Cabin rentals are a great way to see Tower without the hassle of setting up a tent. Cabin camping is an adventurous and unique way to experience the city. You're sure to find the perfect cabin rental for your Minnesota camping adventure.
$16 - $22 / night
$35 / night
In season camping runs from April to September, with reservations available. Off season camping is first-come-first-served at a discounted rate
There is a separate listing for the "campground". This is for the CABINS.
Eight camper cabins with heat, electricity, Wi-Fi; available year-round. Two are wheelchair accessible; accessible showers and flush toilets nearby. No pets. Each cabin sleeps 6; with either 3 full bunks, or two full and two twin bunks. Outdoor food prep counter, campfire ring and table.
$90 / night
Birch Lake Campground is located in Superior National Forest near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, about 13 miles from Ely, Minnesota. It is an ideal place to relax while enjoying fishing, boating and other recreational activities.
Fishing, boating and canoeing are popular on Birch Lake. Anglers can use the boat ramp or try their luck from shore to catch northern pike, perch, crappie and walleye. There are no horsepower limitations for boats on the lake. The shoreline is inviting for campers interested in canoeing. Families also enjoy berry picking during the summer and early fall months. View recreation guides and maps of hiking trails and canoe routes in the national forest.
Birch Lake covers 7,628 acres and is one of a series of lakes in the area. The campground lies in aspen and birch forest. Birds and wildlife are abundant. Superior National Forest, located in northeastern Minnesota's Arrowhead Region, is comprised of 3-million acres. The forest spans 150 miles along the United States-Canada border.
Numerous outdoor recreation opportunities lie within Superior National Forest's 77 lake accesses, 13 fishing piers, 10 swimming beaches and 22 picnic areas. The forest is also home to three scenic byways. Campers can also explore the nearby Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Over 1-million acres in size, the Boundary Waters extends nearly 150 miles along the United States-Canada border and contains over 1,200 miles of canoe routes, 12 hiking trails and over 2,000 designated campsites.
$19 - $89 / night
Located just 4 miles outside of Ely (on the edge of the Boundary Waters), Silver Rapids is located on a vast private peninsula with water on three sides, allowing for some of the best fishing around. You can discover the waterway amongst the 20 miles of open shoreline on any of the four lakes to which you’ll have access.
The Tomahawk snowmobile trail is located right outside the lodge. Spend the day snowmobiling and exploring the local trails. Come back to enjoy a nice dinner and relax in our Hearthside Lounge. Cross country ski on our private groomed trails. Try your luck ice fishing right outside your cabin. We have plenty to do to occupy your time.
Clean, lakeside cabins, motel suites, or camp sites
Full bar and restaurant
Fire pits and charcoal grills available with cabins
Docks with electrical hook-up
Private hiking/cross country ski trails
Pet Friendly
Access to Snowmobiling & ATV Trails
On site live bait
Lake maps
Gift shop
Fish cleaning house
Waterfront gas pumps
Dry/split firewood
Shower house
Full RV hook up
Wireless Internet available in the lodge
$40 / night
Enjoy all the best of Northern Minnesota camping at Cabin O Pines where you’ll find excellent daily or seasonal campsites. Wake up every morning to hear the sounds of local wildlife, and sit down every night to warm up by the campfire. Call us for more information about seasonal camping, or to check for daily openings.
While camping in Northern Minnesota, enjoy fun beach activities, or rent one of our Cabin O'Pines boats and get out on the lake. Whatever the occasion, you are sure to have a memorable Northern Minnesota camping experience.
$45 - $77 / night
Traveler
The owners were very nice and helpful, as well as the staff. Very clean. A beautiful spot! Fishing on Pelican lake is great. The fishing dock is accessible ( I rode my mobility scooter out there with no difficulty) and they have boats available so you can get out on the. lake. We spent a lot of time in the pool and hot tub and enjoyed the nightly campfire. We ordered a pizza and it was delivered to to out camper by a nice young man! Paddle boat and kayaks are free for guests as well as many other amenities and activities the children will enjoy. We brought our rv but they also have some beautiful cabins. I just wish we had more time to enjoy all the resort offers. Next time! We also enjoyed the Vince Shute Wildlife Sanctuary. Its only 15 miles away. A wonderful place to view the bears! Don’t miss it! We loved our stay at Aspen. It’s our new vacation destination!
