Facility Details - BIRCH LAKE CAMPGROUND, MN

Overview

Birch Lake Campground is located in Superior National Forest near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, about 13 miles from Ely, Minnesota. It is an ideal place to relax while enjoying fishing, boating and other recreational activities. The campground has a main camping area, as well as 15 backcountry campsites on Birch Lake.

Natural Features:

Birch Lake covers 7,628 acres and is one of a series of lakes in the area. The campground lies in aspen and birch forest. Birds and wildlife are abundant.

Superior National Forest, located in northeastern Minnesota's Arrowhead Region, is comprised of 3-million acres. The forest spans 150 miles along the United States-Canada border.

Recreation:

Fishing, boating and canoeing are popular on Birch Lake. Anglers can use the boat ramp or try their luck from shore to catch northern pike, perch, crappie and walleye. There are no horsepower limitations for boats on the lake.

The shoreline is inviting for campers interested in canoeing. Canoe rentals are available from the campground concessionaire with a day's notice. Families also enjoy berry picking during the summer and early fall months.

View recreation guides and maps of hiking trails and canoe routes in the national forest.

Facilities:

The campground features shaded campsites, each with a picnic table, tent pad and campfire ring with grill. Campsites are organized into two loops, all near the water and well-separated by dense forest. The north loop also has a group site to accommodate up to 45 people with eight back-in parking spurs and an open play area. An additional 15 first-come, first-served primitive backcountry sites are also available.

Vault toilets and a hand pump for drinking water are provided, and firewood is available for purchase.

Nearby Attractions:

Numerous outdoor recreation opportunities lie within Superior National Forest's 77 lake accesses, 13 fishing piers, 10 swimming beaches and 22 picnic areas. The forest is also home to three scenic byways.

Campers can also explore the nearby Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Over 1-million acres in size, the Boundary Waters extends nearly 150 miles along the United States-Canada border and contains over 1,200 miles of canoe routes, 12 hiking trails and over 2,000 designated campsites.

Activities and Amenities

Within Facility
Berry Picking Biking Birding Boat Ramp Boating Campfire Rings Canoe Rentals Canoeing Drinking Water Educational Programs Firewood Fishing	Hiking Hunting Kayaking Lake Access Mountain Biking Picnic Area Recycling Swimming Tent Pads Trash Collection Vault Toilets Wildlife Viewing

Know Before You Go

$5/night fee will be collected for extra vehicles
Off-road and all-terrain vehicles not allowed during camping season
Click here to learn more about Superior National Forest

Because of its potential to carry invasive insects, absolutely no firewood is allowed from outside Minnesota or from a non-certified vendor. Visitors are allowed to use and possess firewood from trees other than ash gathered within 100 miles of Chippewa or Superior National Forests. Click here for more information.

Getting There:

GPS Info. (Latitude, Longitude):
47.75694, -91.78361
47°45'25"N, 91°47'1"W

From Ely, Minnesota, travel about 8 miles south on State Highway 1 toward Lake Superior, until Forest Road 429 (Little Lake Road). Turn right on Forest Road 429 and continue 4 miles to the campground entrance road. Turn left onto the campground road and continue 1 mile to the campground.