The best camping near Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness

Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness adventure.

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Community favorites near Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness

Top-rated campgrounds reviewed by the Hipcamp community.

  • Marko's grampa's cabin.
  • Marko's grampa's cabin.
  • Marko's grampa's cabin.
94%
(51)

Marko's grampa's cabin.

1 site · Lodging4 acres · Babbitt, MN
Our family has lived here on this property since Great Grandma Alma bought it in 1928. I am the fourth, raising the fifth generation of Carlson's living here. The log cabin was built by my grandfather, Oliver, in the 1950's and he lived there full time after he retired. The cabin is set apart from the two other homes on the property which is where our family lives full time. Birch Lake is over 6500 acres and stretches for 16 miles from our home to where HWY 1 passes over it. Most of the shoreline is federal and state land giving the lake a wild/undeveloped feel compared to more developed lakes in the area. It's known for producing walleye, northern pike, and crappie as well as other species of fish. SUMMER OF 2024 Update: The cabin will be under construction/improvement for this season. What this means is that only the main room will be available. We will be dismantling the back bedroom and old kitchen. This will impact your stay in terms of visible structural work to the cabin taking place but will not affect the main room or it's amenities. I will not be working on the cabin during any guest stays and will make sure the site is safe and clean for your stay with minimal indication work is going on. I'll make sure the main room of the cabin is clean and ready for your stay but the back bedroom will no longer be useable. The main room will still be bug free, dry, and have electricity. The grey couch is suitable for 1-2 people to sleep on, the beige couch pulls out a full/queen, and there is a cot for another. You may bring your own cot/sleeping pad or pitch a tent in the spacious and grassy lawn. Also note there is a new outhouse (the green one in pics). The old one is still pictured (hipcamp doesn't have a delete option) but not in use. Trust me, the new one is better. There is a small (12 foot) aluminum row boat and a pedalboat available for guests to use. What we provide: One room log cabin with guest only private beach. Electricity, outhouse, small kitchenette with limited utensils, fridge, small gas grille, microwave, toaster oven, hotplate, electric tea kettle, clean fitted sheets, and cot. What you'll need to bring: Sleeping bags/blankets, potable water or water treatment system, green propane cannister if you'd like to use the grille, charcoal if you'd like to use the larger grille, tp, etc. Please ask for more specifics. Can usually and am happy to accommodate.
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from 
$90
 / night
  • The Lodge of Whispering Pines
  • The Lodge of Whispering Pines
  • The Lodge of Whispering Pines
100%
(1)