Legend
Bear Head Lake State Park is just south of the Boundary Waters, and shares a comparable wilderness element. The shoreline is beautiful and very fun to explore by kayak.
Campground features: Cabin rentals, tent sites, and RV sites. The campground is open in fall & winter. The campsites are private, well shaded, and level. Each campsite has a picnic table and fire pit. Flush toilets, hot showers, dump station, group sites, and electric are also available.
Hiking at Bear Head Lake State Park
Fishing at Bear Head State Park
Bass, northerns, walleye, panfish, and trout can be caught at this State Park. Many people fish from the fishing dock or shoreline. Panfish are all over the lake and most likely the first ones biting. Good walleye fishing after 6pm.
Other activities:
Boat rentals, cross country ski trail (groomed), snowshoe trails, and snowmobile trails.
Guide
We stayed here last June with our large family. My bf and I stayed 2 nights in a cabin and tent camped 2 nights on a camp site. This area has great access to many lakes including the BWCA along with being close to Ely for anything you may have forgotten. Silver Rapids Lodge itself has a bar/restaurant right by campground along with many other amenities. Many cabins to choose from from 4-6 ppl all the way up to a 24 person cabin!! Good fishing and lots of areas to do so without a boat, if you don’t have a boat and would like to rent one SRL offers boat rentals. Small swimming area and play place for kids. Pet friendly, clean, and nice hosts.
Legend
Stayed in a cabin for some winter glamping! Gonna have to make this a yearly thing for sure! I love this area of the state...and the mine area sure is something else in the winter time after a large snow accumulation. So thankful my friend invited me on this trip! Dagwaagin cabin
LegendPETS ARE ALLOWED IN THE PARK BUT NOT THE CABINS - see below for details.
This part of the state park is very new! These cabins are a fairly new addition and aimed to cater to those that love winter outings but want warmth and electronic lifelines.
We stayed in "Ning" cabin which is an abbreviation of the actual name. All cabins have native Ojibwe names. It was there last on the loop and right next to a short trail. A vault toilet is about 30 feet away.
This campground had wifi throughout the campground and cabins. This let me work while we were there with my computer without issues. It's easy to log into (open your browser and the option will pop up, or search for it in your wifi network options).
Firewood - this is a super cool policy. You can't bring your own wood, but you can pay $10/day for a permit that you hand at your site. They have a "shed" with pre-split wood that's dry and ready for the campfire. You can burn what you need daily and put the rest back before you leave. This is not meant to "burn it all" but it allows you to have a fire, stay warm, have fun and not run out of wood. Great price considering the amount many places charge for a dinky little bundle that lasts about an hour. You also can't take it home, so just be smart about the process and it's a great option for everyone!
The inside of the cabin was wow! Electricity outlets were plenty (in all the bunks - as well as lights in all bunks). Hard floors, a vacuum for when you were done, shelves for gear and food, baseboard heaters, A/C in summer, big windows, ceiling fan, rug to wipe your boots, lots of coathangers.
Outside a small deck and picnic table, food prep station with an outlet - very cool! Fire ring was down a set of stairs near the woods.
Please note: PETS are allowed in the park, but NOT in the cabins and NOT on the deck of the cabin. Pretty steep fees if they find this happening.
Also...you have to bring your own bedding (sleeping bags or sheets/blanket).
Nice perk - there is an indoor showerhouse with bathrooms, hot water and potable drinking water station so you don't have to sacrifice in the winter!
Overall great stay for $90 - quieter than a hotel for sure!
RangerStayed at a camper cabin- had the park to ourselves! Absolutely gorgeous. The drive off the main highway is a few miles, so you really end up out in the wilderness! We also appreciated that this park doesn’t allow hunting so you know you are safe during that season.
The campground is along a series of winding lakes, with multiple access points to the water. Very spaced out and easy access to vaulted toilets and water. A couple of different fishing piers and docks right near the campground itself. Has electric and non-electric sites. Definitely impressed with the campground itself. Very pretty no matter where you camp.
Park has:
- fishing pier
- hiking trails
- fish cleaning building
- stocked backcountry fishing lakes
- canoe rental
- a trail center with a community fire ring and comfy chairs
- dump station
- RV sanitation station
- camper cabins
- group camp
- swimming beach
- trailer access
- watercraft and backpack sites
We enjoyed night walks and star gazing- we decided it was the best stars we had ever seen! Even saw shooting stars. Cooked some great meals, and enjoyed the hiking club walk through the woods to some super-secret small lakes.
