Best Tent Camping near Ely, MN
The northern wilderness surrounding Ely, Minnesota offers tent campers varied options ranging from established campgrounds to remote backcountry sites within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA). Canoe Country Campground provides tent sites with amenities like showers and drinking water, while primitive tent camping can be found at places like Cliff Wold's Campground. Tent campers seeking more isolation can explore the Superior National Forest's walk-in tent sites at locations such as Meander Lake, where three primitive tent campgrounds offer fire rings and picnic tables without the crowds often found at developed facilities.
Most walk-in tent sites in the Ely region feature fire grates, primitive pit toilets, and tent pads situated on pine needles or forest duff. The Forest Service backcountry sites typically provide only basic amenities - a fire grill and designated tent area - requiring campers to carry in all gear and supplies from parking areas. Several tent campgrounds, including those at Eighteen Lake and Divide Lake, offer vault toilets but no drinking water. Many primitive tent sites in the Superior National Forest operate on a first-come, first-served basis without permits required, except for BWCA sites which demand advance permits during the quota season (May 1-September 30).
Tent campers frequenting the backcountry sites near Ely often enjoy exceptional privacy and natural settings. Areas like Triangle Lake Campsite provide remote tent camping accessed by boat, featuring "good landing, up on a hill, great views and whispering pines," according to a recent visitor. The walk-in tent sites at Meander Lake are particularly appealing for their seclusion - a reviewer noted that "you will most likely have the whole place to yourself, with your choice of the three campsites." For tent campers seeking walk-in tent locations with swimming access, Divide Lake's tent sites offer a quiet, rarely-used option with excellent trout fishing. Nels Lake's backcountry tent sites provide a secluded experience with easy access that one camper described as "a secluded BWCA experience with easy access."