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.