Checked out the group site- so cool. Right on the water with a personal dock and toilets.
This park is truly in the wilderness, felt like actually being in the Boundary Waters! Crystal clear water, thick gorgeous forests, and an amazing sky.
Head into Ely, maybe 20 mins, if you need supplies or a break from the woods. Also can access the BWCAW there too.
We appreciated that this park is open year-round, but can’t wait to go back in the summer!
LegendBear Head Lake is an established, full service state park that has something for everyone. There are a variety of camping opportunities, from camper cabins to guesthouse to tent campsites with lake access to RV sites. Though you have to hike to the beach, the beach is really lovely and has boat rental. There is an extensive network of trails for both hiking and cross country skiing, with a really great indoor Trail Center that serves as winter warming house, indoor meeting place for rainy days, and classroom for park naturalist events. The lake is great for boating, fishing and paddling. though part of the lake shore is privately owned, the lake is quiet and peaceful overall, nestled in tall pines with easy access to the town of Ely if desired. The vicinity is known for bears and is part of a long term bear research study; visit the American Bear Center nearby if interested! https://www.bear.org/website/
LegendCamper cabins are nice. They have bunk type beds. The beds on bottom are FULL size (can sleep 2 each) and the ones on top are singles. So 6 could sleep here. There was a little table, electric heat and a small screened in porch. An outhouse style bathroom is close by. Easy lake access...it seemed pretty quiet. Nice way to "camp" if the weather is cold. Picnic tables and fire pits outside the cabin. Nice!
LegendStopped here on the way to the Boundary Waters. A lot of the campground was closed and there was some rough weather, but still had a great time. At the campground you can do some hiking and also some water sports.
The Campground Beach...not too much of a beach as it is a shallow spot, but it is still perfect for families to lounge in on a hot day. There are lots of shade trees to relax under if you like so that is nice.
The Hiking...I hiked all the hikes and I can honestly say there are some good sites to see. I would recommend Blueberry Lake and Becky Lake hike. It is a mixture of rolling grass and rocky terrain. I did it in the rain so mosquitos were not as bad and was able to pass by the back country sites as well. You are mostly covered under the pine forest but you do get to glance some of the views. The hiking club hike (Norberg) isn't too bad, but it is very heavily trafficked. I saw more nature on the backcountry hike than the hiking club.
The water...some good look nooks to get into in the east and north bays. The actual lake itself is pretty windy and made kayaking difficult. I would say it would be a great paddle on a calm day or early morning. Caught several pikes and many bass. There are also loads of panfish. The shallows have crystal clear water so it is nice to just sneak up on the pan fish to see them.
The campground...I was in site 43 and it was pretty nice and secluded. The DNR had blocked off over half the sites due to the Covid. They also had the bathrooms closed along with the fish cleaning shanty. The cabins were opening up on the 1st for families. The sites that are back to back with the other loop (59-73 and 26-39) don't have much privacy at the back of their sites. Most sites have simple pathways to the sites on either side, but mines was pretty secluded and a good location. The sites along the water (51,52,53,54,55,56,57,58) all have pathways down to the water and some docks to hold boats over. It was a nice campground and there really is a lot to do. The sunset are great and the big field by the campground cabin was a great place to put a blanket and watch the sun set behind the trees.
TravelerThe campground is nice. The sites are very private which I enjoyed. Had boat rentals available to go out on the beautiful lake.
Scoutthis state park was very well maintained and clean. A storm passed through a few days before I camped there and crews had already cleared all of the roads and hiking trails. A great family friendly park with a swimming beach, boat rentals, and trails.
Guide
This campground is about as close as you can get to the Ash River Visitor center of Voyageurs National Park. Full hookups, good spacing, clean bathrooms and showers. Friendly owner. Check in was a little awkward as there are not really any signs and no official office. I think they have mostly to season long visitors, but our one week stay was great! Ice and firewood offered on site. Owner also does boat rentals, but we didn’t utilize that service. Would stay there again. One note, no cell signal on Verizon.
Legend
A really nice place with lots of fun stuff do to right in the campground including a beach and boat ramp on Pelican Lake. There is a nice playground area for kids. The place caters mostly to seasonal folks more than overnight roadies. I stumbled on it by accident when I was heading to Voyageurs NP but just wanted to get off the road for the night.
