28 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Tent campsites near Wrenshall, Minnesota include several options ranging from established campgrounds to more primitive sites within the surrounding state forests. Cloquet-Duluth KOA accommodates tent camping with designated tent areas that offer more privacy than their RV sites, while Nemadji State Forest's Garfvert Campground provides a more rustic tent camping experience with access to hiking trails and a nearby lake. Grace Lake Road Dispersed area offers free primitive tent camping for those seeking a more secluded experience.
Most tent campgrounds in the region feature basic amenities like fire rings and picnic tables, though facilities vary significantly between locations. Garfvert Campground provides vault toilets but no drinking water, requiring campers to bring their own supplies. Sites are typically set on natural surfaces with minimal grading, making some areas challenging during wet conditions. A camper noted that at Garfvert, "There was a beautiful lake near the campgrounds and miles and miles of easy/intermediate trails." First-come, first-served camping is common at the more primitive sites, with no reservation systems in place at locations like Schoen Park and Grace Lake Road Dispersed.
Walk-in tent sites provide the most authentic outdoor experience in the region. At Grace Lake Road Dispersed camping area, one visitor reported, "This spot was super nice and peaceful! Lots of different dispersed spots." Tent campers will find the most seclusion at primitive sites like these, which often feature tree cover for shade and proximity to water bodies. The area around Bear Lake County Park offers opportunities for fishing, hiking, and canoeing with sites situated near the water. Many tent-only areas become less crowded during fall months when temperatures drop and summer vacationers have departed. Campers should note that while most tent campgrounds allow fires when conditions permit, some locations implement seasonal fire restrictions, particularly during dry periods.
"One staff drove a cart right to our campsite and helped us determine the best way to back in our RV for the most privacy."
"Tons of trees for shade. Everything you Need to enjoy a weekend away. Pool, hot tub, WiFi, showers, arcade, laundry, c store, and lots more. We will be back!!"
"My family has stayed here many times to use the dirt bike and atv trails. There is a lot of variety for different levels of difficulty. It can get busy."
"It was hard to find a campsite because it's first-come-first-serve, but we were able to find a spot closer to the trails."
"It was very private and had nice trees surrounding it. So pleased with our stay here :) Visiting in the fall was ideal- I bet this place is packed during the summer months!"
"Free dispersed camping off Dago Lake Road between Willow River & Sturgeon Lake. Quiet aside from the occasional car. Pitch black at night."
"This is a great spot for the primitive campers. There are no real sites more of a dispersed camping area. No reservations."
"I wanted to be close to Banning State Park without the reservations. Early spring in Minnesota left us little cover between sites, but we were the only ones there."
"Ropinion park is a historic walk through time with year around activities your bound to find something to interest you from hiking and rock climbing to fishing and boating this little park has something"
from $10 - $30 / night
Check Availability"Tucked away in the northwoods, lots of amenities to offer! Showers, food, and fires! Not far from many lakes and scenic views"
TravelerI came out of the BWCA near Grand Marais late in the day and so wanted to stop somewhere to camp as I headed south before dark. There were plenty of spots available online at this little park. It was clean and the campsites were fine—could see my neighbors without much tree cover though.
If the weather had been better when I woke up I would have hiked some trails or paddled the lake. Next time!
Legendsuch a fun backpack site! The hike in was muddy and buggy as there was quite a bit of rain in the weeks prior to our camping trip. Picnic table, fire ring, and bear locker provided. Site offers great vies of a little beaver pond where you may get to see some wildlife! Site was able to fit 4 backpacking tents, most of which were 2 person size tents, so it is good for a small group. Private latrine a short walk into the woods.
GuideA great campground! There is a beach, playground, as well as drive-in and hike-in sites. The waterfalls are very cool, and they have nice signage and pamphlets to learn more about them. I recommend taking the time to read about the geology. I haven't stayed in a car camping sites, but we thought they looked very nice.
The hike-in sites are great, not too far to walk but you have privacy. One thing to note about the hike-in sites is that the trails aren't well marked. Once you're on the trail for a while, they start having regular signage, but the start of the trails themselves aren't marked. You park in an area behind the car camping sites, next to what I assume is a storage building or old house. There are two starts to the trail, the one I found best is down the service road maybe a couple hundred yards. There's also one on the other side of the lot, but it winds a bit, forks into another trail, and all in all seems a little more confusing. I'd recommend just talking to the campground host when you get there, they can explain everything. The walk is short enough (a mile and a half) that we hiked out and back a couple times when camping, either to access the beach or to fill up water. Another important note is that while it's in an area where hanging a bear bag is recommended, the woods aren't thinned enough to where there are strong branches low enough for a bag. It took quite a lot of looking to find a suitable spot for our bag. There's a fire ring and picnic table at each site, which was nice. The bathrooms outhouses, which was a nice surprise, as I was expecting an unenclosed vault toilet.