The Lodge of Whispering Pines

11 sites · RVs5 acres · Ely, MN
Lodge of Whispering Pines There’s no summer memory better than those spent at the Lake. We still have beautiful Lakefront Cabins available at Lodge of Whispering Pines this summer, just waiting for you and your family to create unforgettable memories. Before you witness spectacular sunsets and views of Big Lake from your Lakefront cabin, you’ll be treated to a secluded drive through the Superior National Forest along the Echo Trail - Along granite cliff roadways that hug the edge of wilderness landscapes to you - you'll experience an awakening to your natural surroundings and an enlightening of your spirit. The noise, the crowds are left behind, and traffic seems nonexistent. Your vacation has already begun. Just twenty miles north of Ely a secluded private drive leads you further into the Superior National Forest to Lodge of Whispering Pines on Big Lake. Poised among tall pine, picturesque birch, spruce, balsam, and aspen, you realize you are encircled by the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and are now guests of the deer, moose, black bear, timber wolves, loons, and all the other wild creatures that inhabit northern Minnesota's truly natural park. This beautiful piece of earth hides a great deal of history in it's cabins, campsites, trails and what not. If you really want to find out about all the unbelievable stories, sit back in your Adirondack chair and listen to the whispers of the Pine trees. You will be surprised how much they can tell you! ​Our entire family (which includes moose, deer, timber wolves, bald eagles, black bears and other wild creatures) welcomes you to our paddler's and angler's paradise. ​This will be one of your most-memorable vacations: swim at our natural sand beach; participate in naturalist activities and children’s programs. Enjoy free use of the Adirondack chairs along the lake front, kayaks, canoes, even a traditional wood-fired Sauna. Leave the noise and the crowds behind. Big Lake, Clean Lake, Fun Lake, No Really--it's called Big Lake Our property is surrounded by the BWCAW (Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness). Enjoy activities like hiking, Biking & Stand up paddle boarding, Fishing and wildlife viewing. The photography during Fall is amazing!​Big Lake is 2000 acre and has numerous large islands and secluded bays - the shoreline has been virtually undeveloped. ​It is one of the top walleye fishing lakes in the state. Besides that Big Lake is filled with Northern Pike, Smallmouth Bass, and Jumbo Perch. If you are planning on visiting another lake while staying with us, we have good news for you. We are near Hegman Lake where centuries-old pictographs can be viewed and photographed. Check it out yourself and make new fantastic memories. Our Resort Privacy and comfort complement the natural beauty of the cabins. Whether you choose to be tucked away in the trees or nearer the natural sand swimming beach and playground, with the exception of towels, everything is included -- modern kitchen appliances, barbecue grills, picnic tables, and more. Each cabin is unique in amenities. Some feature decks in private wooded areas, screen porches, private docks, log construction, or fireplaces. Cabins range from one to three bedrooms (sleeping 3-10 people). All have full kitchens and baths, Charcoal Grills, Picnic tables, outdoor fire rings. and Minnesota's truly natural park. ​Moose, deer and other wild animals inhabit the trails and forests where earlier innkeepers corralled a stable of horses for their guests' riding pleasure. Unique to Big Lake, and its relationship to the wilderness, motorized boats and canoes are both allowed and available for our guests to use.
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from 
$38.61
 / night
  • Ready for some more canoeing.
  • Yurt filled with skiers
  • Ready for some more canoeing.
96%
(12)

Boundary Country Trekking

2 sites · LodgingGrand Marais, MN
For centuries the people of the Mongolian plateau have found yurts to be comfortable, convivial dwellings. These round, peaked-roofed, canvas-covered huts are warm and cozy. Over the past twenty years hundreds of skiers traveling the Banadad Ski Trail have found our yurts to be comfortable winter lodging. Now you can enjoy the comfort of a wilderness yurt all year round at the new Tall Pines Yurt. Do not forget to bring your sense of adventure. Inside the yurt Members of the Minnehaha Academy Ski Team The Tall Pines Yurt is located on the edge of the Boundary Waters near a stand of old growth white pines and on Hooker Lake, named by some comic loggers. Half of the lake is in the Boundary Waters. The Tall Pines, twenty-foot housekeeping yurt, is attractively furnished and is set-up to accommodate up to four people, sleeping on a futon and bunk beds. Additional cots or bunk beds can be brought in for larger groups. The yurt is heated by a wood stove / fireplace, has overhead gas lighting and a camp kitchen with pots, pans, dishes, utensils, cook stove, dining table and chairs. Ask us about making camp coffee. Outside is an attached deck. A firepit, charcoal grill and most importantly, a Finnish sauna are nearby. Outhouse is located near the yurt also. Hooker Lake is a natural environmental lake, requiring a significant setback for any structure. Over the years forest growth has occured around the shore, which has limited the visibility of the lake from the yurt. This lake is slowly turning into a bog and in the summer, it's surrounded by lots of bog flowers. It is a pretty lake, but not suitable for fishing or swimming. Yurters can drive over to the Bed & Breakfast and fish and swim in Little Ollie Lake or portage into a nearby lake. During the non-snow months you hike in three hundred feet from the summer parking area. The trail to the yurt connects to some of the finest mountain biking trails in the area. Hiking trails are just out the door and a canoe is provided for your use. During the winter the yurt is an exclusive silent sports accommodation, accessible by a 1-kilometer ski or snowshoe trek on a groomed trail from the Lace Ski Lake Trail or winter parking area. The eastern trailhead of the Banadad is 2 kilometers away by skis. For the adventuresome skier, Boundary Country Trekking offers Yurt to Yurt Skiing between the Tall Pines and Croft Yurts along the Boundary Waters longest tracked trail: the Banadad. In the winter, we bring in your luggage and food containers. In the summer, you can drive to a parking area near the yurt if you drive a high clearance vehicle. We supply and bring in your water.You bring in your drinking water containers. Year around, we recommend a picnic cooler to hold your food and ice. Ice is available at a local grocery, a three mile drive. During the winter, the Tall PInes yurt is not available on weekends or holidays, until one week before a weekend or holiday. The Tall PInes yurt is available for yurt to yurt resevations only for weekends and holidays. Pets welcome at the Tall Pines Yurt for a nominal fee. All our accommodations, including the Tall Pines Yurt, are smoke free. Because the yurts are located deep in the woods you might be visited by mice. We keep traps in the yurts and we run the mice trap line often.
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from 
$121
 / night
  • Hoodoo Valley Farm
  • Looking south
  • Hoodoo Valley Farm
86%
(22)