Some of the seasonal sites have extensive decking and screened porches. The sites for the temp folks had full hookups but were gravel that was not well maintained and not level. The bathrooms were ok, maybe a C+. There was no soap at the men’s bathroom sink. There are only six daily/weekly RV/tent sites. The rest are seasonal rentals. It got 4 stars instead of 3 because it is so pretty and peaceful.
TravelerI would like to say this park is very tranquil. Great sites and nice fishing!
Tower and Ely are near to get bait or items if needed.
Our most visited favorite park!
LegendWe visited some people staying here in the campground we were at fall lake. The Lodge is across the street with lots of amenities. The lodge has a shower house, bar/ Lounge, restaurant, boat and canoe rentals, game room, free Wifi, a playground, bait & tackle, a private swim beach and laundry facility. The laundry facility is near the other campground and suites I like the campground across the street better. Good homemade Pizzas! This area is beautiful. I gave it a 3 star rating because we like privacy, a little more wooded surroundings and you can hear traffic but it's not a very busy road.
Across the street from the lodge is the campground, boat ramp & small toilet rooms a little primitive. Better to be self contained in this part of the campground. Most sites back up to the water and some have docks behind them and there is water & electric. Some have a little shade. There isn't much privacy and there isn't a lot of room between them but a great view. You can fish from you campsite they had caught some Walleye. There are several lakes here you choose from if you boat, canoe or kayak. I would say my camper is bigger than it is to make sure you get a little larger spot. The ones across from the toilet rooms can be tight backing in having enough room to get in take that into consideration when booking.
I believe they use the dump station in Ely at the visitor center they have a dump you can use for #5.00. Ely is a small town it has a lot of canoe outfitters, 2 grocery stores, a few places to eat, gas stations, hardware stores, some gift shops, so come prepared there isn't a Walmart or anything near there.
By far the best ice cream we ever ate. It's called Northern Expressions I had the caramel collision, the malts were good too. The line can be all the way down the side of the building but the wait is worth it.
Lots of lakes in the area, Fall lake is close by which is nice for Kayaking, canoeing or boating. It's part of the BWCA. Nice campground there too.
GuideWe have enjoyed staying here. Minnesota does a nice job with their state parks. The campsites are varied in types, sizes and layouts. Ours works great for our 26’ travel trailer and truck, and includes electrical. Main restroom has showers. Nice canoeing lake adjacent to the campground. The Taconite State Trail is nearby. Only complaints are campsites are close to each other and only one bar of service on T-Mobile phone.
Guide
Must reserve on line or by phone. Each spot feels secluded. Bathrooms immaculate and new, flush toilet and shower. Only Electric on site. Lake is not near the campground. Boat launch.
RangerBeautiful state park with a funky layout. Campsites are very pretty but sites are mostly gravel not ideal for tents more aimed at the rvs. 100-200 campsites seem better for tents over 300 sites. 100-200 have some grassy tent pads with a cool layout. Check it out!
Legend6/25-6/26/20. Site 409
This was our first trip to Lake Vermillion-Soudan and we spent one night here. You can get wood as you enter, it’s in a little shed to pick your own and $6 a bundle. Our site was spacious and grassy, though we could see our neighbors, so it wasn’t the most private. We drove around all campground loops and decided we liked our section best. It had a lot of trees (and hammock spots), but also a lot of RVs. Some of the other loops were more open and had less trees. The campground was very quiet and the cell service was top rate. If you are looking for a state park campground to work remotely, this would be a great choice.
The mine was closed when we visited but it was still fun to explore from the outside. We hiked the hiking club trail loop - which was actually confusing to follow - but it was fun to see some remnants of the old mines and the trail was wooded and pretty. There was also still snow in one of the deep pits. The picnic area was gorgeous with a lot of trees and there was a large fishing dock. There is also a nice boat launch to a quiet bay that brings you right into Lake Vermillion. It was windy so we did not kayak. The state park is kept up and maintained very nicely. We enjoyed our visit.