There's a separate trail to the beach from the sites as well, but I went back the main way anyway. The beach isn't anything special, but is nice enough. There's a nice, small playground near the beach as well.
LegendFelt nice to spend a weekend without cell service about an hour away from home. Forgot to take my usual photos and video of the site all set up but had a few random to share. Nice campground. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring. There are flush toilets and showers and the office has a store for any last minute needs.
ScoutCampfround has 6 campsites with fire pits and picnic tables. There is also a double vault toilet. The campground is very clean and accomodate many more campers, scout troops or large families. It is set up for canoe trips overnight stop. I'm here in my tear drop and just do daily trips out in my canoe. There is a 3 night stay limit and it is FREE!
LegendThis is a beautiful park with tons of great hiking trails and amazing waterfalls. The campground is also really nice, and very popular. It was sold out the day I was there. I was surprised it was sold out considering there was no water, no showers, and no toilets due to major construction to fix the plumbing of the entire campground and to build new bathrooms. The campground is set up with a series of loops in a wooded area, so most campsites have nice privacy. You need to check in at the ranger station to get your campsite and learn about the water problems/solutions, as well as pay for your site and pay for the day use permit. I was kind of glad it was sold out as I found it to be very pricy for a campground that had no water or toilets (they did have porta potties). But, the hiking trails and waterfalls were definitely worth the visit.
TravelerWhat a treasure! I was the first person to stay at this campsite and loved it! I am a full-time solo camper in my 5th year. I love off-grid camping. My rig is a GMC Yukon and 17' Casita camper.
Directions:
Address for house just beyond campsite is 8214 E. Stone Lake Rd. Forbes, MN
Coordinates are: N47.286675, W092.549313
Turn on E. Stone Lake Rd. from Highway 7 and where the blacktop turns to gravel drive 2.5 miles then bear right at the fork to remain on E. Stone Lake Rd. Just beyond the fork watch for the red 8217 address marker. The drive into the campsite is directly across the road and before you get to 8214. Park and walk in to get a feel for the site.
A big rig could back in as far as they want. Smaller rigs will probably pull in and then back into the site on the side with the lovely clearing. The area has some residential housing but the campsite is isolated and very quiet. There is a fern-filled clearing for the campsite which is surrounded by trees. My suitcase solar panels worked reasonably well. I used my generator sparingly.
I had deer, squirrel, chipmunks and birds including Pileated Woodpeckers, Barred Owls and Common Loons on the lake. I had less than expected mosquitoes.
The campsite is very close to the north section of Sax-Zim Bog and about 20 minutes from the Visitor's Center. Further down E. Stone Lake Rd. is the Blue Dasher Bog trail. The lake, left fork of the road, has a lovely picnic area with vault toilets, fire rings, picnic tables and boat ramp.
This was just the kind of hidden gem I love to find.
LegendThe campground is located in a very nice small town and the water sites are amazing for sunrise. The campground has all the amenities you need; Full hookups, water, dump station, fire rings, and picnic tables. Tent sites were the most numerous, but there were several RVs. We saw everything from big RVs to motorcycles here. Things were clean but it was a super packed when we were there. You can't sit outside without getting to know your neighbors inner secrets!
The view and access to water is what would bring us back.
LegendThe main reason we wanted to come to this park was to hike the trails and experience the famous swinging bridge that takes you over the St. Louis River and the rushing rapids below and rocky gorge below. The park dates back to the early 1900’s and its historic character comes from the influence of the Civilian Conservation Corps who made improvements to the park in the 1930’s and 40’s. The park has an 82-site campground and LOTS of activities to keep adults and kids busy.
The campground is what you would expect in a state park with tall trees, shady sites, lots of activities, and popular with families. Roads and sites are gravel and each site has a picnic table and fire pit. Some campsites are long and suited for large RV’s while others are more rustic tent sites and there are 5 cabins for rent. Twenty-one sites have electric hook-ups. If you are looking for more rustic, remote tent sites there are some hike-in sites. Four sites are located 1 to 4 miles from parking area where each site has picnic table, fire ring and latrine but water must be hauled in. About half of the sites are reservable online with the others being first come, first served. What we liked was that this park was very well cared as sites and facilities were very clean. Tall trees provided nice shade and campsites were well-spaced so you didn’t feel like you were on top of your neighbor.
