Whether you're an RVer or tent camper, Ely, MN is a great place to post up for the weekend—or longer. Ely is filled with the activities, sights, and experiences to make everyone in your crew a happy camper. Find the best campgrounds near Ely, plus reviews and photos from other campers like you.
Trail's End Campground is located next to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) in a remote area of Superior National Forest in northern Minnesota. It is a wonderful place to sit and enjoy life, or get out on the water to canoe and fish. Berry picking and wildlife viewing are also great fun.
Trail's End includes four entry points (54, 55, J and K) into the BWCAW, offering plenty of boating, canoeing and fishing opportunities. Overnight, day use and boat motor permits are required for entry, and horsepower limits are in effect. Day use and overnight permits are available at the campground. Wildlife viewing is exceptional for bald eagles, osprey, loons and moose, and fishing is good for walleye, northern pike, smallmouth bass and lake trout. View recreation guides and maps of hiking trails and canoe routes in the national forest.
Trail's End includes four entry points (54, 55, J and K) into the BWCAW, offering plenty of boating, canoeing and fishing opportunities. Overnight, day use and boat motor permits are required for entry, and horsepower limits are in effect. Day use and overnight permits are available at the campground. Wildlife viewing is exceptional for bald eagles, osprey, loons and moose, and fishing is good for walleye, northern pike, smallmouth bass and lake trout. View recreation guides and maps of hiking trails and canoe routes in the national forest.
Trail's End sits along the Seagull River and provides access to Seagull, Gull and Saganaga Lakes. Numerous species of wildlife live in and around the campground, and blueberries grow abundantly on the forest floor. White and red pine, aspen and birch trees grow in the forested parts of the facility, providing shade. The fire burned a mosaic pattern, reducing some areas to ash while leaving others untouched. Many trees survived and burned areas have begun to grow again. This is a great opportunity to see a young forest rejuvenate after a fire. Post-fire soils and young trees are delicate, so caution should be taken while walking in the forest.
For facility specific information, please call (218) 387-1750.
The nearby Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center is a great way to spend an afternoon with the family. Many nature trails crisscross the center's 50-acre grounds. The BWCAW is by far the most popular nearby attraction. Over 1 million acres in size, the Boundary Waters extend nearly 150 miles along the United States-Canada border and contain over 1,200 miles of canoe routes, 12 hiking trails and over 2,000 designated campsites. Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness Additional sites of interest
$22 / night
Echo Lake is located on the west end of the Echo Trail, a remote country road that traverses through the heart of the Western Superior National Forest. This quiet campground, where the sounds of birds and the wind are often heard, is a peaceful alternative to the hustle and bustle of the area's resort scene. A variety of campsites, activities and amenities offer a comfortable stay for RV, trailer and tent campers. Superior National Forest, located in northeastern Minnesota's arrowhead region, is comprised of three million acres. The forest spans 150 miles along the United States-Canada border. Visitors can find recreation opportunities year-round, including travel in the famous Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
Echo Lake is a popular fishing spot for walleye, northern pike, panfish, black crappie, white sucker and yellow perch also living in the lake. The surrounding national forest offers a wide variety of recreational opportunities, including hiking in secluded woodlands and canoeing in pristine lakes and rivers. View recreation guides and maps of hiking trails and canoe routes in the national forest.
Echo Lake is a popular fishing spot for walleye, northern pike, panfish, black crappie, white sucker and yellow perch also living in the lake. The surrounding national forest offers a wide variety of recreational opportunities, including hiking in secluded woodlands and canoeing in pristine lakes and rivers. View recreation guides and maps of hiking trails and canoe routes in the national forest.
This campground is on the south shore of the 1,222-acre Echo Lake and is surrounded by a mix of aspen, balsam, spruce, maple and pine trees, which provide ample shade.
Possible day trips from the campground include Voyageurs National Park, Crane Lake, Vermillion Falls, Echo Lake Trail (1.5 miles) and Echo Lake Hunters Walking Trail (10 miles). Numerous outdoor recreation opportunities lie within Superior National Forest's 77 lake accesses, 13 fishing piers, 10 swimming beaches and 22 picnic areas. The forest is also home to three scenic byways and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Additional sites of interest
$12 - $20 / night
Eighteen Lake Rustic Campground provides three campsites and a picnic area under red pines on the shore of Eighteen Lake. A trail around the lake and a carry down boat access make this a wonderful spot to spend a weekend in the woods.
We offer a chance to discover the North Country. Explore the area on an ATV, a snowmobile, snowshoes or on foot and return to the warmth of a cozy fire in our lodge. Wildhurst is a private lodge and campground tucked into 40 acres of wilderness located in the Sawtooth Mountains. Bears, moose and grouse are common sightings along the many trails and creeks that surround Wildhurst. With direct access to the ATV/snowmobile trails, the adventure is endless.
