Backpack and canoe-in/boat-in campsites are open April 1 - November 1, weather permitting  
Showers are not provided

Remote Campsites (Backpack, Canoe/Boat-In) — Scenic State Park

Are you in need of a campground near Bigfork, MN? Camping, hiking, biking: however you want to spend your days near Bigfork, you'll find great campgrounds with The Dyrt. Find the best campgrounds near Bigfork, plus reviews and photos from other campers like you.

Bigfork

The Best Camping Near Bigfork, Minnesota

Scenic State Park has a variety of camping options, including a small lodge, standard RV campsites with hookups, and standard campground tent sites. But, best of all, they also offer numerous remote backcountry campsites that require you to either backpack in for a few miles, or paddle or boat in a mile or two, and a few where you can access the site via either backpacking or boating in. The backpack in only sites are on trails a few miles north of the lodge campground, and the boat-in only site is on Coon Lake about a half mile from the Lodge campground boat landing, and then there are 4 sites on Sandwick Lake to which you can backpack in or boat in. Sandwick Lake is located to the south and east of Coon Lake and is reached by boat or canoe by launching from the main boat landing, passing through Coon Lake , and then down a channel into Sandwick Lake. To me, the regular campgrounds seemed pleasant but pretty busy; the remote campsites, however, are absolutely exquisite and peaceful and quiet and off by themselves.  we camped at campsite #6 on Sandwick, you would have to backpack into it by hiking about 3 miles, or you have the option to boat in which we did. The boat-in campsites do each have a small dock, perfect for accomodating canoes, kayaks, and very small fishing boats like ours; larger boats would have trouble I think, because the docks are firly shor and there isnt much room to pull in alongside them. From the dock at our campsite there was a sloped path to walk up from the dock to the campsite, but the three others on the lake have a small set of stairs. Our site had a three sided log lean-to as well as a bear box, picnic table, and fire ring with grate. Our site had room for one tent, maybe another small one, but we visited site 4 and it had space for maybe 4 or 5 tents so you could had a scout troup or large family at that site. There is a pit toilet off in the woods, "al fresco"  because the site is isolated on its own. The campsite we had was up on a hill with a beautiful view, and faced north for catching wonderful breeezes that kept the bugs away! The lean-to was great for doing food prep, and would be a good shelter if a storm came up. The grill on the fire ring was sturdy, and the bear box looked to be brand new and indestructible. The shoreline had a pretty dense cover of cedar trees, but you can swim by your dock, and the water is crystal clear! If you boat in to this site, then you will be off on your own in a peaceful quiet spot, but you can hike either north or south on the hiking trail that passes nearby, you can paddle or boat acrros the lake to the unique esker where there is an educational geology trail, or you can go fishing, or bird watching, or get back to the main part of the park for nature programs or accees the many miles of trails that have trailheads near Coon Lake. If you dont have a watercraft of your own, the park rents canoes and kayaks that you can use. The state park is in the middle of the Big Fork State Forest, and the Big Fork River Water Trail runs through the area with many access point nearby. if you need supplies, the park's camp store is currently closed due to covid, but the town of Bigfork is about 7 miles from the state park entrance, so you have access to groceries, gas, hardware etc there, as well as a small hospital if needed. All the campsites are currently reservable online, and you must use that system because the main park office is closed to visitors at this time due to covid, though park staff are out and about in the park for cleaning and maintainence and campground supervision. I highly recommend this park, and especially the remote sites, but they are taken quickly on weekends so you need to reserve ahead!

Remote backcountry sites are the best! 

The park has two backpack campsites along small pine lake.  It's an easy 1.5 mile hike to the camp site along flat trails.  The campsite is set back from the trail a good ways so you have complete privacy. There is a "shelter" for rain or snow as well as a fire pit, picnic table, bear locker, and a pit toilet.  The lake is easily accessible to filter water. 

  

We were two of the first groups allowed to camp once the MN DNR resumed camping during Covid-19, so many of the "perks" or the park, such as canoe renting, were not available. Also, the old fire tower is locked up and should not be climbed. 

  

We were there in late May and the mosquitos were HORRIBLE, despite it being colder and windier than average.

Great beginner backpack campsite

Was hear earlier in summer—not in October as review date states. 

Easy 1.5-2 mile hike in. Bring bug spray as mosquitos can be bad 

There is a bear locker, pit toilet, and a shelter on site.  This site is very private.  

There is no real way to get down to the pond at the bottom of the camp site. 

The trails here are nice for hiking but they aren’t extensive and won’t keep you entertained long.  The real reason to come here is for water sports on the main lake.  Unfortunately during Covid the rentals weren’t available. 

Bring a saw to get firewood—you don’t want to lug the wood on with ya. 

Photos of Remote Campsites (Backpack, Canoe/Boat-In) — Scenic State Park

Real photos from real campers