Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Crane Lake, MN

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.

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://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/

Hiking trail at Mukooda: https://www.voyageurs.org/mukoodatrail

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

Latest news about Mukooda lake: https://www.nps.gov/search/?affiliate=nps&query=mukooda&sitelimit=www.nps.gov%2Fvoya

Crane Lake is so unique!! It is the Southern Entry to Voyageurs National Park, the Western entry to Boundary Waters Canoe Area, and The Superior Forest borders the East side of Crane Lake.

***NOTE Don't forget to bring along a detailed map as there are hundreds of islands and turns on this beautiful lake.

We camped on the United States side of Crane Lake. Once again you need to be aware of the United States/Canadian borders while in the water. Our headquarters were set up at Handberg's Marina http://www.handbergs.com/

There are 3 back Country campsites located just offset to the Vermilion Gorge Trailhead. These campsites have no fees and are on a first come, first served basis.

The Vermilion Gorge Trailhead hike is a 1 & 1/2 mile trail that featues sheer granite cliffs and waterfalls-it was breathtaking due to the high water levels this year-another note: be very cautious if you bring small children.

**NOTE:  To the best of what I can find, this appears to be a free site.  I can't, at this time, find any indication that's it's paid or reserve-able**

This is a great little free campsite right on Crane Lake before you go into the Boundary Waters Canoe area.

The site has a fire ring with grate, picnic table, plenty of trees for hammocks, and a small tent pad that would be good for a three or four person tent. There's also a primitive toilet so you don't have to dig a cat hole!

This is a motorized lake so there is boat noise, but the water lapping on the rocks at the island makes it very tolerable. Fairly easy access to grab drinking water for filtering, and some decent pine branches for hanging a bear bag. (even on an island - it's advisable to hang a bear bag. Also helps with other critters like squirrels and mice)

The campsite faces the West so if the weather is good, you're in for a great sunset!

Our Family stayed at Headquarters RV Park in Buyck (just outside of Orr, MN) for 4 days over the Memorial Day weekend, and we were so impressed!! This is a new, family owned and operated park situated on 30 acres of beautiful pines. The hosts Brad and Koreen are so welcoming, and have put their hearts into making this Park a refuge from the hustle and busle of our hetic work week.

The one thing we appreciated the most is how close they are to Crane Lake, Namakan Lake, Voyageurs National Park, and the Superior National Forest. We spent our time fishing and checking out visitor destinations like the I. W. Stevens Resort (a historical jem!!) After a long day of fun it was so nice to sit out in the screen tent listening to the ruffled grouse drum and the peace and quiet of nature. There are only 13 spacious sites in this park with plenty of room to fit your RV, boat or 4 wheelers and trailer, screen tent with plenty of room to spare, and beautiful pines between you and your neighbor for privacy.

When you arrive you will find your site ready with a picnic table and fire pit. The full service hook ups are easy to access, and make set up a breeze!! They offer 20, 30, and 50 amp service, and make note that they also offer a potable water station too. Firewood is available for purchase, but don’t be surprised if the Sokoloski’s invite you to their host site for a campfire:) The walking paths are beautiful too!! We brought our dog Max, and he loved it too!! We’ll be back for sure!!

We love to drive around, aimlessly, enjoy the scenery and then find a place to plop for the night.  Our preference is generally State Forest type of places that are self check in, less than $20 and quiet. Oh yes, and pet friendly.

We were pulling our teardrop on this trip, since it gets cold in MN earlier than southern areas. This campground does not have electric, but it wasn't too cold so we were just fine. Upon pulling in, the place appears huge!  Most State Forest campgrounds are small-ish, but this one has 60 spaces!  Two are ADA accessible, the rest are split between two "loops".  The lower seemed quieter, and the upper had more RVs. Many are lakeside, and there is a hiking trail that runs around the camp on the outskirts that's up and down over rocks and terrain...lovely with the dogs!  A small dock provided a jumping off spot for a quick rinse in the lake (dogs too!).

The campsite was tucked in the trees with all the things you expect.  Fire ring, picnic table, etc, and many of the sites (this one too) were so tucked in the trees it was hard to see neighbors.  Lots of space, not too close together!  We visited in September. Water spigots scattered for drinking water, self check in, easy access.

We loved this campground, It is beside the Boondocks Bar and Grill and is owned by the same people. Dez and Kirk were the consummate hosts, friendly and so nice, we could not have asked for better. We cold called them last minute in late April, most of the other campgrounds were not open for the season, but they welcomed us, which saved our butts because we literally would have had to drive hours and completely redo our itinerary. The Bar and Grill is next door and has great food, awesome drinks, friendly locals and bingo on Thursday nights. The campground is easily accessible and the sites are not difficulty to back into, all were graveled and we had minimal leveling, even with the water and mud. I think there are at least 1 or 2 pull throughs but due to the snow and standing water we parked in site #2.  They have 30 and 50 amp, potable water (wasn't on throughout the park when we were there due to the weather) and a dump site at the exit. They are pet friendly and there are areas for walking leashed pets behind the park.  It is conveniently right off the highway and we did not even notice any traffic noises in the evening. International Falls is approx 20 minutes away, with shopping, laundromat and the Canadian Border.  Voyageurs NP, Rainy Lake Visitor Center is approx 30 min. This is now our go to campground when we visit Voyageurs NP.