Each campsite is located in a private, rustic setting with fire rings and picnic tables. Four RV sites with 40 amp and water, dry lodge rooms and soon to be added Yurts! Our log cabins are rustic with electric, propane heat, mini fridge, microwave and screened porches with a log swing overlooking Wildhurst Creek. All sites and rooms come with 24/7 access to the shower rooms.
The Divide Lake Campground provides a northwoods camping experience in a small (only 3 sites) secluded campground located near many recreational opportunities. A walk-down canoe launch provides access to Divide Lake and its stocked trout population while Divide Lake Trail provides a 2 mile hike with benches and scenic overlooks. Other nearby lakes, a boat ramp, and a fishing pier give the camper even more chances to enjoy the outdoors. Of particular interest is the fact that FR 172 in this area is on the Laurentian Divide with waters on the Divide Lake side flowing to Lake Superior and those on the Tanner Lake side flowing north to Hudson’s Bay. Downloadable information and map.
Crane Lake is a large body of water and is a popular area for fishing and boating. There are 3 backcountry campsites located on the lake. Crane Lake also connects to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness through Little Vermilion Lake and Voyageurs National Park through Sand Point Lake.
Been a long time user of Sullivan lake campground. Love the rusticity of it and the quietness of it. So quit you can feel the grouse Drumming’s deep within your soul. Highly recommend.
We stayed at Wildhurst about 20 years ago and had a great time, even got to see an mini-air show overhead with USAF F-16s out of Duluth doing maneuvers overhead. So, when the State Forest campgrounds were closed last spring for storm cleanup, we decided to take a cabin there. Not going back. The new owners are trying; I'll give them that. They're friendly, the little restaurant isn't bad, but the latrines (outhouses) really need to be rebuilt. I mean REALLY. Lime on the toilet seat. Early in the season and the biffys by our cabin were horrible smelling, (And I DO understand that they are open toilets. I was the ranger in a state forest campground for 26 years and had to clean weekly and pump out every year 12 of them.) and if the wind was wrong, we could smell it in our cabin. Cabins were smallish, but comparable to a state park camper cabin, they need updates, paint, roofing, and leveling the floors.
Wildhurst has potential. I wish it was as good as it used to be,
Camped here on Oct 22, 2023. Free primitive national forest campground with 5 sites. Wooded. Campground is suitable for truck campers and smaller. There was a crappy looking RV parked next to the vault toilet; sketchy, looked like long term residents. I did not get a good vibe here but stayed anyway since it was getting late. No drinking water. Fire ring at site. Sites spaced apart okay. Beautiful lake. Nice hiking trail around lake. Fishing is good. Road coming to the campground can be rough in places, but doable with passenger car. The campground itself was nothing special, but camping in the woods along a beautiful lake was appealing.
Been coming here for years. It's absolutely amazing. It had gotten busy over thr years though.
Two small sites here right next to each other with a fire ring for each. Canoe launch with a small beach. Nice breeze off the lake. New clean pit toilet. No onsite trash. Overall pretty quiet, some fishing traffic, and the nearby cabin owners walk through a couple times a day. We used both sites for the six of us, two cars, a tent, and a teardrop camper.
The boundary waters is one of my favorite places on earth. But the mosquito hatch at the end of the summer was truly awful. See video for running around trying to keep them off.
Got there after sunset met the host and easily found our campsite. The next morning we awoke to a wonderful view of the lake. Friendly people all around and would highly recommend this campground.
The atmosphere here is great. Secluded campgrounds but some sites are close together. Feels like you’re at the edge of the world. Enjoyed exploring and chilling by the lakeside. Went for a day during late October when the campground was closed for the season—open to the public still but no utilities available. Very dead!
This is one of the best campsites anyone could get too! It is a jumping off point for people to explore the Boundary waters, but it is also one of the best locations to just get away from everything. The campground has several loops and different amenities and locations to choose from. Some of the sites have water hook ups, but all the sites are rustic. They do have a variety of privacy as some are out in the open and some are private. Depending on what you want I would recommend taking a look at the sites. It does have a good size boat ramp that is well used by explorers. This is campground is in an ideal location to explore the area around northern Minnesota. It's about an hour north of Grand Marias on one of the best drives in the state. If you can get here in the fall that is the ideal time!
Campsite was beautiful, would recommend going to a site further from the sawmill, it can be quite loud in the AM. But honestly? Excellent alarm for a summer sunrise.
We stayed in campsite 10. It was fantastic! We had a great view of Gull Lake, with a trail to lake access and also had a spigot with potable water. There were nice, clean vault toilets up the hill too.
The staff at the concessionaire were friendly, knowledgeable, and helped us with renting a canoe and kayak to access the BWCAW.
For anyone wanting to TRULY experience the BWCA and BWCAW, but not accessing a backcountry site, I highly recommend Trail’s End.
Love, love, love this campground! It not only has full hook-ups and overlooks a lake, but is right on the Mesabi Bike Trail. The managers were friendly and helpful. The sites were spacious. It was so peaceful!
