Janet R.

The Dyrt Pro

Bemidji, MN

Joined November 2017

Biogeographer, explorer, adventurer

Lexington Sanilac County Park campground

I had intended to stay at nearby Lakeport State Park, but they were full and this was a happy alternative. The park is quieter, and the campsites are under tall pines instead of out in an open field. Full immaculate restrooms and showers. Beach area adjacent and park with playground and picnic area. Wonderful to be near Lake Huron! Nearby town of Lexington has stores and cafes. We tent camped; there is a section for small RVs also, with electric or electric and water hookups. I would choose this lovely campground over Lakeport!

Boundary waters hike-in experience

If you like primitive wilderness camping but want to be only a short backpack hike away from your car, this campsite is for you! There are actually two campsites at this location, offset from each other on the lakeshore but close enough for a group to spread out into. This is a backcountry camping exprience on Blackstone Lake, of the Fernburg Trail east of Ely in the Superior National Forest. The trail access is near the Moose Lake entrance to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area wilderness. You park your car, then have about a half mile hike in to the campsite. Once you are set up, you have an amzing pristine lake to gaze at or swim in, or paddle on if you portage in a canoe or kayak! Then, you have a maze of hiking trails to hike from the campsite, over rugged roky terrain and to some of the most breathtaking vistas in the area! If you are a rock climber, the cliffs at Ennis Lake are sought after by rock climbers all over the region who are up for the challenging hike in before even tackling the cliffs. Wildlife abounds, pristine wilderness beauty, an amazing opportunity! We came in the third week of June, and experienced no ticks, no bugs, which was blissful!

New remote campsites by Norway Beach!

These is a newly developed primitive campground that is only for paddle-in, hike-in, or bike-in tent campers. Wow! It is exquisite. Campsites all along the lake shore, each site is huge and sheltered by giant pines, each has its own beach and water access, picnic tables, fire ring and more. Peace and quiet and amazing solitude! It is so exciting to have this new option, there are only 12 sites here and they are well spaced and off on their own, yet with easy access to the bike trail, the Norway Beach boat launch and visitor center, picnic grounds and beach. A really splendid option for folks who want more of a quiet "wilderness" experience without being too far away from forest service resources and amenities. Hiking, biking, fishing, paddling, boating, nature watching, or just hanging out at this lovely home away from home

East side of Lake Winnie

This is a small, quiet Forest Service campground on the east side of Lake Winnie. Nicely laid out, spacious wooded campsites, beach and boat landing.  A good spot if you want to be in the woods and by this majestic lake in rustic conditions. Good for tenting, some of the campsites would have room fro RV's but note there are no hookups, and generators are limited to daytime hours so that it is quiet at night! Not much in the way of hiking etc right at the campground, but plenty in the area, and lots of space to relax in the quiet, or go nature viewing or boating or fishing. I was there in early June and it was really buggy—though I noticed bat houses installed, so that probably made it better than it might have been!

Quiet and well maintained campground for military, veterans and guests

This is a well kept and very pleasant campground within the compound of the National Gaurd's Camp Ripley. It is designed as an MWR location for active duty, retired, and veterans of all the uniformed services, but other guests can stay there with permission. The campground has large wooded campsites for RV's as well as tents, all along the Mississippi River. Right at the campground are shower and bathroom faciltieis, disk golf, boat launch, and hiking trails. Although some of the adjacent premises are actively used as a Guard base with training courses underway, a large part of the grounds are unused and in natural habitat, and an unusual number of bird and plant species can be found here, so it is great for nature lovers. In fact, there is a nature museumm on the grounds, as well as indoor and outdoor classrooms, and area schools bring students here for environmental education field trips and nature camps.  

Campers also have access to the usual base amenities such as BX, recreation center, etc.

Pristine spot on the Pine River!

This is a beautiful deeply wooded double campsite along the scenic Pine River. It is accessible only by foot, bike or paddle, for trekkers on the Paul Bunyan Bike Trail or the Pine River Water Trail. For paddlers, the campsite is right on the river between River Mile 35 and 36, just south of the town of Pine River. For bikers or hikers, it is about a half mile south  down the trail from the Bites Bar and Grill  to the turn off west on a dirt trail about a half mile down to the river. There are two campsites avaialble, for separate campers or for a group to encompas the whole camping area. Fire ring, picnic table, tent clearings available. There is no cost to camp here, but also no way to reserve either of the sites, and in accordance to trail etiquette if you show up on your bike or in your canoe ready to camp but someone else is there, they should share the camping space with you. 

