Best Tent Camping near Grand Marais, MN

Tent camping opportunities abound in the dense pine forests and along the rugged North Shore near Grand Marais, Minnesota. Options range from established tent campgrounds like Judge C. R. Magney State Park, with its rustic dirt sites located 15 miles northeast of town, to primitive backcountry tent sites along the Superior Hiking Trail such as the Woods Creek and Kadunce River campsites. The Kimball Lake Campground, situated on the Gunflint Trail, offers a small collection of tent-friendly sites in a wooded setting about 10 miles from Grand Marais, providing trout fishing and lakeside hiking access.

Most tent camping areas feature basic amenities with fire rings and picnic tables at established sites, while backcountry locations offer more primitive setups. The Superior Hiking Trail campsites typically include pit toilets and cleared tent pads but require hikers to pack in all supplies. Water sources vary significantly across the region, with some sites requiring filtration from nearby rivers or lakes. A visitor commented that "the site is very rustic with no electric sites, dump station or water source for RV tanks, but it's a pleasant getaway spot" when describing Judge C.R. Magney State Park. Seasonal considerations are important, as many tent campgrounds operate from mid-May through early October, with winter access limited to experienced backcountry campers.

The terrain at most tent camping areas consists of heavily wooded sites with varying degrees of privacy between neighbors. Sites near the Manitou River offer the sound of cascading water as a backdrop, while Lake Superior shoreline tent campsites provide dramatic views and cooling breezes. Tent campers at higher elevations can sometimes glimpse Lake Superior through the trees at certain backcountry sites. Based on reviews from The Dyrt, the Cascade River Rustic Campground offers complete seclusion with "challenging hikes with constant rocks, roots, mud and steep hills," making it ideal for experienced tent campers seeking solitude. The proximity to both the Superior Hiking Trail and numerous waterfalls creates excellent day-hiking opportunities from most tent camping areas, with Devil's Kettle waterfall in Judge C.R. Magney State Park being a popular destination.

Best Tent Sites Near Grand Marais, Minnesota (53)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Grand Marais, MN

423 Reviews of 53 Grand Marais Campgrounds


  • Amy G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 20, 2019

    East Bearskin Lake Campground

    Quiet and quaint and provided what we needed

    The campsite wasn't huge, but it did what we needed it to do...it allowed us to set up a tent, have a campfire and sleep!  That's all you need, right?

    The tent pads were very level and without any lumps or holes.  The were, however, gravel type sand pads that made it very hard to pound in stakes, but fortunately, it wasn't windy so we didn't have an issue.  The fire grate was clean and provided a nice campfire in the evening.  Each site had a picnic table that was nice and solid.  Our site, number 21, had a small path that led down to the lake.  You couldn't see the lake from where we were, but it was only about 20 yards and BAM...BINGO!  The lake! The bathroom (pit style enclosure with a door) was just down the path from us and we were on a loop, so it was easy for the kids to walk around a bit and stretch their legs after the long car ride. Everyone was quite and respectful after dark and remarkably, we didn't have any critters that night!  Not even a mouse :)

    Easy to get to from Grand Marais, and the sites were fairly private from one another.  A good choice, even when it's busy season.  But make sure to bring bug spray...the mosquitoes were brutal!

  • Jessica H.
    May. 10, 2018

    East Bearskin Lake Campground

    East Bearskin Lake Campground Camper Cabins

    The camper cabins at East Bearskin Lake Campground in Superior National Forest are the ideal way to take advantage of northern Minnesota's wilderness. The camper cabins include a picnic style table inside along with bunk bed sleeping areas. Foam sleeping pads are provided, but you're responsible for bringing your own linens. There is no heat or electricity in the cabins, but the structures are sturdy and provide shelter from wind, rain and snow. Each campsite has an outdoor picnic table and fire ring. There are four camper cabins and they can be reserved through the recreation.gov website. They are just under $70/night. There is plenty of space between cabins as well as other campsites to give you the feel of truly being in the middle of nowhere. We were surrounded by pine trees and had a trail located in our campsite that led to East Bearskin Lake. Keep in mind, it's Minnesota and there was still some snow on the ground and ice on the lakes at the end of May. Pit toilets were just a short walk down the road as was access to potable water.

