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Best Tent Camping near Lutsen, MN

543 Reviews

Tent camping opportunities surround Lutsen, Minnesota, with sites spread across state parks and Superior National Forest lands. George H. Crosby Manitou State Park offers backpacking-focused tent sites along the Manitou River and Benson Lake, while walk-in tent sites can be found at Camp Creek along the Superior Hiking Trail. Several rustic campgrounds near Tofte, including Clara Lake and Poplar River, provide additional tent camping options within a short drive of Lutsen.

Most tent sites in the area feature dirt or gravel pads with minimal improvements. Campers should bring their own drinking water, as few campgrounds offer potable water sources. Primitive toilet facilities are common, with vault toilets available at most established sites. Fire rings are typically provided, with several campgrounds allowing fires when conditions permit. A visitor commented, "The campsites are wooded, spacious and gorgeous. At the overlook, steps away, we had sunrise and views of Lake Superior, the perfect morning coffee spot." Sites often have designated tent pads, though some locations like Crosby Manitou require careful selection due to sloped terrain.

The tent camping experience near Lutsen offers exceptional privacy and natural immersion. The hike-in sites at Crosby Manitou State Park provide true backcountry solitude with sites spaced well apart along hiking trails. According to one visitor, "This state park did not disappoint... The trails are very rocky and narrow in spots with many elevations changes, it's a true backpacking experience." Walk-in tent sites on the Superior Hiking Trail offer strategic overnight options for backpackers, with locations like Camp Creek providing free primitive camping. Most tent areas feature dense tree cover for shade and wind protection, though waterfront sites may be more exposed. Summer brings moderate mosquito activity, making tent sites with breezes particularly desirable. Fall camping offers cooler temperatures and fewer insects, making it an optimal season for tent campers seeking both comfort and solitude.

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Best Tent Sites Near Lutsen, Minnesota (70)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Lutsen, MN

85 Photos of 70 Lutsen Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Lutsen, MN

543 Reviews of 70 Lutsen Campgrounds

  • 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.

  • 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!

  • Jennifer H.
    Oct. 11, 2020

    Trail's End Campground

    Site 15

    Drive in site with a designated parking spot. Same parking area and walk in trail as site 16 and 17. First site of three on the small path. Good size, but very little privacy. The neighboring site 14, has a few trees between, but you can see through and hear everything.

    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.

  • Jennifer H.
    Oct. 11, 2020

    Trail's End Campground

    Site 16

    Drive in site with a designated parking spot. Same parking area and walk in trail as site 15 and 17. Second of three on the small path. Very small and no privacy. You can see straight to the main path and hear everyone. There is Medium coverage between site 17 and 15.

    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.

  • Steph H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 28, 2017

    Clearwater Lake West Campsite

    Open, clean and soft

    There are a couple things I look for when finding a place to set up my tent after a long day of hiking. Clear ground, soft ground and a breathable space. The Clearwater west site on the Border Route Trail in Northern Minnesota had all three. A large open site great for groups with 5 tent sites and plenty of hammock camping trees. Right on Clearwater Lake so you have access to clear filterable drinking water. This was day 2 camp after heading eastbound from the start of the BRT. Day 1 had been 18 miles and day 2 was closer to 12 I think. The trail had been ravaged by winter storms so even while hauling on the trail we didn't get there till around 7pm in the rain. Plenty of great views along the way and overall well worth it but it was a loooong day. So I was happy to find such a hospitable site. Surprisingly there was a group there which ended up being a trail maintnance group so with the 4 of them and the 5 of us we still had plenty of room to spread out.

  • 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.

  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 15, 2021

    Judge C. R. Magney State Park Campground

    Can Hear Lake Superior Surf

    Nice, clean campground. Big trees throughout. Clean restroom/shower house. Also has vault toilets. Firewood available. Good water supply. Trash dumpsters. No hookups. At least half of the sites are level. Hiking trail. Helpful friendly staff. Can hear some traffic on nearby MN 61, but not bad. Can also hear the roar of surf on Lake Superior. Campsites are separated, but not much growth in between for privacy.

