U.S. Forest Service · Superior National Forest · MN

Birch Lake Campground

Picture of table with lake in the background.Photo · FS
OpenSeason 05-05 – 10-21
ReservableAccess
32Sites
66 ftMax rig

The place

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. 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. Families also enjoy berry picking during the summer and early fall months. Keep reading

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. The south loop has two camper cabins. These cabins are two room cabins with two sets of bunk beds (4 beds) in the back bedroom, and a main area with a table, chairs, and futon in the front room. The cabins sleep up to 6 persons and offer the indoor/outdoor camping experience with a front porch. A heater is provided for those cooler Minnesota nights. Please note: guests must supply their own linens and supplies; no electricity, water or indoor kitchen. Vault toilets and a hand pump for drinking water are provided, and firewood is available for purchase. 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. Contact Info For facility specific information, please call (218) 365-2963. 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.

The sites · 32

LoopSiteTypeMax rigElectricADA
North001standard nonelectric45 ftyes
North002standard nonelectric49 ftyes
North003standard nonelectric48 ft
North004standard nonelectric58 ft
North005standard nonelectric54 ft
North006standard nonelectric38 ft
North007standard nonelectric54 ft
North008standard nonelectric53 ft
North009standard nonelectric45 ft
North010standard nonelectric42 ft
North011 HOSTstandard nonelectric53 ft
North012standard nonelectric40 ft
North013standard nonelectric50 ft
North014standard nonelectric66 ft
North015group standard nonelectric64 ft
South017standard nonelectric40 ft
South018standard nonelectric56 ft
South019standard nonelectric39 ft
South020standard nonelectric55 ft
South021standard nonelectric48 ft
South023standard nonelectric50 ft
South024standard nonelectric49 ft
South025standard nonelectric14 ft
South026standard nonelectric54 ft
South027standard nonelectric48 ft
South028standard nonelectric48 ft
South029standard nonelectric30 ft
South030standard nonelectric57 ft
South031standard nonelectric36 ft
South032standard nonelectric21 ft
SouthPopple Cabincabin nonelectricyes
SouthTamarak Cabincabin nonelectricyes

Booking

183 daysBooking window before arrival

Recreation.gov default: most campsites can be booked six months prior to arrival date. Most campgrounds go on sale at 7am PT / 8am MT / 10am ET, but not always; check the facility Seasons and Fees tab. Some locations also offer shorter supplemental booking windows.

Book on recreation.gov

Who runs it

Operated by Vista Recreation, a private concessionaire, under permit from the agency.

SRC · Operator link · 2026-08-24

Your representative

This campground sits in MN-08. This member’s public-lands record →

SRC · U.S. Census TIGER · MTJP Scorecard
Birch Lake Campground — Minnesota | CAMPANAC