There is lots to do in this park and we were sorry we didn’t have more time to spend. Activities include hiking (over 50 miles of trails including a stretch of the North Country National Scenic Trail), 8 miles of biking trails, 30+ miles of cross-country ski trails, kayaking and fishing. The park offers hundreds of naturalist programs including nature walks, evening campfire talks, fishing programs, and geocaching. Just a short drive north of the state park is Gordy’s High Hat which is a famous hamburger joint that has been around for years and still draws a massive crowd. There is a big enough parking lot to pull your RV into if you need to. Food was great and cheap!
Even if you don’t camp in this park, I think it is well worth the $7/daily admission fee to spend a day enjoying all this place has to offer.
Tent campsites near Wrenshall, Minnesota sit within a region characterized by mixed hardwood forests and waterways with elevations ranging from 1,100 to 1,300 feet. Most camping areas are situated on glacial terrain with sandy soils that drain quickly after rainfall. Camping season typically runs from May through October, with July temperatures averaging 70-80°F.
Fishing opportunities: Bear Lake County Park provides accessible shoreline fishing with multiple species available. "We enjoyed the fishing, hiking, and canoeing (rental from the park). The sites were on the smaller side but being on the water made up for that," notes visitor Sara S.
Rock climbing excursions: Robinson Park Camping features extensive sandstone formations popular with climbers. "Rock climbing including the state's best 12a/b!!! Sigma lives up to the hype," reports Les R., who recommends checking Mountain Project for route information.
ATV trail riding: The network of trails near Garfvert Campground offers varied terrain for off-road enthusiasts. "There is a lot of variety for different levels of difficulty. It can get busy," says Elisha C., noting that noise levels increase during peak riding times.
Secluded waterfront sites: Many campers appreciate the privacy at smaller campgrounds like Robinson Park. "I enjoyed this little spot in early April... We camped at spot 4 right along the river. Picnic tables, fire rings, and a tent pad at every spot," writes Lindsey H.
Dispersed camping options: Grace Lake Road Dispersed offers free primitive camping with water access. "This spot was super nice and peaceful! Lots of different dispersed spots. Go down Tamarack Forest Road, which is a little further than the location on here," advises Julia D.
Nearby state parks: The proximity to established parks enhances camping experiences. "Easy access to Jay Cook State Park. Jay Cook has a lot to offer; a suspended cable walking bridge, great moderate hikes, waterfalls, climbing on rocks, and amazing river views," explains Sam C.
Reservation systems vary: Many primitive sites operate on first-come, first-served basis without formal reservations. At Schoen Park, "There are no real sites more of a dispersed camping area. No reservations," explains Clarke N., highlighting the need to arrive early during peak season.
Facility limitations: Most primitive sites lack running water. "Offers a water pump and outhouses. A shallow boat launch with a dock. Additionally a picnic area for day use," reports Josh M. about Garfvert Campground facilities.
Seasonal considerations: Spring camping brings fewer crowds but potential access issues. "Early spring in Minnesota left us little cover between sites, but we were the only ones there. It would be difficult to see fellow campers in full blown summer," notes Lindsey H. about Robinson Park.
Kid-friendly amenities: Cloquet-Duluth KOA offers family-focused facilities. "Everything you Need to enjoy a weekend away. Pool, hot tub, WiFi, showers, arcade, laundry, c store, and lots more," shares Jade K.
Nature exploration: Several campgrounds offer educational opportunities. "Robinson Park is a historic walk through time with year around activities your bound to find something to interest you from hiking and rock climbing to fishing and boating," writes Merrill W.
Site selection: Choose tent areas with buffer zones for families. "The RV sites are close with no privacy. The cabins and tent area looked better," notes Heather V. about site layouts at Cloquet-Duluth KOA.
Access limitations: Large RVs face challenges at primitive sites. "Don't try to bring any thing to big into here or you will be in trouble. We have a 19' travel trailer and it wasn't a problem but turning around is tight," warns Clarke N. about Schoen Park.
Gate clearance: Some forest road entrances have width restrictions. "Gate is very narrow had to fold the mirrors on my Tacoma to squeeze through but if you park at the entrance it's a short walk," reports Michael S. about Grace Lake access points.
Hookup availability: Most tent campsites near Wrenshall have limited or no RV services. "We were about 20 feet from another campsite on one side and 50 feet on the other. There are a lot of trees and wooded areas so our site felt semi-private," explains Glenda D., noting that while Cloquet-Duluth KOA offers full hookups in some areas, many sites are water/electric only.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Wrenshall, MN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Wrenshall, MN is Cloquet-Duluth KOA with a 3.9-star rating from 9 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Wrenshall, MN?
TheDyrt.com has all 28 tent camping locations near Wrenshall, MN, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