    We saw a moose and had a fox visit our campsite while we were there. We fell asleep to the sound of loons every night. This is also black bear country, so it's important to be bear aware; make sure you store food and water properly and bring bear spray while out hiking. We tried our hand at trout fishing with little luck, but it was still fairly cold, and so not much was biting.

    We hiked the Caribou Rock Trail and hikers are required to fill out a hiking log slip before heading out. The 2 mile trail was moderate with a decent incline. Once at the top of the overlook, you can see East Bearskin Lake. There are several lodges throughout Superior National Forest where you can obtain fishing licenses and rent boats.

    Grand Marais, MN is only about 45 minutes away from East Bearskin Lake. It's a cool, quaint little town located right along Lake Superior. There's a handful of good restaurants, specifically The Angry Trout, which serves up fresh lake trout out of Superior. The Java Moose has great coffee and Lake Superior Trading Post carries lots of outdoor gear and souvenirs.

    We liked it so much, we went back 4 months later in September, and stayed again in the same camper cabin. For a true taste of the North Woods, East Bearskin is hard to beat.

  • Ari A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 22, 2021

    Judge C. R. Magney State Park Campground

    Pleasant rustic getaway

    This is a rustic state park with no electric sites, dump station or water source for RV tanks, as well as nearly non-existent cell service, but it's a pleasant getaway spot. It felt like a rustic forest campground but had amenities like a bathroom/shower house. Regarding water, there is drinking water available to fill containers, just no hookup to fill RV tanks. They also have trash and recycling dumpsters available.

    The sites are decent size; privacy depends on the site but most aren't crammed on top of each other. All sites are dirt/gravel and the roads are dirt so be prepared for some dust in dry conditions.

    We saw mostly tents and smaller rigs but that's probably due to no electricity and no water source for RVs to fill from. Still, some sites were large enough for the Class As that were there.

    Bathrooms were decent but be ready for push-button showers for water conservation. They run long enough to essentially do Navy showers, which works fine. Water never really hot but plenty warm enough to not be considered cold.

    Each site has a picnic table and fire ring, plus firewood is available at the front office or at the camp host site (via self-service). Front office rarely staffed but there is a work garage and the DNR staff came through the campground regularly. Little to no cell service on T-Mobile and Verizon, but there is a WiFi spot available near the DNR work garage.

    It's nice that you can hike from the campground to Devil's Kettle and another waterfall (same trail), both of which were great.

    Access is from Highway 61 down a relatively short dirt road We would stay here again.

  • Catherine J.
    Jul. 6, 2017

    Cascade River State Park Campground

    Cascade is my #1 for life

    I've been going to cascade since the very first time I ever went camping, which was at cascade. It's the perfect campground. Trails, the lake, 10mn from Grand Marais (world's best donuts!), great hiking, everything rocks. I'd move there if I could.

  • Cynthia K.
    Sep. 2, 2025

    Judge C. R. Magney State Park Campground

    Primitive camping

    Judge Magney State Park, Minnesota 

       This is a small state park near the shores of Lake Superior. Off Hwy 61, North of Grand Marais. Best known for the Devils Kettle Hike where there's a double waterfall

    & one side disappears into a hole. It's very cool! 

      The campground is very small- only 26 sites. This is primitive camping- no electricity. There's water available. No dump. Dumpsters for trash. The sites are suitable for tents & small trailers, popups, truck campers, camper vans. We did see one larger trailer, but most sites are short.  The road is also very primitive - trees will rip off the air conditioners in your 45 footer!

    There's a modern bathroom & shower house with 2 showers in both the men's & women's. Even though we never saw anyone- someone was keeping the bathrooms clean! 

      They also sell wood at the camp host site.

     We were here on a Tuesday thru Thursday. Everyone was respectful of quiet hours & no one was too loud. Most of the sites were full. Not sure about the weekends. 

      There's 2 loops. The outside loop is close to the highway & that gets loud around 6am until 10pm when it quiets down. There's paths to the bathhouse, which is nice.

     The perimeter sites are the best for more privacy. We were in site 11 & I loved it! Site 12 was nice too. I really enjoyed this campground & have to say it was my favorite one on our Minnesota vacation.

