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Water
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Facilities

Established Camping

Deer Lake Campground

Deer Lake Campground, near Deer River, Minnesota, is a lively spot that offers a taste of the great outdoors with a bit of a social vibe. This place is perfect for those who enjoy a more primitive camping experience, with no electric hookups and a focus on nature.

The campground is known for its spacious sites, which provide a sense of privacy despite being quite busy. Many visitors have noted the abundance of wildlife, so keep your food secured at night to avoid unexpected guests like bears. As one camper mentioned, “Things are primitive and this is close to the water and trails, so you do get the best of both worlds.”

For those who love to fish or just want to kick back by the water, Deer Lake is a great spot to unwind. The nearby trails offer opportunities for hiking and exploring the beautiful Chippewa National Forest. While the campground doesn’t have showers or water hookups, the clean bathrooms and good cell reception make it a comfortable choice for a weekend getaway.

If you’re looking for a place that balances activity with a touch of seclusion, Deer Lake Campground is worth checking out. Just be prepared for some noise from the nearby highway, especially during the day, but things tend to quiet down at night, allowing you to enjoy the sounds of nature.

Description

USDA Forest Service

Chippewa National Forest

Overview

Deer Lake Campground is located on scenic Cut Foot Sioux Lake, next to Lake Winnibigoshish, in the heart of the Chippewa National Forest. Visitors come to the area for boating, walleye, northern, sunfish, and crappie fishing, and beautiful scenery.

Recreation

Boating, swimming, and fishing are popular activities on Cut Foot Sioux Lake. A boat ramp is centrally located between the campground's two loops and provides lake access via Biauswah Creek. A large swimming beach is located at the North Deer Loop and a smaller beach is located at South Deer Loop. Boats may be moored offshore.Miles of trails in the area provide great hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, and birding opportunities. The 26-mile Cut Foot Sioux National Recreation Area Trail runs through the campground and connects with the Simpson Creek Trail. People with ATV's can camp in the campground, however, ATV's must be trailered to roads legal for riding outside the campground.Cut Foot Sioux Lake is located next to Lake Winnibigoshish, which can be accessed from Cut Foot Sioux. Lake Winnie offers excellent fishing opportunities for walleye, northern, panfish, and muskie. It is one of Minnesota's premier fisheries. Boating and water skiing are popular activities.

Natural Features

Deer Lake Campground is situated on the northwest shore of Cut Foot Sioux Lake and is split into two separate loops. The North Deer Loop is covered by a hardwood forest of maple and oak, with some mature pine trees scattered throughout the area. South Deer Loop is forested with mature red and white pines. Cut Foot Sioux is home to a variety of waterfowl and birds of prey, including loons, osprey and bald eagles. The much larger Lake Winnibigoshish is accessible by boat and within sight of these two campgrounds.

Nearby Attractions

Down the road, East Seelye Bay offers a large picnic area, boat landing with dock and a swimming beach.

Fee Info

$16.00 per night

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Location

Deer Lake Campground is located in Minnesota

Detail location of campground

Directions

From Deer River, travel northwest on Highway 46. Turn on Eagle Nest Road and continue west for four miles, past East Seelye and West Seelye campgrounds. Deer Lake Campground is on the left. Take Highway 46 northwest from Deer River, MN. Turn on Eagle Nest Road (Old CR 33) and travel 4 miles west. You will pass East Seelye and West Seelye Campgrounds. Deer Lake Campground is on the left. North Deer is first, South Deer is another half-mile down the road.

Address

1235 DIVISION ST.
Deer river, MN 56636

Coordinates

47.5141667 N
94.1058333 W

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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site

Stay Connected

  • WiFi
    Available
  • Verizon
    Unknown
  • AT&T
    Unknown
  • T-Mobile
    Unknown

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)

Features

For Campers

  • Reservable
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Big Rig Friendly

Contact

General Info

Reservations


Reviews

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4 Reviews

Reviewed Jun. 21, 2021

Primitive, but very busy

We were bouncing around the area and found this one. They had a lot of people occupied so it is a busy place. The north campground is smaller but has very private sites with loads of options. Mostly for smaller res to tents. It is close to the road so you do hear the highway noise. Things were pretty active here so be prepared for some activity but don't fret things did calm down later at night. The hosts were great about keeping things going. Things are primitive and this is close to the water and trails so you do get best of both worlds. Watch out for ticks and black flies tho.

Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Deer Lake Campground by Scott M., June 21, 2021
  • Review photo of Deer Lake Campground by Scott M., June 21, 2021
  • Review photo of Deer Lake Campground by Scott M., June 21, 2021
  • (13) View All
Reviewed Jun. 13, 2020

I blame myself

While we did not have a good time, I'm still giving it 4 stars because we just were in the wrong spot. We were looking to escape for the weekend into the wilderness. This is not that.

If you're looking for a place to take your camper for a weekend fishing trip, it would be the perfect spot.

  • Photos from spot 8
  • Cell reception was good
  • Bathrooms were clean and had TP
  • Town w/ gas, liquor store, etc. 40 mins away
  • Review photo of Deer Lake Campground by Alex M., June 13, 2020
  • Review photo of Deer Lake Campground by Alex M., June 13, 2020
  • Review photo of Deer Lake Campground by Alex M., June 13, 2020
  • (17) View All
Reviewed May. 29, 2019

Very busy but secluded

If you are looking to truly rough it this is a great place. Lots of wildlife, but make sure you clean up at night or you may find a bear wander into your site. Sites are secluded from one to the next but still feels very tight as there are a lot of sites with tree lines separating.

Reviewed Jul. 30, 2016

Huge

This campsite is actually pretty big. i usually solo camp but this time I brought my girlfriend. She said this was the biggest she has been to. The site was really clean and had no insects at night because we came in the fall. On the trees there is a lot of carvings which can hurt the trees. The site is a trek from the restroom and takes a while to get there. We stayed at site 8 and it was perfect. This site does not electric hook ups which is a bummer. There is a pump for drinking water and the water had pieces of dirt in it so it is best to purify it or boil it before drinking. There is a lot of deer's out here and you can see a few throughout the day. Some times you can see hawks and ospreys. You have to make a reservation 4 days ahead to get a campsite.

  • Review photo of Deer Lake Campground by phillip L., July 30, 2016
  • Review photo of Deer Lake Campground by phillip L., July 30, 2016
  • Review photo of Deer Lake Campground by phillip L., July 30, 2016
  • (6) View All

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Are fires allowed at Deer Lake Campground?

    Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, fires are allowed at Deer Lake Campground, although make sure to check current fire restrictions in the area.

  • How hard is it to get a campsite at Deer Lake Campground?

    Some campers book as far as 6 months in advance, so on high-demand weekends it can be very difficult to get a campsite at Deer Lake Campground. If you want to get a last-minute campsite at Deer Lake Campground, try setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts

  • Why is it so hard to get a campsite at Deer Lake Campground?

    There are 50 campsites at Deer Lake Campground and over 80 million Americans who camp! Try snagging a cancellation by setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts