2 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Cabins near Ely offer rustic to modern accommodations with varying amenities based on location. Bear Head Lake State Park provides cabins in a wooded setting with access to hiking trails and fishing. Canoe Country Campground and Cabins features electric hookups, drinking water, and shower facilities. "We stayed 2 nights in a cabin and tent camped 2 nights on a camp site. This area has great access to many lakes including the BWCA along with being close to Ely for anything you may have forgotten," notes one visitor. Lake Vermillion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park also provides cabin rentals with picnic tables, toilets, and trash service.
Rustic and deluxe cabins are available depending on location. Silver Rapids Lodge offers accommodations ranging from small 4-6 person units to larger cabins sleeping up to 24 people. Most locations require advance reservations, particularly during peak summer months from May through September. Pet policies vary significantly between properties, with some cabins being pet-friendly while others, like Lake Vermillion-Soudan cabins, prohibit pets entirely. A camper wrote, "The campground is very quiet but the fall scenery is beautiful. Clean campsites with plenty to do. Hiking, bicycling, fishing etc."
Most cabins include basic furniture but require visitors to bring their own linens, towels, and toiletries. Kitchen facilities range from primitive fire rings with grates to more equipped setups with refrigerators. Firewood is available for purchase at many locations including Bear Head Lake State Park and Silver Rapids Lodge. Ely provides convenient access to supplies with two large grocery stores. According to one visitor, "The city of Ely is close for supplies and grocery shopping. Two large grocery stores. Friendly people throughout this town." Williams and Hall Outfitters and several other cabin providers maintain small markets for basic provisions, though selection is limited.
"Camper cabins are nice. They have bunk type beds. The beds on bottom are FULL size (can sleep 2 each) and the ones on top are singles. So 6 could sleep here."
"Bear Head Lake State Park is just south of the Boundary Waters, and shares a comparable wilderness element. The shoreline is beautiful and very fun to explore by kayak."
Available this weekend
from $23 - $90 / night
"The sites had good privacy due to the trees, and I managed to set the tent up at the way back of the site, so you couldn't see it from the road."
"We showed up around 8 PM on a Friday and was still able to get a spot at this nice, quiet campground. It was a very peaceful spot since the gravel leading To it is quite a few miles off the highway."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $21 - $95 / night
"While we were there, a park ranger stopped to check us in, including processing us for a free annual MN state park pass for disabled veterans."
"It is a very popular lake for fishermen, but until now there was no State Park campground available on its shores. This is a new state park campground, which just had its Grand Opening in June 2018."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $23 - $300 / night
"My bf and I stayed 2 nights in a cabin and tent camped 2 nights on a camp site."
from $40 / night
"The city of Ely is close for supplies and grocery shopping. Two large grocery stores. Friendly people throughout this town. Will camp here again."
"PETS ARE ALLOWED IN THE PARK BUT NOT THE CABINS - see below for details. This part of the state park is very new!"
"Stayed in a cabin for some winter glamping! Gonna have to make this a yearly thing for sure!"
from $90 / night
Campground full this weekend
"Campground Review: ****This campground is located on beautiful Whitewater Lake in Hoyt Lakes, MN."
"Pet friendly, close to town, clean showers, friendly staff. The only bad thing is no water hook ups."
"Clean Nice walking trail around the lake. Vault restroom clean."
"Lake is clear and looks like very good fishing. Does not have a boat launch. There are three campsites that are decently big and you could fit two-three cars."
GuideWe stayed Labor Day weekend 2026. The camp sites are huge. Site 29 has room for 3 hammock set ups. I did a tent with plenty of room to set up perfectly with a 2 person tent. Access to the water was tricky straight from the site but doable. Spent 4 hours on the water kayaking. The views are incredible.
ScoutThis is one of Minnesota’s more modern state park campgrounds—you even get Wi-Fi with your mosquitoes. We had perfect weather, a great fire, and a private-feeling site with 50-amp service; they allowed EV charging after I called ahead. A nearby trail and occasional passing car were the only traffic. Many sites appeared to be occupied by longer-term RV campers, complete with flags and welcome signs. The mine tour was absolutely worth it—book ahead, because several people were turned away.
GuideFrom the website, this place looks amazing. It checked all the right marks for our trip across the northern Midwest. When you pull in to the “resort,” it looks more like the set of a horror movie. The buildings are run down, the campsites are parking spots with no shade, a land of rich, lush forests. How is that even possible? We messaged the day before arrival and no one mentioned the raging wild fires just north of town about 10 miles, or the fire ban. Seems like something to mention. WiFi is only in the main building (hardly what can be called a lodge) and the restaurant/facilities aren’t even open on mondays when we arrived. We were grossly disappointed and with the state of the property and left to find anything somewhere else.
TravelerThis is a lovely campground. If youre looking for a family getaway its nice here. From my site the showers/toilets with dish washing sinks were right around the corner as well as the outhouse. The beach is large and has a beautiful view at sunset. This site is also close to a landing and the beach trail. The trails are well groomed and maintained with signs every so often. The sites are average size. They have picnic tables and fire pits.
Lots of wildlife here. We've seen a fox, just missed a big black bear, birds, and snapping turtles. The lake is quite large and has good fishing from the dock.
We camped on July 1st. The campground was not all the way full but definitely busy with the kiddos.
TravelerMy friends and I had a great time connecting with this area. From the canoeing, hiking and fishing, our time here was very much enjoyed.