  • Amy G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 25, 2018

    South Kawishiwi River Recreation Area

    Quiet, lovely and had a beautiful swimming lake

    Quiet and full of trees, it's a great place to drop for the night. We didn't have a camper, but there was room for one. If you don't have a camper, you could actually fit several tents in the space where a camper would be parked. Ours, site #18, had a few steps that led to the picnic table and fire ring. Up there, we found another tent pad. That would have been the ideal spot for a tent (level and under trees), but we'd already set up at the bottom of the stairs.

    The fire ring was next to the table, almost too close, but not a problem. There were, however, lots and lots of mosquitoes (end of June). There was also a mamma bear and 2 cubs there, but they didn't bother us at all.

    The bathrooms were the nicest vault toilets that we've seen. Glad air freshener and everything!

    Although we didn't swim, they had a very lovely area in the lake that was sectioned off for swimming. It also appeared as though they had canoes for free use as well. They also had firewood for sale, but it was $7 for a bundle. That seemed very steep to me.

    Typical cost for a state forest campground in MN (cheaper, by far, than state park camps) and it was $15 for the night for a non electric site. Electric (30 amp) was $19 and electric (50 amp) was $21.There was also a $7 charge for extra vehicles at the site.

Guide to Lutsen

Tent camping near Lutsen, Minnesota provides access to the Superior National Forest's diverse landscape of pine-covered ridges and pristine waterways. Located approximately 90 miles northeast of Duluth along Lake Superior's North Shore, the area receives about 31 inches of precipitation annually, with summer temperatures typically ranging between 60-80°F. Rustic campsites often require hikers to navigate rocky terrain and elevation changes, particularly along the Superior Hiking Trail.

What to do

Hike to waterfalls: The Cascade River flows through Cascade River State Park Campground offering waterfall viewing along a 2.2-mile round-trip trail. "We stayed here and hiked the falls! The North Shore is always so beautiful with so many different nature textures to see!" notes camper Anne G.

Explore backcountry trails: George H. Crosby Manitou State Park Campground features challenging hiking with significant elevation changes. One backpacker reports, "The trails are rugged and minimally maintained. There are some pretty drastic changes in elevation to navigate on some pretty challenging paths (roots, cliffs, mud, etc)."

Fish local waters: Trout fishing opportunities abound in the area's streams and rivers. Dan W. mentions that Poplar River Rustic Campground has "Multiple spots off the popular river which consists of brook trout."

What campers like

Secluded riverside sites: Many campsites in the region offer direct river access for water filtering and relaxation. At George H. Crosby Manitou State Park, "Site 13 sits on a ridge about 15 feet above a curve in the river and has an easy path down to the water. It's completely secluded, and the breeze off the river keeps the bugs at bay," according to camper B L.

Digital disconnection: The remote locations often have no cell service, creating true wilderness experiences. A visitor to Clara Lake Rustic Campground wrote, "If you're not high maintenance and are in the area to marvel at the beauty of the local nature and wildlife, this is a stop for you."

Winter camping options: Unlike many Minnesota parks, some campgrounds remain open year-round. Hayley G. notes, "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."

What you should know

Challenging backpacking terrain: Many sites require significant hiking effort. At Camp Creek, Superior Hiking Trail, "The tent sites were spread out nicely with a couple larger ones and a couple smaller. The big if about this site is the latrine is very hard to find."

Limited amenities: Most rustic sites lack facilities. Ava notes about Cascade River Rustic Campground: "Nicest bathroom I have seen but not hand sanitizer so make sure to pack some. There is river access and only 4 sites total on this campground so coming early is your best bet."

Water access varies: Water sources can be difficult to reach at some sites. At Jonvick Creek Campsite, "Jonvick Creek is flanked by a beaver pond that is your water access. It is sketchy, your best bet is to crawl out on two fallen cedar trees and lay on your stomach to reach the pond."

Tips for camping with families

Choose sites carefully: Some areas are more challenging for children.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Lutsen, MN?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Lutsen, MN is George H. Crosby Manitou State Park Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 23 reviews.

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

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