Finland State Forest provides primitive camping options approximately 200 miles north of Minneapolis along Minnesota's North Shore region. Located at around 1,400 feet elevation, the area features significant elevation changes with rocky trails and varied terrain compared to southern Minnesota. Most campsites in this region maintain a rustic character with limited amenities, though accessibility to Lake Superior and numerous inland lakes creates distinctive camping opportunities.
What to do
Hiking the Cascades Trail: Access the Baptism River Cascades about a half mile north of Finland State Forest Campground where you can explore beautiful waterfalls and rocky terrain. "We loved exploring another part of the North Shore in the beautiful park! Loved it!!!" shares a visitor to George H. Crosby Manitou State Park.
Explore the Twin Lakes Trail: This challenging trail near Silver Bay offers hikers stunning views of both Bean and Bear Lakes from elevated ridges. "This is one of my all time favorite hikes and camp spots 'up north'. The hike into the Bean and Bear Lakes is fun and has some great views in itself. Though the best and most gratifying part of the hike is getting to the top of the overlook and seeing both lakes," notes a camper at Bean and Bear Lakes Hike-In.
Visit Black Beach: The unique black sand beach in Silver Bay makes for an excellent day trip from Finland area campgrounds. "We ended up wandering down to Black Beach for the first time and it was awesome; cannot believe in all my trips up the shore I had never been," reports a visitor staying at Black Beach Campground.
What campers like
Easy river access: Many campsites near Finland offer proximity to the Baptism River for fishing and cooling off. "Nice campground. Not much privacy if you're looking for that. Some sites more secluded than others. Baptism river runs along the campground and has limited camping sites near it," explains a camper at Eckbeck Finland State Forest.
Diverse camping styles: The area offers everything from primitive sites to cart-in options. "We stayed in the cart-in area and it was a blast! It was our first time doing the cart-in and was slightly hard, but you have to commit to this if you reserve. The trek into the campground was manageable and the area was very scenic," notes a visitor to Lake Superior Cart-in Campground.
Winter camping opportunities: Unlike many Minnesota parks, several campgrounds in the Finland area remain open year-round. "This is one of the few state parks in Minnesota where you can winter camp! The trails are absolutely beautiful in the fall, the scenery changes often. It seems that there are different types of forest that you hike through to get to different camp sites," explains a winter visitor to George H. Crosby Manitou State Park.
What you should know
Limited cell service: Most camping areas near Finland have spotty or no mobile coverage. "Note - there is no cell service in the park. You do get it when you get out to the park entrance on county road 7," warns a camper from George H. Crosby Manitou State Park.
Challenging terrain: Many trails and backcountry sites require moderate to strenuous hiking. "The trails of this park are either a hikers dream or nightmare. Exposed roots, large rocks, and elevation changes are common. Good potential for a twisted ankle. I would not advise bringing small children or inexperienced hikers as they will likely not have a very good time."
ATV traffic: Some campgrounds experience noise from off-road vehicles. "Only downside for us was it is very popular with atv and utv people, so it was a bit noisy at times during the day. At night it was super quiet," notes a camper at Black Beach Campground.
Tips for camping with families
Choose developed campgrounds: For pet-friendly camping near Finland with children, more developed sites offer easier access and amenities. "Spacious and Spectacular! We stayed at drive-in 49 and loved it! Private trail directly to the showers, restrooms and water. Would stay there again in a heartbeat. 49 is close to the Gitchi Gami trail so that was also nice considering we were rollerblading," suggests a family at Gooseberry Falls State Park Campground.
Check ATV schedules: If staying with pets and children, ask about peak ATV traffic times. "There was a group playing music late and a few drunk campers who visited my site unannounced. I still give it 4 stars because of the beautiful nature all around and proximity to trails."
Consider weather backup plans: North Shore weather can change rapidly, especially in spring and fall. "That night the snow moved in and we had a great evening around the fire while the snow fell. We also ended up doing the Alpine Slide at Lutsen and hanging out in Grand Marais the next day."
Tips from RVers
Limited hookup options: Full service sites are scarce near Finland. "We checked out this campground when, despite the cold and snow, the campgrounds were pretty full for Edmund Fitzgerald weekend at nearby Split Rock. This is a nice small state forest campground right off Rt 1 between Tettegouche and Finland. It is perfect for folks who want a quieter more primitive camping experience as there are no hookups and the facilities are outhouses," notes an RVer at Eckbeck Finland State Forest.
Prepare for uneven sites: Many campgrounds have sloped parking areas. "The sites are not level so come prepared," warns a camper at Baptism River Campground.
Dump station locations: Plan ahead for waste disposal options. "NOTE: no onsite dump station - if you do not stay in a full hookups site you must drive into the town of Silver Bay to use the city dump facility, which may be too awful to use, depending on how many used it first."
Traveler
