Forest camping near Duluth

Where the intrepid camper can explore historical marvels alongside natural wonders.

96% (1440 reviews)
96% (1440 reviews)

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Under $50

12 top forest campgrounds near Duluth

100%
(944)

Balsam Ridge Retreat

8 sites · Lodging5 acres · Duluth, MN
Hey folks! Chris and I are taking a short break during the change of seasons. We're hoping for a big snowfall this winter, and that would be a good reason to open up at least a few of our sites! Keep an eye on our calendar if you'd like to experience a slice of winter in Duluth! Many folks that have visited our place refer to it as 'country living in the city'. We are so blessed to live in this little piece of serenity just inside the city limits of Duluth. It was once an abandoned house that sat for years, until a friend mentioned to us that it might be going up for sale. We loved the location and rolled up our sleeves. Twenty years later we still marvel at the beauty around us and can hardly believe that we LIVE here! Just down the road is a trout stream and just beyond that was a popular farm that attracted many folks to this neighborhood for hay rides and sleigh rides. The farm has since retired it's horses and closed it's doors to make room for new homes, but memories live on in the beauty of the open fields. I often imagine the sound of horses and sleigh bells and people singing carols and then warming up around a toasty fire sipping hot cocoa. Some of those memories live on right here at Balsam Ridge (minus the horses). Over the years many groups of folks have enjoyed a sense of community in these back woods no matter the season. Campfires, kids catching frogs, neighborhood campouts, snow picnics, hair-raising toboggan runs, family campouts, spiritual silent retreats, a take-your-breath-away giant swing, and some tales too daring to mention are all part of the fun. This is why we do what we do. We've been given much, and love to give back. It just wouldn't seem right to keep all this good to ourselves.
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$69
 / night
94%
(9)

Yurt on the River

1 site · Lodging14 acres · Saginaw, MN
Sit by the fire, gaze at the night sky, float down the river, and just unwind. Our yurt sits on the edge of a wild woods on the banks of the Cloquet River overlooking a meadow that is an active forest restoration project currently in process. From your door, you can access a loop of trails that wind through the woods, to the river and back to the yurt. There are also 100+ undeveloped public acres to the North accessible by kayak or a canoe. Enjoy getting back to basics. There is no electricity or running water in the yurt. Camp lanterns and solar lights are provided as is refillable fresh water and a propane camp stove/oven with pots/pans/utensils. The yurt is heated solely by a wood stove and there is plenty of firewood a short distance away with a sled or wagon to use for hauling. A campfire pit is just outside the yurt with a hanging grill and grilling tools. A detached outhouse is a short walk from the yurt and is for your use alone when you're here. In the winter, a Luggable Loo is available to bring to the yurt to eliminate trips at night in the cold to the outhouse. The yurt contains a queen bed with linens and a single camp cot available on request.  Dogs are welcome in the yurt! We do charge a $25 pet fee per reservation. If you'd like to bring a dog or dogs (limit 2), please add the Pet Fee which is listed as an extra during the booking process. In the warm months, 2 kayaks, 1 canoe, and 3 inner tubes are available for exploring and enjoying the river (along with paddles and two life vests). You can start from our dock, paddle upriver as far as you'd like and float back down, which is extremely relaxing. If you'd like a shuttle upriver to a public access point for a half day's (or so) paddle/float back to the yurt, add this as an extra to your reservation during the booking process and message me with your preferred day/time. We charge $25/per person with a limit of two. This section of the river (from the Independence access at Hwy. 53 to our dock at Co. Rd. 7) is an easy paddle containing two Class 1 sets of rapids which are calmer the higher the river level. If the weather or river conditions make this unsafe, unpleasant or impossible when you arrive, we will issue you a refund. There is another option for a starting point farther upriver, put-in at Bachelor Road if you're looking for a full day's trip. This section contains a few more sections of Class 1 rapids. **Note that duration of either trip varies and is determined by the level/flow rate of the river. There is also great fishing and swimming in the river! **Note: Poison ivy grows along the banks of the river. I keep it abated at the dock and boat landing area but it's a good idea to wear water shoes and know your poison ivy identification. In the winter, two pairs of snowshoes are included for long quiet walks through the woods and on the frozen river where winter wildlife sightings are frequent! **Note: The last few years have not been cold enough for the river to freeze completely over, so snowshoeing on the river, highly unfortunately, has not been available. Always check with me before venturing out on the river ice. If there is any open water at all, DO NOT venture out. This is extremely dangerous! Exercise caution with dogs! **Another note: Train sounds and some road noise can be heard from the yurt. The train has been described as "quite loud" by some guests and as sounding "off in the distance" and pleasant by others. The crossing is a half mile down the road. If you're sensitive to sounds, a light sleeper, or looking for complete quiet, please take this into account. Ear plugs are available in the yurt.
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$125
 / night
98%
(163)