Map of the water trail is here: 

https://files.dnr.state.mn.us/maps/canoe_routes/pine.pdf

General info on the water trail is here: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/watertrails/pineriver/index.html

Map of the Paul Bunyan Bike Trail is here: https://files.dnr.state.mn.us/maps/state_trails/paulbunyan_heartland.pdf

General info on the bike trail is here: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_trails/paul_bunyan/index.html

Private resort camping in the National Forest

This is a private campground adjacent to a Lodge off the Gunflint Trail. If you are wanting something less rustic than one of the nearby Forest Service campgrounds, and you don't mind paying a little more, then this may be for you. Current rates are $39 a night per campsite, plus an additional $5 a night if you have a dog, which adds up to a bit of a  steep price if you are tent camping. However, the sites do have electrical hooups and other amenities preferred by RV campers which arent found in the basic Forest Service campgrounds nearby, so that may be a plus. If tent camping by yourself, or wanting close proximity to food, lodge amenities, boat rental, etc, then you might find it is worth it. The campsites are very nice, and there is good fishing in the lake plus nice hiking trails nearby!

On the Gunflint Trail, close to Grand Marais

If you want easy access to Grand Marais, but want to be in a quieter location just up the Gunflint Trail, this campsite will be for you. It is small, quiet, and very rustic. A main draw is trout fishing, and their is a trail around the lake. You could make this a base for day trips up and donw the North Shore, or further into the interior of the  Superior National Forest. Campsites are wooded and have a fire ring and area to set up tents,  there is a good boat access, the usual Forest Service privvies are available, and there is water.  In terms of a destination campground in and of itself it is not my favorite of those along the Gunflint, but the proximity to Grand Marais is definitely a plus. We are tent campers and the sites are ok for that, some of the sites can accomodate trailers, but I’m not sure if the space and lack of hookups would be of interest to RV’s

Mukooda Lake expedition

Note: the cost for the campsite is $20.00 per night, and there is also a $10.0 fee for reserving online, which you have to do before arriving. There are discounts if you have a national park senior or military pass, or free for veterans. 

Mukooda Lake is an ecologically unique inland lake within Voyageurs Natioanl Park. Access is best via the crane Lake entrance on the southeast part of the park. Getting to the campground involves a bit of an expedition! You need use a small motorboat or  paddle a canoe or kayak from Crane Lake to SandPoint Lake, then turn  west into a small bay and dock at the Mukooda Access (no houseboats allowed!). If you don't have a boat, you can hire a water taxi from Crane Lake, they can drive you to the Mukooda access and arrange to pick you up again some days hence. Then you need to hike west across the Sand Point Narrows into Mukooda Lake, where you will find a day use area with beach and picnic area, trailhead for several hiking trails, and 5 separate small campgrounds spread like a string of pearls along a trail north of the day use area.  Each campsite has a tent pad, fire ring, picnic table, and bear box, and there is a central solar outhouse in the day use area. The campsites are beautiful, and secluded, the hiking is great, and the fishing is exceptional. There is a unique subspecies of lake trout found here that is found nowhere else in the world; also, the lake has a unique substrate and hydrology and is very pristine. For those reasons, to protect the ake ecosystem ad the fishery, no outside boats may be portaged into Mukooda, even if you paddled your own canoe or kayak into the access. If you want to get out onto Mukooda Lake itself, there are boats already located there which you can reserve and rent for day use.  That is a great idea for fishing, or for exploring the lake and its several islands! Some of the vendors for that option include:

https://scottspeacefulvalley.com/mukooda-lake/

https://www.voyagaire.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/2019-Optional-Equipment-Rentals.pdf

Boat rentals to get up to SandPoint before you hike into Mukooda can be arranged at one of these outfitters: https://www.visitcranelake.com/outdoor-activities/boat-rentals/

Hiking trail at Mukooda: https://www.voyageurs.org/mukoodatrail

General info about Voyageurs National Park: https://www.nps.gov/voya/index.htm

Latest news about Mukooda lake: https://www.nps.gov/search/?affiliate=nps&query=mukooda&sitelimit=www.nps.gov%2Fvoya

Hiking and more!