  • Steph H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 26, 2017

    North Cascade River Campsite

    Great for groups

    North Cascade River campsite on the Superior Hiking Trail was a site for sore eyes as we hiked southbound from Grand Marais. Until this site water sources had been minimal. We did find some flowing water at Sundling Creek but before that we had a couple stagnant and warm beaver ponds to work with. Everything else was dried up in the middle of Summer. This larger campsite would do well with groups. It had a couple different fire pit areas and lots of nooks and crannies for tents. The water source was the Cascade River which was close but down a very steep incline. Not great if you had kids with you. But fun to traverse nonetheless. The river below was easily accessible and flowing freely. A bit too deep to really play in but with some hiking poles you could have moved around. Not really any place to spread out as a group by the river more just for fetching water. This campsite was also a great spot for hammock campers. Plenty of room up top as well as some great spots right by the river. The site was pretty nice and recommended over the next several spots north to Grand Marais but if you're heading southbound save yourself for a real winner, Trout Creek Campsite.

  • Jennifer H.
    Oct. 11, 2020

    Trail's End Campground

    Bears! Site 17

    Drive in site with a designated parking spot. Same parking area and walk in trail as site 15 and 16. Last site of three on the small path. Very unique and very large. You can hear your neighbors but there is more coverage between them than the rest. There are a few steep built in steps to get up to this site, but the main area is very flat. Cliff front might not be small kid friendly, but there is a path down to the water. Stunning view. There is good tree coverage to put a tarp up, but also to see the stars. It can get windy, so bring the good tent stakes. The site has plenty of rocks to pound them in place. There is more than one space to put a tent.

    We had a bear visit us about 8:30 after we had put the fire out in a very windy night. He has walked up from the water using the area between site 17 and 16. These three sites are near a dumpster, you can hear the lid close occasionally and I assume this was the bears motivation. Keep you food, trash, and grey water taken care of. You will have visitors.

    . Drinking water is next to the bathrooms, which is about 300 feet away. This site has a waterfront view of one of the Saganaga Lake coves. You can walk your way down to the water. Might not be little kid friendly, but the water and view are beautiful. This site has a ground inset fire pit with grate and picnic table, but no bear box. You will need a bear bag or put your food in your vehicle. There are bears.

  • Alli T.
    Aug. 25, 2023

    Cascade River State Park Campground

    BP#2 lovely and secluded

    Loved the two nights spent at backpacking site #2. It was very secluded, couldn’t hear/see anyone at any point during our time at the campsite. It has a covered wooden structure, good sized bear box, picnic table, and fire ring. There is also a pit toilet ~50 feet from the campsite, though was in pretty rough shape so did not use that but didn’t really mind since most backpacking sites don’t have this luxury anyway and was not expecting to have a toilet in the first place. The campsite sits atop Moose “Mountain,” which is about a mile hike in from the group site parking lot. Don’t underestimate this hike in!! We are two people in our 20s and in pretty good shape, but with ~35lbs of gear on your back with a very steady incline up, definitely had to take a couple breaks. It was pretty rainy so there were some muddy spots that were relatively easy to avoid. With that being said, it was definitely worth it given the seclusion and privacy of this campsite. If able and willing to put in the extra effort, I would recommend the backpacking sites over the drive-in sites as I have heard they can be pretty cramped. Overall, very happy with BP#2 will definitely be back!

  • Ryane P.
    Sep. 17, 2016

    Trail's End Campground

    Unique campsites, beautiful park!

    This is one of our go to camp spots. It is a 45 minute drive up from Grand Marais, but worth every mile to get there.
    Most sites have a unique layout, and almost all are private! Site #17 is my favorite, by far. It is large, picturesque, and has a path to the water.
    Wilderness Way outfitters is at the entrance to the park, and they have a small cafe, shower house, and store. They also offer everything you need to get out in the BWCA and explore. I recommend finding all the hiking trails along the gunflint and making day trip hikes. Trails are of varying challenge, and you'll often find moose.


Guide to Grand Marais

Superior National Forest surrounds Grand Marais, Minnesota, with diverse tent camping options across elevations ranging from 602 feet at Lake Superior to over 1,800 feet inland along the Gunflint Trail. Summer temperatures average 70°F during the day and 50°F at night, with frequent temperature swings requiring campers to pack layered clothing. Many campgrounds are accessible via unpaved forest roads that can become muddy after rain.

