park here. No showers but water and electric were available, only vault toilets but they are kept up very well. No designated swimming area. There was however Horseshoe and bag pits, a small game room and at least one cabin for rental. Self serve pay station with firewood to purchase also. It was a very quiet place and there were many families with children who were playing on the small playground, shooting hoops, fishing, and riding bike. Many biking and hiking trails close by. It is very close to Jay Cook State Park. We enjoyed our stay.

• 

  Becky F.

  Guide

  

  Aug. 2, 2020

  Jay Cooke State Park Campground

  The Views

  We have stayed in a camper cabin in the winter and RV site in the summer. We have explored so many trails on our snowshoes and cross country skis in the winter and have enjoyed many hikes and mountain bike rides in the summer months. The accommodations were well maintained with very clean campground area. The shower room is very new and the bathrooms were very clean. The cabins are pretty basic with bunk beds and a small table with chairs. The cabin we stayed in was heated with base board heaters that you have control of the temperature. We have also brought our canoe to explore the river and went fishing. There are so many trails to explore so we plan on camping here again and again!

• 

  Stacy M.

  Guide

  

  Mar. 8, 2024

  True North Basecamp

  Great spot

  We stayed in a cabin for a week of biking. Excellent location with all the trails. It has a great swimming area, though it did get deep fast for little kids. We brought our paddleboard and had a great time on the quiet lake. We did hike up to the top of the camp area and were glad we stayed in the cabins. The shower/bathroom house was nice. Overall, we would stay here again.

• C

  Candace W.

  Scout

  

  Sep. 30, 2016

  Jay Cooke State Park Campground

  Jaye Cooke Park an Exciting Adventure

  I live on the edge of this park but I love to rent a cabin so I'm in the middle of the fun. My grandkids, friends and daughter have stayed with me. Campfire at night, hiking during the day and lots of fresh air. We usually have a few "visitors" in the evening. While sitting around d the fire we can spot raccoons hoping to steal some marshmallows or in the morning when the chipmunks ate our donuts! It's a great place a d the cabins are wonderful for those who aren't fond of tents.

• J

  Jules L.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 12, 2017

  Jay Cooke State Park Campground

  Gabbro, Shale and Greywacke are wack at Jay Cooke State Park

  Even though it rained almost the entire time, we spent a great couple of days at Jay Cooke State Park in MN last June. We went with friends who also had an 8 year old boy. We both rented camper cabins. Our family was in Gabbro and their family was in Shale. The two cabins were separated by 20 feet of forest connected by a footpath through the trees. The boys had a blast running back and forth between the two cabins. The parents were pretty happy to have the screened in porches for listening to the rain and playing several rounds of Mad Libs.

  We did a couple of short hikes during breaks in the rain. The suspension bridge was cool and all the boys had fun climbing on the rocks in the gorge and scaring us moms. There are some great trails that run through the area (Willard Munger and North Country National Scenic trails and Duluth is only 15 miles away via bike trail) and I hope to return on a drier weekend to do more hiking.

• O

  Orange D.

  Scout

  

  May. 23, 2020

  True North Basecamp

  Awesome cabins

  Cabins are basic but clean with comfortable beds, a table and ac! Right on the lake and direct access to the trails

• 

  Tori K.

  Legend

  

  Nov. 6, 2022

  Banning State Park Campground

  Super woodsy campground

  Sites are spacious and offer lots of tree coverage for shade. Sites with electric, sites without electric, and cabins are available to reserve. Highly recommend the hike along the river.

• R

  Rene N.

  Scout

  

  Jul. 20, 2020

  Red Rider Resort

  Wonderful campground

  Myself and some friends spent the weekend here in July. There are 10 tent sites and many cabins. We stayed in tents. The sites are rustic but have fire rings and some have charcoal grills in them. The bathrooms are spotless and come with real flush toilets and sinks. There is even showers in both of them. Most people come here to ride the red dirt mtb trails of Cuyuna so the showers are a great amenity! Beautiful views of the lake (mine pit) and swimming off of the private dock. If you want to fish here you must have a trout stamp. We want to come back and rent a cabin next time. Overall 10/10 would recommend and will return!

• 

  Ashley T.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 8, 2019

  Big Lake Shores & The Lounge

  Serenity

  We always stay in the cabin. It’s a remote paradise! The price is right. Refrigerator, microwave, queen bed along side a bunk; double on the bottom bunk and a twin up top. The neighborhood is welcoming.

