Best Cabin Camping near Virginia, MN

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

• Bear Head Lake State Park Trail is a moderate 3.2 mile trail. This hike is a loop route. Dogs are allowed but only on leash.
• Norberg Lake Trail is a easy 1.5 mile trail. It is a trail for all skill levels and dogs are allowed but only on leash. Mostly wooded.
• Blueberry Lake Trail is a easy 4.5 mile trail. Longer than the other listed trails. It is an out and back hike that is mostly wooded. Dogs are allowed on leash.
• Becky Lake Trail is a easy 2.7 mile hike. Beck Lake is a loop hike that is mostly wooded. Dogs are allowed on leash.

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.

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

PETS 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!

Stayed 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!

Bear 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/

Camper 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!

Stopped 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.

The campground is nice. The sites are very private which I enjoyed. Had boat rentals available to go out on the beautiful lake.

this 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.

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.

We 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.

We 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.

I’ve been coming to Fishermans point for years! It’s kid friendly, lost of lake sites, playgrounds, and atv friendly!! Onsite dump station and fresh water fill up!

Great campground! Owners are super great and helpful, beautiful campsite and nice paved path for biking!!! Great for the family

Campground was well kept, not much noise, lots of spaces that have water access. The bathrooms and showers were neat and clean. Easy to checkin online either on-site or before you get there. Very few bugs of any kind.

Grew up camping here. Its beautiful with water and trees everywhere. Pet friendly, close to town, clean showers, friendly staff. The only bad thing is no water hook ups.

Campground Review:

****This campground is located on beautiful Whitewater Lake in Hoyt Lakes, MN. The fall colors are absolutely gorgeous right now, and my pictures don’t even come close to doing them justice!! We have lived just 5 miles down the road from this campground for over 20 years, and regret not camping here sooner!! This campground is very family and pet friendly with so many activities to choose from. We spent the bulk of our time hiking the paved trails, and fishing the lake. You can reserve a spot online at http://www.fishermanspointmn.com/ , or it’s a first come first served campground. There were plenty of spots available when we camped there, but recommend reserving during the busy summer months.

There are 93 spacious and wooded sites divided into separate loops. If you are driving a bigger RV or 5th Wheel some corners can be tight, but they are currently upgrading and widening the traffic areas. Some of the campsites are right on the waterfront which was nice for mooring our boat close to us. They have some 50/30/20 amp spots, but none of the spots are a full hook up with dump capabilities. The campground hosts were super friendly and the showerhouses/restrooms were super clean and smelled freshJ There is no bringing in outside wood for campfires, but they have a nice little general store where you can purchase bundles. Each spot comes with a nice picnic table and a fire ring. One of the things we liked most is the shelters and grill pits they have right on the lakeshore. They have 2 separate boat ramp areas so there is no congestion or waiting in line to get in the water, and the fish cleaning house is just a few steps off the boat ramp. Quiet hours are from 11:00pm to 7:00am, but we noticed there is no enforcement of that rule, hence the 4 Star rating.

...................................................

Product Review:

As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I have the privilege of receiving products to test from time to time. I tested the PARASHEET Beach Blanket from Grand Trunk. https://www.grandtrunk.com/collections/goods-for-the-campsite/products/parasheet-beach-blanket-new-colors Navigating their website is easy and very user friendly!! The thing I appreciated the most is that they are in constant contact with you from the minute you place the order to when it arrives on your doorstep. The shipping time is super speedy from this company!! All items were packed well, and they included a free can cozy and decal sticker (it went on our 5th Wheel!!)

When I took Parasheet, my first thought was that I would not have used the word blanket in the description, it is so much more!! (on their website they use the sentence “The Best Beach Blanket Ever.” With that being said, the parachute nylon fabric is very lightweight, but super durable. This sheet is a packing/carrying dream!! They have a nice variety of colors available, and I ordered the Parasheet in the color Berry Bronzed. The contrast between the deep blue/tan colors is absolutely stunning!! The one feature I liked right away is that the sheet has it’s own drawcorded carrying/storage bag for easy packing and storing. We had a chance to take the sheet out on a windy day, and the sand pockets helped keep it in place while we staked it down. There are an endless amount of uses for this sheet while camping, and at home too!! (my son of course tested and gave a “thumbs up” on the Superman cape tryout lol) The parasheet stood up very well on different types of terrain (we tested sand, gravel rock, and pine needles) Overall, I think the Grand Trunk Parasheet is well priced at $39.99, and would recommend it to all!!

• Location: Not too far and not too close from the twin cities. Easily accessible and not hard to find.
• Campsite: Large with partial shade. Made for an RV, but perfect for a tent or two. Private trail from campsite to the lake. Site located on a small peninsula.
• Privacy: Semi secluded. Bushes and trees covered the only other site to the right and the road. Saw only a handful of people if even during our 2 night stay.
• Main hiking trail was paved. Lake was clean and clear. No mosquitoes and ticks (at least not on us and pup)
• Stargazing was amazazing! Up all night watching shooting stars and debating whether we saw weather balloons or UFOs.

Beautiful 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!

6/25-6/26/20. 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.

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.

This 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

Sites 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.

We 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.

new 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.