Guidenew campground in last couple years. facilities are well maintained and the sites are nice and big. we stayed at 314E with our friends at 312E. their site was by far the best, with an awesome rock structure the kids had a blast climbing on.
plusses: main bathrooms and showers are very clean and new. water in sinks is warm. Soudan Mine tour was awesome! travel down in the mine and ride cars to see the way iron ore was mined in early 1900s. hike to overlook we saw a large white tailed deer 20 yds away. the view was amazing and only 3 miles round trip from the campground. pay $6 per day for all the fIrewood you use, vs prIce per sack. paved path was awesome for running or biking. drove to Ely for the day and went to the International Wolf Center - fun to see the wolves up close.
opps: no trash cans in vault toilets makes it difficult at that time of the month. long walk to the lake from campsites. wish there were sites on or closer to the lake. our kids wanted to fish or swim.
TravelerNice showers and restrooms. Spacious sites. Lots of hills. No lake view.
GuideSites are large and well spaced. Free wifi, several pit toilets along with a new shower/restroom building. No playground or beach. Our kids mainly played at the campsite or rode their bikes around the loop by the sites in the 400s.
In my opinion the sites in the 400s were the most shaded (though none were heavily shaded) and had more grass. Our friends stayed in #402 and their site was similar but with more boulders on the site perimeter. Neither site had good trees for hammocks.
Firewood was a good deal - all you could use for $6/day.
There is a boat launch near the campground as well as a day use area in the park (need to drive there). The day use area is beautiful and you can walk down to the lake, fish, or picnic.
In Ely both the Wolf Center and the Bear Center are great places to visit. If you can only visit one I would recommend the Bear Center as you get to see the animals more up close and the guided tour is very informative.
GuideWe were in site 402. It is a really nice campground. The bathroom/ shower building is really nice. We had a few big rocks on the border of our campsite that our kids played on. The campsites were a really nice size. The day use area is great. The picnic shelters were really nice. It is a short walk to the fishing pier.
GuideThe mine and Lake Vermillion have separate entrances but are considered the same state park. Lake Vermillion is absolutely stunning and the park has very fancy group campsites. The sites are not very private but are a quick walk to the beautiful lake. And Soudan Mine is a must-see! Great way to spend a really hot day!
TravelerWe stayed at site 312E, pull through site which made it convenient with the boat. We tent camp and it had a nice flat grassy spot for the tent with ample room for the screened in shelter. (+’s)
(-‘s)
We didn’t do any biking but should bring the bikes next time as the paths look good.
I see this campground more for RV and non-kid groups.
GuideThis park might be at the top of my list at the moment for MN. Our campsite was spacious, relatively private, and right next to the woods. The campground itself was very nice and the bathroom lodge was immaculate. They have the best firewood policy I’ve seen - $10/day for unlimited wood. All thick cut birch wood. With the campground being so new there are still lots of things they are workin on including adding trail signage. The trail beginning from the 200’s sites down to the lake was leisurely and beautiful with an amazing view of Lake Vermillion in two spots. We watched the sunset from the docks at the boat launch near the campground and it was beautiful. The campground also has wifi which we didn’t use but I tested the speeds on my cell phone out of curiosity and was getting speeds over 200mbps which really shocked me. The next morning we took a stroll around the hiking club loop at the main office and really enjoyed that as well. Overall a very enjoyable experience at a very unique state park. Looking forward to going back
LegendThere were no problems getting to this state park. We pulled into the dump station just before entering the campground(CG) area to get fresh water. While we were there, a park ranger stopped to check us in, including processing us for a free annual MN state park pass for disabled veterans. We followed the site signage to electric(50/30/20 AMP) only site 110, which was an easy back-in. The site was long enough for our 40’ toy hauler to include putting our back patio down and parking our F-450. We especially liked how ample trees and bushes were separating the sites, and you are well away from your neighbors. The site gave us plenty of space to set up our chairs around a nice fire pit and one fine picnic table. Get water as you come into the CG, as the spigots throughout the park do not have threads. The 300 loop has pull-throughs that will handle large rigs, with 312 being the best. We got 5 bars 4G. on Verizon. We put Starlink on the roof and got a decent signal. There was a nice shower house/restrooms where the park also sold firewood. Formal trail systems are throughout the CG and park, and we enjoyed walking our dogs. We really like the variety of RV sites for all sizes of RVs, but it's too bad the CG area has no water views.
Cabin camping near Tower, Minnesota offers a perfect blend of nature and comfort, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the stunning landscapes of the Northwoods while enjoying the amenities of a cozy cabin.
Frequently Asked Questions
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Tower, MN is Bear Head Lake State Park Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 39 reviews.
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