Superior Beach Camp

2 sites · Tents10 acres · South Range, WI
Escape to Superior Beach Camp and immerse yourself in the beauty and privacy of a cleared camping area situated above 500' feet of sand and pebble beach on the world’s greatest lake. Agate campsite is very generously sized and is all yours. Surrounded by a mix of poplar and birch with a few white pine sprinkled in, the main camp area is set back from the lake atop a 70' bluff with peekaboo views of Lake Superior. A short walk down a private path from your campsite gives you access to a beautiful Lake Superior beach to swim, skip rocks, search for agates, or just enjoy the panoramic views of the lake and the town of Duluth on the opposite shore. Agate campsite previously featured a "look out point" that has been altered by the natural erosion of the red clay banks that comprise much of Lake Superior's south shore. While you can still access this area, doing so will require more effort and care, and we no longer allow camping on the point. Superior Beach Camp located is 2.5 hours north of the Twin Cities and perfectly positions you to discover all the wonders of the Twin Ports. Explore this amazing area or stay at camp, set up your chair in the sand and take in the many moods of Mother Superior. Watch the ships come and go to the sparkly backdrop of Duluth’s city lights. The crackle of a driftwood fire on the beach provides the perfect soundtrack as you watch for shooting stars and the aurora. Stock up on supplies and explore the charming industrial town of Superior, WI – 15 minutes from your campsite. Spend a day mountain biking the Duluth Traverse and touring the the wonderful local dining and tap room scenes of Duluth and Superior. Canal Park, downtown Duluth, is a 25 minute drive. If you’d like to venture further, you could meander up the North Shore. Or keep it local and check out Bayfield and the Apostle Islands – only 75 minutes East. Stop through the charming lakeside village of Cornucopia on your way. Or perhaps you’d like to experience world class trout fishing on the Brule River a half hour from Superior Beach Camp. Maybe Parks are your thing: Amnicon Falls, one of Wisconsin’s most beautiful State Parks, is reachable in 10 minutes by car. Drive a half hour further to Pattison State Park and take in Wisconsin’s tallest waterfall. On the Minnesota side, the magic of Jay Cooke State Park is 30 minutes west (and puts you on the doorstep of legit white water rafting). Whether you're looking for solace and relaxation in a blissful [great] lakeside setting or simply seeking a convenient place to rest your head while exploring the many adventures a stone’s throw from your campsite, there is something for everyone who camps here. Superior Beach Camp is a clean, quiet, peaceful, primitive setting. We appreciate that our campers help us keep it this way; remember to pack in any supplies or provisions you need, and leave no trace when you depart so our next guests can enjoy a clean campsite.
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$55.20
 / night
87%
(51)

Trembling Gardens

2 sites · Tents10 acres · Rice Lake, MN
PRIMITIVE - HIKE IN CAMPSITE Wilderness Experience Minutes from Duluth About the campsite: THIS PROPERTY IS RUGGED WITH MINIMAL DEVELOPMENT BEYOND HIKING TRAIL AND CAMP AMENITIES. Camp Palustria is on the edge of a beautiful marsh within 75 feet of a trout stream. It is about 1000ft off of the Superior Hiking Trail. The campsite is primitive which includes fire pit with grill, table, and composting outhouse. The site is about a 600ft hike from the road where you'll park. The first 400ft of the trail is a swamp with a simple elevated boardwalk through most of it.  95% of the time is it passable with hiking boats or street shoes, but there might be some muddy spots. Dispersed winter camping is also available. This campsite was featured on NPR Marketplace Campsite is closed during hunting season. About the property: Trembling Gardens is my 10 acre swamp camp paradise in the rural suburb of Rice Lake. The property is about 20 minutes away from downtown Duluth and Canal Park and has easy access to the North Shore.
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$15
 / night
100%
(5)