Hoodoo Valley Farm

3 sites · RVs98 acres · Tower, MN
Our farm was originally a homestead at the turn of the last century. We purchased 65 acres of the property with its original house completed in 1905. Later we purchased an additional 33 acres from the grandchildren of the original owners. We have lived here since 1984 and are raising the youngest of 12 adopted children. We also raise Shetland Sheep, chickens, guinea fowl, ducks and grow an acre garden. Our land is very diverse, borders a river and is bisected by a spring fed stream. We are two miles from a town of 500. We have several options for tent campers with varying degrees of isolation from our family life. If you have an rv and want to plug in, you will be close to our house or sauna and in the midst of our family life which includes children, grandchildren, dogs and cats. We are a farm, so there are farm animals in pens and pastures. Our plug ins include an adaptor but we do not have a dedicated 30 amp hook up, a permanent water hook up or a dump station. The plug ins available will run your air conditioner without a problem or a microwave, but not both at the same time. There is a hose available to fill your tank. If our sauna is hot you are welcome to take a sauna after our family bathes. The sauna is not lit every night and takes several hours to heat. Because of Covid 19 we do not allow campers in our house to use our kitchen or shower.Learn more about this land:We have 100 acres. A small part of it is a sustainable organic farm and 65 acres is wild land with great diversity. We have both a river and a creek that run through our land, a cedar swamp, giant white and Norway pine, a beaver dam, 2 miles of cross country running trails, a traditional Ojibwe longhouse, two meadows, a spring fed pond and miles of public trails bordering our property. We live 4 miles from Lake Vermilion State Park and 3 miles from a public beach on the same lake. An old railroad grade bisects our property and is a good hiking and mountain bike trail.
Potable water
Toilets
Campfires
from 
$30
 / night

Top-rated campgrounds near Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness

  • Private Lutsen Forest Camp
  • Private Lutsen Forest Camp
  • Private Lutsen Forest Camp
100%
(6)

Private Lutsen Forest Camp

1 site · RV, Tent5 acres · Lutsen, MN
Property is 5 acres on private shared road. Use of well and wood-burning sauna, and deck and furniture of our tiny home included. Outhouse on site. Centrally located on the North Shore and surrounded by Superior National Forest - - 20 minutes from both Grand Marais and Tofte. Near snowmobile trails, Superior Hiking Trail, Lutsen town, Fika Coffee shop, grocery store, two maple syrup properties, mountain bike and fat bike trails, hiking and xc ski trails. Minutes from Caribou and Ward Lakes. Check out the new world class Jackpot MTB single-track trails!
Pets
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from 
$105
 / night
  • Wooded camping in Babbitt MN
  • Wooded camping in Babbitt MN
  • Wooded camping in Babbitt MN
100%
(4)

