Facility Details - SAWBILL LAKE, MN

Overview

Sawbill Lake Campground has immediate access to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, a beautiful, peaceful and wild natural feature of Minnesota's Superior National Forest. The campground acts as a convenient base camp for exploring the nearby wilderness.

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. Visitors can find recreation opportunities year-round, including travel in the famed Boundary Waters.

Natural Features:

Sawbill Lake is nestled in a thick pine forest that gives campsites excellent privacy. Birds and wildlife are abundant, from moose and bear to bald eagles and loons. Wildflowers add bright colors to the landscape in warmer months.

The campground sits on a hill above Sawbill Lake. The 765-acre lake is within the Boundary Waters.

Recreation:

This facility draws canoe enthusiasts who seek a quiet and convenient area from which to access the surrounding wilderness. Day and overnight use of the Boundary Waters requires a permit.

The campground concessionaire, Sawbill Canoe Outfitters, provides a one-stop shop for canoeists of all levels within walking distance of the campground. Canoe rentals, permits and guided canoe trips are available.

Campers who wish to spend time relaxing at the campground can fish for northern pike and bass; hike, bike, picnic and attend educational programs.

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

Facilities:

Sawbill Lake is comprised of two loops with a total of 51 campsites, 27 of which can be reserved (others are first-come, first-served). Campsites can easily accommodate large motorhomes and RVs. Some of the sites offer a partial lake view through the forest.

The campground is equipped with picnic tables and campfire rings with grills, as well as vault toilets, a dump station, drinking water and trash and recycling bins.

Nearby Attractions:

Sawbill Canoe Outfitters maintains a store with showers, laundry, fishing licenses, bait and tackle, ice, grocery and convenience items, canoe and camping gear, rentals and a pay telephone.

Over 1 million acres in size, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness contains over 1,200 miles of canoe routes, 12 hiking trails and over 2,000 designated campsites.

Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness

Additional sites of interest

Activities and Amenities

Within Facility
Bait Shop Biking Birding Boat Rentals Campfire Rings Camping Supplies Canoe Rentals Canoeing Concessions Drinking Water Dump Station Educational Programs Firewood Fishing Fishing Pier Gift Shop Grocery Store Hiking	Host Hunting Ice Kayaking Lake Access Laundry Facilities Parking Area Pay Phone Picnic Area Recreation Programs Recycling Scenic Drive Self Pay Station Shuttle Bus Service Trash Collection Vault Toilets Wildlife Viewing
Within 10 Miles
Mountain Biking

Know Before You Go

Traveling within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness requires a permit; day use requires a self-issued permit; overnight use requires a permit from the quota system
Limit of two vehicles per campsite, not including trailers; $8 fee for second vehicle will be collected on-site; free public parking lot is available
Be bear aware; keep all food out of site in approved containers or locked inside a hard-sided vehicle and remove all food from area after eating
Superior National Forest website

Because of its potential to carry invasive insects, absolutely no firewood is allowed from outside of 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):
47.86306, -90.88528
47°51'47"N, 90°53'7"W

The campground is located north of Tofte, Minnesota. Travel to Tofte via Highway 61 along Lake Superior's north shore. In Tofte, turn north (away from Lake Superior) on Sawbill Trail (CCHS 2). Follow Sawbill Trail 24 miles until it ends at the entrance to the campground.