This is a great campground in a beautiful state park adjacent to lake Superior on the North Shore. It is a smaller state park, but worth staying at for the beautiful hiking trails along waterfalls, the access to the Superior Hiking Trail and Gitchigamee Bike Trail, Lake Superior, and nearby tons like scenic Grand Marais.  It also may appeal to fly fishermen along the river. There is plenty to do in the park, and it is well situated as a base camp for myriad day trips up and down the shore and into the Superio National Forest. It is more tent friendly than RV oriented, and for those of us who prefer tent camping that is a plus. You must really reserve far ahead in the summer, and fall weekends fill up quickly too, so you may need to look at weekday camping if you have planned much in advance. The Cascade Lodge is tucked into the edge of the state park with hiking trails that connect to it, and there are nice homecooked meals there if you need a break from camp cookery!

Good campground for fishermen

This is a campground with good access to Lake Vermilion and excellent fishing, so that would be a main draw. This is a private campground and has some sites reserved for seasonal RV camping, and other sites avaialble for short term RV or tent camping. Many of the RV sites are open and close together, but there is also a loop set back in the woods that has shady campsites both on or off the lake which are pretty nice. The facilities seem a bit worn over all, but there is a basic camp office with some supplies, great docks for boats, a new playground for kids, and a nice picnic shelter.  I think the man draw here is access to fishing, but you could easily get to Lake Vermilion State Park and the Mesabi Bike Trail which arent far away.

Fantastic in Fall!

This is our second time camping here, the first time being in June a few years ago. Fall camping is a different ballgame! The colors are beautiful, the campground is quieter (at least during the week) and this particular campground is more like a state park than the other more rustic campgrounds that the Forest Service runs in the area. There are several loops of campsites, totaling 64 sites,  plus two group camp centers, so there are a lot of options. Although many sites are set up for RV's, there are numerous tent-only campites, and they are some of the nicest. While you can reserve some of the sites on line ahea of time, the majority of sites are actually First Come/ First Served, and you have no way of knowing if any are actually available before you get there. We arrived early on a Friday afternoon in September, and there were only a handful of sites left--and withon a half hour, severl more folks came in and all the sites were taken. The campground has a boat access, fishing areas, playground, beach, numerous side trails accessing the lake in quiet places, a campground store, and paved as well as forest trails. A plus is that they have added several new bathroom and showers houses throughout the campground, so there is plenty of access, plus they are beautifully clean. There is just a short drive into Ely for shops and cafes, or out of town to access hiking trails or lakes and rivers at the edge of the Boundary Waters. Highly recommnded!

Amazing group center in the heart of Itasca!

This is a primo group camping center within Itasca State Park, secluded and very separate from any of the other Park campgrounds. It has a mix of historic log buildings including a lodge building that is pefect for group meetings and classes, and is also equipped with a full commercial kitchen. In addition the camp center has cabin accomodations, RV campsites, group tent sites, and more secluded hike-in campsites. It is located adjacent to  Lake Windigo, which has boat access and a fishing pier, but also has trails and has easy access to the Wilderness Drive bike loop and the Wilderness Scientific Natural Area hiking trails. It is a short drive to the Headwaters and the cafe and visitor center there, too.  It is often used for meetings, family reunions, and scout camp programs, and is perfect for that. A brand new bath and shower house has been recently added, so it makes for a superb group center. Covid restrictions have limited this camping center's availabilty due to social distancing restrictions, but hopefully it will be available and in full swing by next summer!

State Park quality in a municipal park

This is one of the nicer municipal campgrounds in the area, and is very well maintained. It is heavily wooded, with great campsite options for both tent campers and RV campers. I am guessing it may be fairly busy in summer with folks here for the good fishing nearby, but we came in September when the whole campground was very quiet, and exceptionally beuaitful with deep pine and cedar woods and colorful maples scattered throughout. This would be a nice spot for a quiet getaway for a few days. It is close to town for supplies, has a nice playground for kids, and the lake offers nice paddling or fishing opportunities. You are also close to the Chippewa National Forest and can trek over there to visit other lakes and trails etc.  Group shelter, space to walk, spacious shady campsites in the woods or more open nes near the playground area. Good for a local getaway!