We love it here. We return year after year for the sites and solitude. Water at every site. Campsites spaced far apart. Outhouses well-cleaned and maintained.
Stayed at campsite #1. Like some other sites in this campground, it had its own well water faucet. The nearby vault toilet was oksy, but no toilet paper. The view from the campsite was fantastic. There's an un-maintained trail near the boat ramp. It was a little difficult for my old legs. The campground was very quiet. No T-Mobile cell service. I would love to camp here again.
Was perfect for our family with two toddlers and a dog in a scamp.
Quiet, peaceful, and spacious. All around great location to explore the north shore.
We came on a Thursday night at the end of September and it was not full the entire weekend.
Would try to get site 3 next time.
A little expensive but worth it for the secluded site not far from the showers. Bar/office super friendly
We are the only people here in the campground, the locals make us feel welcome. Lots of hiking
I got a tent site (E5) for a one night stay. The check in process was quick and seamless and the site was nice. I was sleeping on a bit of an incline, and there wasn’t a truly flat spot, but I made due. There was one tent in the spot next to me, but was far enough away to not be noisy.
It’s a peaceful, beautiful campground. The campsites are large and spaced out well. The outhouses are clean with minimal smell. The lake is very quiet and beautiful. Perfect place to get away and soak in the beauty.
I have stayed at the Whitefish campground several times. The campground consists of 4-5 free spots next to the lake. The sites include a picnic table and fire ring, no running water, electricity, or sewer hook ups. There is a pit toilet located at the campground. This campground has a carry-in lake access for canoes and small boats, and the lake has good walleye fishing. From this lake you can access portage trails to neighboring lakes like Elbow Lake, which also has good fishing. There are also a few boat-in camp sites located on this lake and neighboring lakes. This campground often fills up quickly. When that happens, I have done dispersed camping in the area. Some of those spots include the gravel pit and a sand pit located along the road before you reach the campground, there’s also areas past the campground, the trail splits and if you stay to the right you should be able to find a spot between Frear Lake and Lost Lake. If you stay to the left the trail will take you to Bone Lake, which is a trout lake. You may be able to find a dispersed spot there. Once you get past this point the trail narrows. These trails are also used by ATVs, but it is fairly rare to see them in the area. While camping in this area you may also spot wildlife, I’ve seen moose, deer, and bald eagles. Also be aware there are wolves and bears in the area, although I’ve never seen them. Phone service in this area is pretty limited. If needed, your best bet would be a stop at the Trestle Inn bar/restaurant located a few miles down the road near the Crooked Lake Resort. The Trestle Inn is also a popular stop for burgers/pizza and a drink.
Don't waste your time here, unfriendly Management,they try to avoid you as best they can
All the perks of rustic camping (or lack of lol!) with a beautiful lake right in view of the entire camp. Pretty nice beach and it’s closer to highway 16 than most the other rustic camps we’ve come across. No campfires this year, nice wind off the lake and a fire ban.
Friendly campground! Nice restaurant on site. Seems to cater to the side by side...ATV crowd. Lots to see and do in the area. Take a drive over to Ely..cute town. Visit the old Irin mine! We had a God stay...but sites are tight for larger rigs. Gravel road in is rough so go slow. Did not try bath house or public facilities.
We went for a trip to the boundary waters and it was absolutely amazing! Trails end had a great outfitters right within the campground - absolutely wonderful, very helpful staff. The scenery was out of this world! We got a canoe and took it out on the waters, it was the most beautiful, relaxing experience ever. I highly recommend for anyone who wants to just get away from it all. There are other camps within the grounds but most are spaced pretty well apart.
A great campsite just a few minutes from the main highway up the coast of lake superior. There's a bar with a kitchen where you check in to the campsite filled with friendly people, games, and great food. But enough about that, the campsite itself is very private with a spot to park you car, and you are surrounded by trees and bushes for each individual campsite. A fire pit and picnic table can be found at each site. There is potable water, showers, and an outhouse. Ice, firewood, and limited camping supplies are available for purchase at the bar.
Great Area! 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. Has a nice 2 1/2 mile hike around the lake
Lots of nice pull through sites. Excellent for truck campers. The lake views for sunsets we're amazing. Vault toilet across from site 6 must be new as it was very nice for what it is. Our firepit tipped over with the weight of the grill swung out. Town of Two Harbors is 26 miles (30 min) away, so don't forget anything.
Camping near Ely, Minnesota, offers a fantastic mix of outdoor adventures and serene natural beauty. With several campgrounds to choose from, you can find the perfect spot to unwind and explore the great outdoors.
Camping near Ely, Minnesota, is a great way to enjoy the outdoors, but being prepared can make all the difference!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Ely, MN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Ely, MN is Trail's End Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 22 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Ely, MN?
TheDyrt.com has all 14 glamping camping locations near Ely, MN, with real photos and reviews from campers.