Kick Back Tiny Shack

1 site · Lodging6 acres · Duluth, MN
About this space The "Kick Back Tiny Shack" has a queen size bed, small futon bed (for a child) along with two single camp cots. This tiny house can sleep up to four people (2-3 most comfortably) depending on your needs. There is a mini fridge with mini freezer along with a mini gas range/oven, microwave, coffee pot and toaster. There is a TV with only local channels available. Wi-Fi is available at nearby restaurants. AT&T works well here, all others are very sketchy. The cabin has a freestanding gas fireplace to keep you cozy and warm. Come prepared to relax. This is a rustic cabin with all amenities so no need to pack up dishes, bedding, towels, etc. (bring sleeping bag and pillow for anything other than the queen size bed.) The kitchen is fully stocked with your basic cooking and dining essentials. If you don't want to do dishes you are welcome to bring your own paper plates, etc. Coffee, Salt, pepper, dish soap and hand soap, toilet paper and one roll of paper towels provided. There is no running water, but you will be supplied with pump faucet with 10 gallons of water for the kitchen sink for doing dishes, etc. There is also a pump faucet for the outhouse sink. You can heat water on the stove with the camp coffee pot supplied. In addition, 1 gallon of drinking water will be supplied also. There is a heated outhouse next to the cabin which has a shower stall in which you can shower with an electric pump shower and on demand water heater. Towels will be available and if you need more water, you can contact us, and we can refill at our home which is located next door. Please allow notice in case we are not home at the time. The contact information will be provided with your booking confirmation. You have your own private yard on our 6 acres with a screen tent & BBQ pit in the summer months, firepit and grill off of the back deck year-round. If you chose to bring a four-wheeler, canoe, boat or snowmobile there is plenty of parking space depending on the quantity. Come and unwind or explore the many wonders that the Northwoods has to offer! AT&T works well but all other cell services are sketchy. The interior of the cabin is newly refinished. The exterior will be improved as time goes by.
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$100
 / night
99%
(263)

Blue Pony Acres

3 sites · Tents6 acres · Eveleth, MN
Welcome to Blue Pony Acres. Thirty eight years ago we bought the remaining acreage and buildings from a northern Minnesota dairy farm. We have always enjoyed sharing our beautiful piece of the planet with friends. We want to share the beauty we experience every day with you. Leave your cubicle and the city life for a short respite in the north woods and enjoy one of our campsites. Bring your kids, your dog, camera, canoe, kayaks, and bikes. Pitch a tent or swing a hammock in the pines. Enjoy your private campfire while you hear the stars sing, watch the northern lights dance and count the shooting stars. On a clear night you might see satellites pass overhead. Lay your sleeping bag on the ground, snuggle in with hot chocolate and smores and watch the night light show in comfort. After a long day of hiking, biking, kayaking, fishing or photography cook over your private campfire. The firewood is free! Exercise and walk your leashed dog in the state land adjacent to your campsite. A private composting toilet is available at each campsite (we do not have vault toilets), We are 3.5 hours north of Minneapolis, MN., and one hour north of Duluth, MN. The Saint Louis River carry in landing is only 3.2 miles from your site. A 5 mile drive gets you to the Mesabi Trial, over 160 miles of paved hiking and biking trail stretching from the Mississippi River on the west almost to the boundary waters and Ely, MN on the east. Local lakes within a few minute drive have public landings for boat launch and canoe carry in for your boating and fishing enjoyment. The famous Sax-Zim Bog is within a half hour drive and a great place for wildlife photography, and they have an interpretive center and very nice volunteers to help you identify wildlife. We’re about 5 miles south of the United Sates Hockey Hall of Fame; a great day trip for you and your sports minded children. A few miles further and you’re outside the doors of the Natural Harvest Food Co-op; a great shop for organic foods. Get local fresh food for your evening meal. Sneak into Lisa’s raspberry patch for “desert” or pick some hopps from the back fence in September and take them with you for your next home beer batch. I’m told they’re “Cascade Hopps”. They have a grapefruit taste. Mmm good! We invite you to join us. Bring your camping gear, including camp cook stove (sometimes we’re under a fire ban). Ask your dog to bring it’s leash, yes we have a leash law. Warm clothes and light clothing as the weather changes. Rain gear. Your favorite bug repellent. Good hiking boots. Don’t forget bikes, canoes, kayaks, cameras, fishing gear, and maybe some band aids. Come to unplug and unwind and enjoy the clean air and sweet smell of the north woods. Come on up North! Come on up North!
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$38
 / night
100%
(137)