Quiet municipal campground in Northome

Northome is off the beaten path for most folks, but this little park is good for a quick getaway if you live in the area. It is small and quiet, and has access to Bartlett lake which is great for fishing and paddling and bird watching. There is a great bike path nearby on which you can ride to the nearby high school to make use of ball fields etc, or ride the other direction into town for supplies or a meal. There was only one other person when we were there. There is a nice group picnic shelter and a new-ish DNR fishing pier. Most of the campsites are near the lake and can accomodate RV's if desired, but these sites are fairly close together and, inexplicably the shady trees between many of the sites appear to have been recently chopped down which is unfortunate. However, there is one really primo campsite off by itself, on the hill between the picnic shelter and the lake, which would be terrific if you can get it. It is wooded and shady, has a great view over the lake, and is more private than the others. It could also easily accomdate a group that is tenting, such a scout troop,  The bathroom facilities are limited to Port-Potties which isnt great, but they are newer and in decent shape.

Off the beaten path and great for fishermen

This is a small state forest campground on a small bay of the larger Vermilion Lake.  There is a nice beach, group picnic shelter, docks, and an adjacent public boat landing. For folks who are looking for a quiet place to stay while on a fishing trip at Vermilion, this wold be a good location, though more rustic than a state park. There are 5 fairly open sites close to the shelter and beach where RV's and trailers could easily park, but there are no hook-ups so be prepared. There is drinking water available in several locations throughout the campground, though this is shut off by mid September. There are  latrine toilets, and garbage collection.  There are also a group of 5 tent sites located close together that would work well as a group camp area, also cloe to the beach and docks. Further back in the woods, however, at sites 12-19, there  are larger more private sites spaced much further apart and set beautifully in among shady woods. Further along the campground loop road goes up a hill with more quiet sites, and two REALLY  exceptional hike-in sites at #20 and 21.  Site # 20 is a true gem, beautiful tall pines, picnic table, fire ring and tent pad in a very secluded setting but still just a short hike from where you park your car. There is a path down the hill to the beach and dock area. Really a primo campsite if you can get it, though all the sites are First Come-First Served and not reserveable.

Quiet camping near the Red River

This is a small but well kept and woodsy community park near the small town of Hendrum, MN. Though established primarily as a town park and gathering place, there is an area for camping, and it can accomodate RV's as well as tents. If you are visiting the area, especially if interested in recreation on the nearby Red River, this is a quiet, relaxing, and pleasant place to be. The public boat access for the river is just a short way to the west of the park. Great place if you want to be off the beaten path!

Community park campground at Newfolden

This is a well kept campground in a beautiful town park in Newfolden. It would be a good option for a stop if travelling through the area, or wanting a smaller quieter option than the busy campground at nearby Lake Bronson. Much of the park facilities have been renovated in recent years, providing a beautiful picnic shelter, gardens and play areas. Bathrooms are provided. It would be a great place for a family reunion or other group gathering  for folks from the area. 

Note: no fires are allowed currently, especially with the drought and fire danger throughout the region.

Get Lost at Lost Lake!

This is a small, quiet state forest campground, off the beaten path from any direction. The main activities are quiet campig, and fishing! There is a nice lake with a convenient boat launch nearby, nicely spaced wooded campsitess, room for RVs but no hookups. There has been some fresh loggin activity in the area so that does affect the scenicness of the woods nearby, as well as the quality of the access road if it is rainy. Basic water, basic pit toilets, picnic tables and fire rings, no other amenities besides peace and quiet and fish ready for your hooks!

Great location for groups on a beautiful lake

This review is for the group campsite at McCarthy Beach State Park, which is the only camping spot on Sturgeon lake, and separate from the main state park campground which is located on nearby Side Lake. (see photo with map, I added a blue arrow to direct to the group site) 

The group campsite has a nice log building for group gatherings, plus plenty of space for tents to accomodate up to fifty people. A small camper or two could alo fit, but there are no RV hookups here. There is water as well as fire rings and picnic tables. There is a pit toilet and no showers on the actual group site--however, the group site is located immediately adjacent, and a short hike to, the main state park beach and picnic area, which has a beautiful new bath house complete with running water, showers, and regular bathrooms. The group campsite is located on a bluff with a beautiful view over Sturgeon Lake. The boat launch is located on the east side of the group camp site, and has a nice dock, so is convenient for paddlers, boaters and fishermen alike. It really is the best camping spot in the whole state park, and worth the extra cost to round up an extended family or friends  group, youth group, scout group, or whatever. Note, all reservations for this state park's campsites are now being done on line at https://reservemn.usedirect.com/MinnesotaWeb/   at that link, select mcCarhty Beach State Park, then select group campsite at Sturgeon lake.