What to do

Waterfall hiking trails: Judge C.R. Magney State Park offers the mysterious Devil's Kettle waterfall, where water disappears into a pothole. "We were impressed with how great the hiking trails were. We only had a few hours to explore the park and we were not disappointed. The trail to Devil's Kettle was a nice hike. Be warned lots of stairs but excellently maintained," notes Scott G.

Creek gorge exploration: At Kadunce River Camping, follow the river upstream to discover hidden waterfalls. "If you take the trail back to the Kadunce spur trail, that heads south to hwy 61, and follow it till it becomes level with the river you can hop in the river and start heading north in it... Keep heading up the river and you suddenly take a bend and the gorge closes in and reveals its end, a rounded, walled canyon and waterfall."

Trout fishing: Kimball Lake Campground provides easy access to trout fishing opportunities. "A main draw is trout fishing, and there is a trail around the lake. You could make this a base for day trips up and down the North Shore, or further into the interior of the Superior National Forest," states Janet R.

What campers like

Stargazing opportunities: Hungry Hippie Campground offers excellent dark sky viewing. "We are stargazers and really enjoyed the night sky, it was nice and dark, no light pollution. This is a beautiful, quiet, affordable place to camp," writes Kt D.

River sounds: Many North Shore campgrounds feature tent sites near flowing water. "The campground is very small only 26 sites. This is primitive camping - no electricity. There's water available. No dump... Listening to the ripples of the river all night. Wonderful sound," according to Kay T.

Budget-friendly accommodations: Hungry Hippie offers various options from tent sites to canvas glamping tents. "I'm excited about all of this because everything is enjoyable AND affordable - this is a hard combo to come across in the North Shore of Minnesota's private sector," reports one camper. The canvas tents cost $59+tax per night with panoramic lake views.

What you should know

Trail difficulty varies: North Cascade River Campsite and surrounding trails present challenges. "We hiked southbound from Grand Marais. Until this site water sources had been minimal. We did find some flowing water at Sundling Creek but before that we had a couple stagnant and warm beaver ponds to work with. Everything else was dried up in the middle of Summer."

Campsite proximity to roads: Several campgrounds near Grand Marais have highway noise. "The outside loop is close to the highway & that gets loud around 6am until 10pm when it quiets down," notes one camper about Judge C.R. Magney State Park.

Limited cell service: Most tent camping areas lack reliable phone coverage. "There is no cell service so it is time to put the phone down and enjoy the nature," states a Cascade River Rustic Campground reviewer.

Tips for camping with families

Site selection for privacy: At Judge C.R. Magney State Park Campground, choose perimeter sites. "The perimeter sites are the best for more privacy. We were in site 11 & I loved it! Site 12 was nice too," suggests Cynthia K. "The sites were so close together and I felt bad for the people who were next to my sometimes rambunctious kids," adds another camper.

Pack insect protection: Summer camping requires mosquito preparation. "Mosquitos were horrid right when we got here but we packed a couple thermocells that helped a ton," mentions a Cascade River visitor.

Water access considerations: Many campgrounds have steep paths to water sources. At North Cascade River campsite, "The water source was the Cascade River which was close but down a very steep incline. Not great if you had kids with you."

Tips from RVers

Size limitations: Kimball Lake Campground accommodates smaller RVs only. "Campsites are wooded and have a fire ring and area to set up tents, there is a good boat access, the usual Forest Service privvies are available, and there is water... some of the sites can accommodate trailers, but I'm not sure if the space and lack of hookups would be of interest to RVs," notes Janet R.

Road conditions: Access roads require careful navigation. "Significantly farther out into the woods than expected," warns one camper about Kimball Lake. "The road is also very primitive - trees will rip off the air conditioners in your 45 footer!" cautions a Judge C.R. Magney visitor.

Rustic facilities: The best tent camping near Grand Marais, Minnesota typically offers minimal amenities. "The site is very rustic with no electric sites, dump station or water source for RV tanks. Small with limited sites, but spaced for room. Going back soon," writes Bryan K.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Grand Marais, MN?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Grand Marais, MN is Judge C. R. Magney State Park Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 28 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Grand Marais, MN?

TheDyrt.com has all 53 tent camping locations near Grand Marais, MN, with real photos and reviews from campers.