Best Tent Camping near Chisholm, MN
Tent campers visiting the Chisholm area of northern Minnesota find a variety of established campgrounds scattered throughout nearby state forests and lakeshores. Stubler Beach offers tent sites with drinking water, picnic tables and fire rings, while Bear Lake Campground in George Washington State Forest provides a more remote tent camping experience with sites that accommodate tents on the shores of a quiet lake approximately 30 miles northwest of Chisholm.
Most tent sites in the region feature basic amenities with pit toilets, fire rings, and picnic tables, though facilities vary between locations. The Thistledew Campground includes trash collection but lacks drinking water, requiring tent campers to bring their own supply. Sites at George Washington State Forest's Lost Lake campground are spaced comfortably apart in wooded settings with drinking water available. Several campgrounds in the area operate seasonally, with Bear Lake open from May 10 to September 10, while others like Wakemup Bay in Kabetogama State Forest remain accessible year-round but with limited winter services.
The region offers secluded backcountry tent camping experiences with many sites situated near fishing lakes. Several campgrounds feature lakeside tent sites that provide direct water access for paddlers and anglers. The secluded walk-in tent sites at Wakemup Bay, particularly sites #20 and #21, offer exceptional privacy among tall pines with short hiking paths from parking areas. A visitor described site #20 as "a true gem, beautiful tall pines, picnic table, fire ring and tent pad in a very secluded setting but still just a short hike from where you park your car." Group Camp at McCarthy Beach State Park provides a dedicated area for larger tent camping groups with access to Sturgeon Lake and nearby shower facilities, making it suitable for family gatherings seeking primitive tent camping with basic comforts.