Wooded camping in Babbitt MN

5 sites · RVs, Tents36 acres · Babbitt, MN
Visit our rustic property which offers multiple camp sites in a wood-lined area in our very own backyard. Sizable, maintained sites are secluded and away from our home. They include a fire pit, and some have picnic tables available. Guests are welcome to choose any of the available camp sites upon arrival. RV ready. Sites do not include hook-ups/ electricity. Please note that we do not provide bathroom facilities at this time, visitors must provide their own and that sites are near our track, which is not for use. Camp 15 mi. from Ely MN, gateway to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The property is only a minute from popular ATV trail access, and just minutes away from public lake access for fishing, boating and more. Be our guest and please allow us to share our piece of beautiful Northern Minnesota with you!
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from 
$37
 / night
  • Old Finnish Homestead
  • Old Finnish Homestead
  • Old Finnish Homestead
100%
(8)

Old Finnish Homestead

2 sites · RVs, Tents38 acres · Brimson, MN
Looking for a private retreat to get away from it all? This 38 acre property is just the spot! The pine lined driveway guides your way to the homestead or your campsite. Step inside the homestead and you will find turn of the century, farmhouse charm with a large farmhouse table to gather in kitchen, stove, island, hardwood floors and original to the homestead windows. Cozy up by the wood burning fireplace in the living room with salvaged barn wood walls and beamed ceiling details. If camping is more your style you will find an easy to back into site located just at the end of our beautiful driveway. The campsites are gravel and are well marked for easy set up. All campers and guests at the homestead will have access to the outhouse on the property. We take pride in keeping our outhouse very clean. Across the dirt road you will find the Historic Toimi School and Rest Area. At Toimi School you will have access to potable water and pit toilets. We do not have running water at the homestead, so the closest potable water source is Toimi School. Wild raspberries line the homestead and the road, bring your bucket to fill as you walk over to fill your jug of water. We have a stream that runs thru our 38-acre property, if you care to hike along any of the trails that have been cut you may find it! We have Adirondack chairs for lounging and an outdoor play kitchen with toys for the kids. The fire pit on the homestead is shared among the campers and the homestead guests. Feel free to start a fire in the pit and pull up a chair. Enjoy the company of your fellow camper! The homestead is located in the perfect spot for the North Shore explorer! 1 hour 18 minutes to Ely, 30 minutes to Two Harbors and Silver Bay, 1 hour 50 minutes to Grand Marais. Countless other stops along the way including Black Beach, Gooseberry Falls, Split Rock Lighthouse and Iona's (Pink) Beach.
Pets
Potable water
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from 
$31.50
 / night

The best camping near Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness guide

Overview

About

Embark on a Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness camping journey in Minnesota, where pristine lakes and pine forests create a serene backdrop. As you paddle through the interconnected waterways, the tranquility of nature surrounds you. Voyageurs National Park is within reach, adding more natural wonders to your journey. A camping trip in the Boundary Waters is a unique outdoor adventure!

Nearby attractions

  • Come enjoy camping in the heart of nature! Superior National Forest hosts abundant camping spots, perfect for fishing, hiking, and exploring picturesque landscapes. Truly a gem in Minnesota's wilderness.
  • A haven for campers seeking solitude and serenity. With stunning lake views, hiking trails, and spacious campsites, Bear Head Lake State Park promises an unforgettable camping adventure.
  • Get ready for a waterfall-filled camping experience! Gooseberry Falls State Park offers scenic campsites along the north shore, making it ideal for hikers, bird-watchers, and those who appreciate Mother Nature's artistry.
  • Duluth perfectly blends city life with the great outdoors. Offering waterfront camping near the city, it's a unique spot to pitch a tent, while still having easy access to urban amenities.
  • Enchanting waterfalls, miles of hiking trails, and breathtaking Lake Superior views make Tettegouche State Park a top choice for camping. It's a magical spot to connect with nature and make beautiful memories.

Top parks near Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness

Big Bay State Park
Twin Lakes State Park
Moose Lake State Park
McLain State Park
Baraga State Park
Frontenac State Park
Buckhorn State Park
Indian Lake State Park

Top cities near Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness

Duluth
Superior
Houghton
Hibbing
St Paul
Minneapolis
Escanaba
Blaine

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