Clubhouse Lake

Chippewa National Forest

Clubhouse Lake Campground is located on its peaceful namesake in the beautiful Chippewa National Forest. Visitors enjoy the area for its fishing and canoeing opportunities in a scenic natural setting. Clubhouse Lake has limited cell phone service, giving it a remote feeling and offering a tranquil retreat from a connected world. The campground lies off 31 miles north of Grand Rapids, MN and just over 8 miles east of Marcell, MN off of MN State Highway 38 - the nation's first National Scenic Byway, known as "The Edge of the Wilderness."

The campground offers 28 reservable sites and 19 first-come, first-served, single-unit campsites. Each site is equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring. Two vault toilets and two hand pumps for drinking water are provided.

The campground is patrolled regularly by Forest Service personnel and Itasca County law enforcement officers.

Need to Know

Fee includes one camping unit (camper, RV, pop-up, tent) per site. Double occupancy is not permitted on single unit sites; on large sites double occupancy is permitted. The second occupant must pay the full nightly amount for each night of stay by using a fee envelope at the entrance kiosk. Please read the fee board upon entering the campground to see what qualifies for single and double occupancy.
Minnesota is a Bear Aware state. Campers must keep coolers and other bear attractants inside hard-sided campers or in vehicles when not attended, including overnight. Black bears are present and active within the campground area. Feeding any wildlife, including hanging bird feeders, is strictly prohibited.

Several bear disturbances were reported in 2024.
Some important campground rules:

- Quiet hours are from 10pm – 6am. Generators cannot be run during this time. If you have a medical condition that requires powered equipment, please plan accordingly with battery backup.

- Pets are welcome but must remain on a leash 6' or shorter in length at all times. Pets are not allowed in beach areas.

- Campfires cannot be left unattended. They must be extinguished before the campsite is vacated.

- Fireworks, including sparklers, are not allowed.

- Cutting/damaging live vegetation is not allowed. You may gather dead and downed wood for campfires if it fits within the fire ring.

- The use of power saws, including electric chainsaws, is strictly prohibited.

All regulations are found under 36 CFR 261 and are punishable by fines.
Off-highway vehicle use is permitted only to enter and exit the campground and must adhere to the speed limit of 5 mph. Operators must adhere to state OHV laws.
Bundled firewood is no longer available in Chippewa National Forest campgrounds. Firewood may be available for sale at local vendors, or may be brought from home if within 50 miles of the campground. You may also cut dead and downed wood in the forest without a permit as long as it will be used in the campground. Chainsaw use (gas and electric) is not permitted in the campground.
Reservations must be made at least 4 days in advance. After this window, sites are considered first-come first-serve.

Customers with reservations may change to an open non-reservable site after arrival - please see the campground host as well as a sign at the entrance kiosk for more information. If you would like more site-specific information, call the Deer River Ranger District at 218-246-2123 before making a reservation.

First-come, first-serve sites may be available after the reservation season.
Click here for more information on the Chippewa National Forest.

Natural Features

A beautiful stand of 200-year-old red and white pine trees cover the campground on the western shore of Clubhouse Lake.

Nearby Attractions

The Edge of the Wilderness Discovery Center is located a half-mile north of Marcell. It is a must-see for anyone camping in the area. The brand new facility offers many excellent displays, a gift shop, and several weekly naturalist programs.

Recreation

Clubhouse Lake has excellent water quality and is about 90 feet deep, providing great fishing opportunities for northern pike, bass and panfish. Swimming, canoeing and kayaking are very popular activities on the lake. The Rice River Canoe Route starts its journey to the Big Fork River from waters that flow into Clubhouse Lake.

A sandy swimming beach, an accessible fishing pier, and a day use area with horshoe pits are located within the campground at the water's edge.

Contact Information

Default

1235 DIVISION ST. DEER RIVER MN 56636

Phone Number

For campground inquiries, please call: 218-246-2123

Rental Options

Learn more about gear rental options for your trip

Driving Directions

From the south, travel on Minnesota State Highway 38 from Grand Rapids to Marcell. Turn right on County Road 45, just north of Marcell, and continue five miles east. Then travel three miles north on Forest Road 2181 to the campground.

Available Campsites

Photo Gallery

Camp, RV, and Explore Outdoors

Recreation.gov is your gateway to explore America's outdoor and cultural destinations in your zip code and across the country. We provide tools and tips to discover new adventures through a one-stop shop for inspiration and ideation, trip planning, information sharing, and reservations. Find incredible places and experiences that help you bring home a story through Recreation.gov!