Woods and Meadows Farm

3 sites · Lodging40 acres · Wrenshall, MN
"All are welcome here." We love sharing our beautiful space with you. There are forty acres with woods, trails, meadows, ponds and a creek. It is peaceful and private. Each cabin has its own special ambiance. We will help you with suggestions of things to do and see in the area if you like. We want our guests to feel welcome, safe and comfortable, so please ASK us if you have questions before you "instant book." If you have a couple of extra people or need more elbow room, ask us for more information. Please read the following through: It helps us to know your ETA in advance and to update us so that we can plan our own day as well! Once you are in the area send us a message just before your arrival so we can meet you and set you up properly! Thanks in advance! We raised kids and host international students here, and always enjoy meeting other travelers. We are now retired but still traveling and exploring. While living and teaching internationally we looked for adventure, staying in a wide range of hostels in developing countries around the globe. We have enjoyed staying in everything from bamboo long-houses in Borneo and Thailand to adobe shelters in the Andes to rondavel huts in South Africa. There are free range chickens and a friendly farm dog here, and there are sometimes dogs staying at the other cabin. There are also all kinds of wildlife in the area, so we require that dogs be supervised and leashed, for their safety and the safety of our chickens and our wild animal neighbors. No dogs may be left unattended on our property while you go out and about... take your canine pals with you! Quiet hours are dusk to 7am. If you choose to bring a dog, we want you to consider your dog's inclination for barking. We keep the peace and quiet of all of our guests in mind. We hope that you (and your pet) will have fun at our northern Minnesota retreat. Burnell and Ann enjoy having company, and hearing about your travels and adventures (if you feel like sharing) and want you to feel safe and secure. All people are welcome here, as long as you follow our reasonable rules! When you come into our driveway you will see our house and barn. One of us will meet you and take you down to your site. -We ask that people check in before ten at night your first evening, so as not to disturb other guests... ;) It is very difficult to find your way in the dark. DRAGON LOFT cabin has one double bed in a loft with a ladder. Great for two people. Very little extra sleeping space except for a dog bed or kennel below the loft. This space has a nice reading/coffee room, a private "and a deck with table and chairs and patio with a fire ring. You can cook on a grill we provide, outside. You have access to a dock on the pond, and full use of the trails in our wooded acres or play frisbee in the hayfield! RAVEN WATCH cabin is comfortable for up to four people (two full size beds) A bed upstairs overlooking the pond and downstairs by the wood stove. The little kitchen comes with a nice propane stove and wash area. There is space for sitting at the table and playing cards or reading on the sky-chair swing. Wood supply is right outside your door, the picnic table and fire ring are next to the creek, nearby. Sitting outside on the benches by the pond, you can enjoy a raised fire ring and roast some marshmallows. Price based on two adults. Small fee for up to two more people. Sad to say we have to say this again: NEVER leave a dog alone at the site while you are out and about. We/you do not want to deal with damages from doggies who feel left behind. Keep in mind the number of pets and limited in the space there is. Write to me if you have questions. We love our dog, too, but please, no animals are allowed on human beds. Bring your kennel or dog bed and leashes. We also love and respect our wild critters' space so keep yours on a leash and pick up all poop. :) No firearms, off-roading, fireworks, or other items or activities deemed to be dangerous by the hosts. No unregistered guests.
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$78.85
 / night
96%
(146)

Hidden Pines

5 sites · RVs, Tents2 acres · Kerrick, MN
Come get away in our grove of balsam pine trees in a rural area with lots of wildlife to see and hear. We have 5 primitive campsites, one for large groups and three for smaller more private camping and one drive in site for camping out of vehicle or tent . We offer un mapped hiking trails onsite and there is plenty of activities to do within 10 to 15  miles from camp. Activities include swimming at local beaches, Nemadji State Forest, General CC Andrews State Forest, ATV riding, lots of great fishing lakes, several rivers for kayaking and canoeing, local restaurants, coffee houses, movie theater, general store, shopping, antiques/craft, grocery, gas, local brewery, agate center, fire museum. The land was purchased by the Sway family in the late 70's from a farmer and has been in the family since. We are one of the 4 current land owners of this property and plan to keep the land in the family as long as we can. Our home was built in 2011 on part of the property. Since living here we have used the land for hiking, gardening, wood harvesting, selling Christmas trees, and now we are excited for our new adventure of opening a small part of our land for camping. We are excited for you to enjoy our land as much as we do.
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$25
 / night
100%
(18)