LegendThere is a great summary below. To repeat, no water or trash but there is a bathroom and a nice hike that is well used. The lake is great. Really wonderful. The other close campsite is better though so if tou can, stay at Divide.
GuideLovely state park. Quiet and clean. Non electric sites were pretty private with trees and bushes between sites. We had a family get together and had plenty to do. The lake and beach were beautiful. We caught lots of sunnies and bass plus a northern and small walleye.
TravelerClean Nice walking trail around the lake. Vault restroom clean.
TravelerCamped in site 14 as part of our visit to all MN state parks. Very familiar with the area due to the BWCA but not this state park. Our site had a great combination of open area for wind flow and sun and shade to put our tent in. Again faced with great bathrooms a short walk and showers/larger rest room a short distance away. The site itself offered some of the more sheltered/remote camping locations of our trip (found those on the North Shore to be stacked on top one another) which is becoming nicer and nicer with the increase in RVs and generators in state parks. Lovely park, friendly staff, would love to visit again!
Cabin camping near Ely, Minnesota offers extensive options within the Superior National Forest region at elevations ranging from 1,300-1,700 feet. The area experiences cold winters with temperatures frequently dropping below zero, while summer temperatures average 75°F with occasional rainfall. Most Ely cabin rentals cluster around the numerous lakes that dot the region, with peak season running June through August.
Fishing from your site: At Silver Rapids Lodge, lakeside campsites provide easy fishing access. "You can fish from your campsite they had caught some Walleye. There are several lakes here you choose from if you boat, canoe or kayak," notes one visitor. Many sites include docks directly behind them.
Underground mine tours: The historic Soudan Mine tours at Lake Vermilion-Soudan offer a unique underground experience. "Soudan Mine tours were awesome! travel down in the mine and ride cars to see the way iron ore was mined in early 1900s," explains a camper. Tours run daily from Memorial Day through September.
Wildlife centers: Within a 20-minute drive from most Ely cabin rentals are wildlife education facilities. "In Ely both the Wolf Center and the Bear Center are great places to visit. If you can only visit one I would recommend the Bear Center as you get to see the animals more up close and the guided tour is very informative," shares one camper.
Spacious sites: Bear Head Lake State Park Campground offers well-designed camping areas. "Sites are good sizes and a good distance from each other. Great for families. Very picturesque, provides perfect 'up north' experience with fishing, canoeing, hiking, all amongst the tall pines!" writes one visitor.
Modern cabin amenities: Cabins at Lake Vermillion Soudan Mine State Park include unexpected comforts. "The inside of the cabin was wow! Electricity outlets were plenty (in all the bunks - as well as lights in all bunks). Hard floors, a vacuum for when you were done, shelves for gear and food, baseboard heaters, A/C in summer, big windows, ceiling fan, rug to wipe your boots, lots of coathangers," explains a satisfied guest.
Winter access: Many cabin rentals near Ely remain open year-round. "Stayed in a cabin for some winter glamping! Gonna have to make this a yearly thing for sure! I love this area of the state...and the mine area sure is something else in the winter time after a large snow accumulation," remarks one winter visitor.
Firewood policies: Many cabins have specific firewood arrangements. At Lake Vermillion Soudan Mine State Park Cabins, "You can't bring your own wood, but you can pay $10/day for a permit that you hang at your site. They have a 'shed' with pre-split wood that's dry and ready for the campfire. You can burn what you need daily and put the rest back before you leave."
Pet restrictions: Rules vary significantly between properties. "PETS ARE ALLOWED IN THE PARK BUT NOT THE CABINS... NOT on the deck of the cabin. Pretty steep fees if they find this happening," warns a Lake Vermillion Soudan Mine State Park Cabins guest.
Bedding requirements: Birch Lake Campground and most cabin facilities require guests to bring their own linens. "You have to bring your own bedding (sleeping bags or sheets/blanket)," notes one camper. Most cabins provide mattresses but no bedding supplies.
Kid-friendly activities: Fisherman's Point City Campground offers dedicated spaces for children. "Great campground! Owners are super great and helpful, beautiful campsite and nice paved path for biking!!! Great for the family," writes a visitor. The campground includes playgrounds and lake access points.
Bunk configurations: Bear Head Lake State Park cabins accommodate various family sizes. "Camper cabins are nice. They have bunk type beds. The beds on bottom are FULL size (can sleep 2 each) and the ones on top are singles. So 6 could sleep here."
Natural playground features: Several campgrounds incorporate natural elements for climbing. One camper at Lake Vermillion-Soudan notes, "we stayed at 314E with our friends at 312E. their site was by far the best, with an awesome rock structure the kids had a blast climbing on."
Limited hookups: Most cabin and RV campgrounds near Ely offer partial hookups only. At Fisherman's Point City Campground, "The only bad thing is no water hook ups." Most have electric service but limited water connections.
Dump station locations: Ely has several dump stations for RV waste. "I believe they use the dump station in Ely at the visitor center they have a dump you can use for $5.00," notes a Silver Rapids Lodge visitor. Call ahead to confirm current availability and pricing.
Site terrain: Gravel pads predominate at many campgrounds. "Sites leaning towards more of an rv type of site with the gravel and lots of large rocks in the ground but an amazing location," explains a Bear Head Lake State Park camper.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular cabin campsite near Ely, MN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Ely, MN is Bear Head Lake State Park Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 42 reviews.
What is the best site to find cabin camping near Ely, MN?
TheDyrt.com has all 20 cabin camping locations near Ely, MN, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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