Camping options near Saxon provide access to Lake Superior, local waterfalls, and forested recreation areas. The region features a northern continental climate with warm summers and cold winters, where temperatures rarely exceed 80°F in summer. Campgrounds range from full-service sites with electric hookups to primitive locations that require more self-sufficiency.
What to do
Waterfall exploration: 4-5 miles from Saxon Harbor leads to several impressive cascades. At Potato River Falls Campground, "the falls may be accessed from a long set of stairs climbing down to see the lower falls. You can also take a shorter set of stairs down to a platform to see the upper falls."
Lake Superior beaches: Spend time hunting for colorful rocks along the shoreline. Near Little Girl's Point County Park, visitors find "a lovely long beach to look for colorful rocks" and can spend "all day every day at the lake, which has lovely beach walks for about a mile total of available shore."
North Country Trail hiking: Access multiple trailheads within 15 minutes of Saxon. One camper at Copper Falls State Park Campground noted "The hiking trails and scenery are top notch," while another mentioned the "nice hiking on the North Country Scenic Trail to Red Granite Falls."
What campers like
Privacy at rustic sites: Many campers appreciate the seclusion of less-developed areas. A visitor to Foster Falls described it as "a nice, secluded site about 100 feet from the falls. We did get several visitors to the falls each day, but most were only there for a few minutes and left us alone."
Clean facilities at rebuilt areas: Saxon Harbor's recent reconstruction has impressed visitors. At Black River Harbor Campground, a camper noted, "The sites have some privacy but not a ton" and "The vault toilets are kept clean(I appreciated the pine tree air fresheners!)."
Dog-friendly shorelines: Multiple campgrounds welcome pets with access to water. One camper mentioned "plenty of room for dogs to explore while remaining leashed" while another appreciated the "designated dog walking areas" available at several campgrounds.
What you should know
Cell service limitations: Many campgrounds have limited connectivity. At Presque Isle - Porcupine Mountains State Park, a visitor noted "Very spotty cell service," while another mentioned "Cell service was really spot (can be a good thing when camping), and I wasn't able to pick up a lot of radio stations either."
Bug preparation essential: Summer brings mosquitoes and black flies. A visitor warned, "Mosquitoes can be present in summer months, so dog-safe repellent is recommended," and another noted "It can get buggy in the summer heat so be prepared with lots of repellant."
Winter accessibility varies: Most primitive campgrounds close seasonally. According to a camper, "the road is not plowed completely in winter," making some locations inaccessible during snow season.
Tips for camping with families
Choose campgrounds with playgrounds: Several locations offer kid-friendly amenities. At Upson Community Park, a visitor noted the "beautiful local town campground is amazingly well kept" with "unique campsites" that are family-friendly.
Consider distance to restrooms: Some campgrounds have limited facilities. One camper gave "a 4 because the pot toilet is so far away from some sites," which can be challenging for families with young children.
Look for shallow water areas: Safer swimming spots exist at specific locations. A visitor mentioned "The swim beach is nice, just a short walk from the parking lot" at one location, while another noted their campground had "a large picnic area that was actually kind of busy for such a hidden gem."
Tips from RVers
Limited full hookups available: Most campgrounds offer electric-only sites. At Frontier RV Park, "several new lots that are all grass with water and electric. Several lots are full hookup" but they noted "there is not a true dump station, only a spot near the bathroom."
Site leveling challenges: Many RV pads require adjustment. One RVer mentioned, "We had site 19 on pavement but it wasn't level if that matters to you," while another warned about "not a good fit for bigger RVs or longer pulls."
Generator restrictions: Several campgrounds strictly divide generator and non-generator areas. A camper warned, "that didn't stop some idiot from parking his RV on the edge of the non-generator side and running his generator until 2am- the only one running a generator in all 50 sites."