Allure Of The Woods Rustic Retreat

1 site · Lodging5 acres · Carlton, MN
When we purchased the parcels over twenty years ago from a family member it had been vacant for over 60 years. The first time we walked the acreage was on snowshoes and we spotted a porcupine snacking on a poplar tree. I thought, what a great name, Porcupine Trail. I knew then we were meant to share this with others. Over the years many friends and family have walked these woods saying the same, that we need to share this great spot. Once the City of Thomson, our little community is now Carlton and known as “The Gateway to Jay Cooke State Park”. We just call it home and look forward to sharing it with you. Learn more about this land: John Muir said everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and cheer and give strength to body and soul alike. Allure of the Woods Rustic Retreat invites you into the possibilities of experiencing this kind of rest and play. We are located just 20 miles south of Duluth MN nestled between Jay Cooke State Park and the Willard Munger State Trail. Close yet private, this 12x14 wall tent for two is perfect for those who appreciate privacy with the assurance that we're close by just in case. Your tent doors will open to a covered porch and five acres of mixed woods. The off grid tent is something between glamping and roughing it. The site includes a cart to transport your gear and supplies, privy, personal fire ring, picnic table, brick rocket stove and first bundle of firewood. You can bring your own MDA or USDA certified firewood or extra firewood is available for a reasonable cash purchase. Bundle includes wood, kindling and fire-starter. Or gather it on the forest floor for free. Inside your wall tent you'll find simple furnishings; a full size futon with linens, (you may prefer to bring your own pillow) rocker, table, chairs, a few basics for cooking over a campfire or your own camp stove and a wood stove for heat in cooler/cold seasons. There is no electricity or running water so come prepared. Artesian well water is tested every three months and provided for drinking and cooking. This is a ready to hit the woods or stay put campsite for adventurous or contemplative souls. Although welcome and open to anyone, this may not be for everyone. Keep in mind you'll be sharing the woods with a wide variety of wildlife including mice, skunks, coyotes and insects, including ticks and mosquitoes, so bring appropriate repellent and an adventurous soul. Our northern MN woods weather can vary from one day to the next. It’s a good idea to check the forecast and bring appropriate gear. Attractions Close By: A few minutes walk will put you on The Willard Munger State Trail. A short walk to an access trail or drive down the road will put you in Jay Cooke State Park. There you may enjoy 50 miles of historical and recreational trails of all kinds during all seasons. Some are designated for specific activities. An entrance fee applies if driving in. A few minutes drive in the opposite direction you'll see Swiftwater Adventures. Check out their website for offerings and online booking. Or, bring your own kayak, canoe or paddle board and a brief drive brings you to UMD's Kayak and Canoe Center Outpost. A short uphill portage to the access point and you'll be on the 339 acre Thomson Reservoir. A mile and a half away, downtown Carlton has The Street Car Kitchen and Pub, Red Dog drive thru coffee, Magnolia Cafe, Third Base Sports Bar, Carlton Meats and Grocery and a gas station with an ATM. Come and immerse yourself in what the north woods has to offer! A beautiful night sky, bird songs, coyote yips, and even the rumbling sounds and horn of a distant train that says Welcome to Carlton "The Gateway to Jay Cooke State Park". We just call it home and we’ll be happy to see you!
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$70
 / night

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Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field
Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

Forest camping near Duluth guide

Overview

Welcome to Hipcamp, your go-to website for camping options in the United States! Whether you're an outdoor enthusiast or just looking for a peaceful getaway, we've got you covered. With over 240 options near Duluth, Minnesota, nestled in the forest, you're sure to find the perfect spot to pitch your tent or park your RV. Looking for recommendations? Check out some of our top campsites like Balsam Ridge Retreat (506 reviews), Bad River Wilderness (158 reviews), and Stone Creek Farm (116 reviews). Our campsites offer popular amenities such as potable water, campfires, and toilets, so you can relax and enjoy your stay. And with activities like visiting historic sites, off-roading (OHV), and wildlife watching, boredom is simply not an option. Plus, with an average price per night of $32 and options as low as $5, you can have an incredible camping experience without breaking the bank. Start planning your adventure today at Hipcamp!

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