• H

  Heather V.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 19, 2020

  Cloquet-Duluth KOA

  Okay

  It has all of the amenities, including a fenced in dog area, but the RV sites are close with no privacy. The cabins and tent area looked better. It was fine in a pinch but not my idea of camping.

• 

  Scott M.

  Legend

  

  Dec. 22, 2022

  Park Lake Campground

  Mostly full timers

  Interesting set up as this is great for families. Lots of full timers and season guests coming here annually. Great location and the fishing is great and you have direct access to it! Couple full time cabins but the main attraction here is the bar. Lots of locals come in and enjoy this. Food was good!

• 

  Sydney J.

  Traveler

  

  Oct. 7, 2017

  True North Basecamp

  Close to town and trails

  Loved the proximity of True Nortb to both Crosby restaurants and bars and the incredible trails of Cuyuna Country. Lovely cabins for glamping with incredible views of Armour Mine 2. Nice beach for summer. Bathrooms were fine but the men's password didn't work and it took away to get someone to fix it since this campground wasn't staffed. Looking forward to our next stay nevertheless!

• 

  Lee D.

  Legend

  

  Sep. 29, 2018

  Banning State Park Campground

  Easy access to a great park

  Banning is located just off I35 but you would never know it; unlike other parks close to highways, we didn’t hear any road noise at all. Small campground (34 sites including one cabin, about a third with electric). Some sites (18-34 especially) offer great privacy. Clean bathrooms. Great hiking trails (although the Wolf Creek Trail between the split from High Bluff and the falls is not marked and can get a little confusing to navigate). The Quarry Loop Trail is also interesting and you can pick up an interpretive map.

• 

  Janet R.

  Legend

  

  Jul. 29, 2018

  Savanna Portage State Park Campground

  Savannah Portage for a trek through time

  This state park is definitely off the beaten path, with the Savannah Portage itself almost as it 200 years ago when Americans explorers came trekking through. It is worth a visit to the park to experience and learn about 1) the physical geography of the important continental divide that occurs here, dividing the Great Lakes watershed from the Mississippi watershed, and 2) to hike the Savannah Portage to experience and learn about expedition history along this old historic fur trade route. The opportunities for hiking and nature study are really good here.For canoers, there are a couple small lakes within the park, but you can also easily get out to the very large Big Sandy Lake just to the west, and even on to the Mississippi River nearby. As for the camping experience, I would agree that the campsites are a bit small and crowded in, which is a bit on the down side. You might like one if the hike in sites or canoe in site if you want ti be more secluded. On my most recent trip in very early June it was surprisingly bug-free, but it is often really buggy later in summer due to the myriad swamps and marshes in the vicinity. If it is available, you might want to consider the camper cabin! Also, autumn is a spectacular time to visit, lots of color and no bugs, and I have friends who come here in winter, the camper cabin and guesthouse are open year round, I havent stayed with them overnight but did visit for the day one weekend in February, and being in the park in winter for snowshoeing was beautiful and amazing!

• J

  Justin

  Scout

  

  Aug. 6, 2021

  Fond du Lac City

  Small quiet campground on the St Louis River

  Quiet campground on the st Louis River just south of duluth and close to Jay Cooke state park. Most sites were pretty open but nice spots right on the river. Water and electric at those sites. We stayed 2 nights. Only complaint was the hosts or owners kids running around and being kind of rude. Signage I think was difficult for some people. We had family staying in the cabin and everyone thought they were the host.

  Nice bathrooms and shower rooms according to other members in our group. Small playground and sandbox for kids. Horseshoes, ladder toss, and bag toss provided by campground.

  Nice city park across the street with short walking trail through the woods and a larger playground.

• A

  Amanda S.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 18, 2018

  Lake Emily Resort & Campground

  Amazingly friendly and accommodating staff

  This resort and campground only has a few reservable campsites and a couple of cabins (at least one is more like a Park model). There are bathrooms and showers available, but only one of each for each gender. The sites are close together and a bit of a walk to the swimming beach. The staff is amazingly accommodating though and let us put 2 campers per site to accommodate our large group. I was also impressed that they had many beach toys that were able to be used by anyone and a decent playground that is right near the campsites. It rained 4 inches the first night we were there and many of the low lying areas were flooded, but it did not affect any of the campsites and the kids loved playing in the huge puddles.

• 

  Courtney C.

  Guide

  

  Jun. 21, 2019

  Oak Lake Campground & RV Sales

  Nice campground

  Great fishing lake! This campground provides boat rental and a swimming beach. Sites are a little small but have a nice view of the lake. Playground for the kids was decent. The beach was ok.