Gulch Lake Campground

100%

10 sites · RV, Tent

Gulch Lake Campground is within steps of three lakes—Nelson Lake, Lake 21, and Bass Lake—so take your pick! Launch your boat on the placid waters and spread out for a snack at one of the picnic tables on the shore. Hikers, there are miles and miles of trails to explore here, so pack some water and snacks and head out into the wild.

What this place offers

Campfire allowed

Pets allowed

No showers

Toilets

Potable water

Picnic tables

No sewer hookups

No electric hookups

First come, first served

RV, Tent

Explore 421 campgrounds near Paul Bunyan State Forest

Available campgrounds nearby

Top-rated for location, privacy, and amenities near Paul Bunyan State Forest

Paul’s Lakeside Cottage

100%

(51)

9.1mi from Gulch Lake Campground · 1 site

Very Quiet, Peaceful, Private, Off the Grid, Dark Sky, Wooded 36 acre+ homesteaded property with nice lakeshore guest cottage. Close to Itasca State Park- Headwaters of the Mississippi, Paul Bunyan State Forest, Nevis, Park Rapids, Dorset, Walker or Bemidji for Good Music, Food and Fun! Dock space for smaller fishing boats and close to many area lakes for good fishing. Close to the North Country National Scenic Trail for some great hiking. Or just stay put here in nature amongst its non-human inhabitants. We look forward to meeting YOU! ✌️Paul+Piper🐕

Pets

Toilets

Showers

Harvest Loon Camp

100%

(123)

43mi from Gulch Lake Campground · 1 site

📌Update: Cabin now complete with an indoor shower and toilet. ❄Cabin is now available year-round. 🌲 Picturesque lakeshore property located on 24 acres, with almost 2,000 feet of lake access right in front of the cabin. ⛵Lake public access is located at the end of the cabin driveway. Little Emily Lake Park is located 10.3 miles away from cabin. This park offers excellent swimming and Hiking Trails has public restrooms and a playground for kids - Address is 21517 Papoose Road, Emily, MN 56447 phone # (218) 824-1010 🏕 Serene, peaceful and unrivaled privacy. Water sports and trails for hiking and quads make Harvest Loon Camp the perfect spot to relaxation and fun. 😊Radiant heat, wood stove, air conditioning and fans. 🔥Wood available for use with woodstove and campfires. 🛌 Campers WILL NEED to provide their own bedding depending on their sleeping needs (pillows, linens, blankets). Accommodations include a bunk with two full beds stacked, a twin daybed and trundle (so two twin beds) and another full sized bed. All open concept. Also bring your own towels. 🍳 Kitchen has antique pots, pans, utensils, coffeepot, microwave, toaster, stove and refrigerator for your use. 🌟 Gorgeous furnished porch to watch wildlife. Grocery store within 5 miles. 🦆 This location is also perfect for horseback riding and snowmobiling and ice fishing. George lake is known to have nice sized pan fish.

Pets

Toilets

Showers

Safe And Sound In Nevis, MN

100%

(16)

16mi from Gulch Lake Campground · 2 sites

Come enjoy a relaxing vacation in our two beautiful lakeside cabins! Each cabin can accommodate up to 4 people. Full descriptions of each cabin can be found on each listing. Outside, enjoy a peaceful campfire in the fire pit, listen to the enchanting calls of loons, watch eagles and herons fishing, and relax while enjoying the vast variety of songbirds. At night, our dark skies let you see the Milky Way and countless stars and planets! Full disclosure, there isn't a television or wifi, so just take a technology break and get back to nature or bring a good book. Your own data plan on your mobile device will likely get reception, but we can't guarantee it. If time and weather permits, we would even be happy to give you a pontoon ride. Want to explore the area? Just a few miles away is the 49-mile multi-use Heartland Trail, where you can enjoy a quiet walk, run, or bike ride through a paved, wooded, level trail. Within ten miles are plentiful restaurants and stores in Park Rapids, Dorset, and Nevis. There are often music festivals throughout the summer, and several of the restaurants and bars host live music, some of which are played by Debbie, one of your two hosts! You can even take a 30-mile drive to Itasca State Park, home to the headwaters of the Mississippi River, where you can walk right across the headwaters!

Toilets

Showers

Campfires

Toad Creek Camping

39mi from Gulch Lake Campground · 5 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging

A century farm located in the heart of Minnesota lakes country. The property features a hobby farm, abundant wildlife, woods, fields, pastures, and ponds. Conveniently located near area lakes and trails, about 20 miles from the nearest town. My great-grandfather homesteaded this land in 1893. Today my four children are the fifth generation of our family to grow up on the farm. We are happy to share it with you during your stay and hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

Pets

Toilets

Campfires

Mikko Kamp on the 4th Crow

97%

(106)

19mi from Gulch Lake Campground · 1 site

Very private 4 acre campsite in stand of Norway Pines and Birch overlooking the 4th Crow Wing Lake. - NOTE: This is now (2023) a single site with two (2) power stands. Not off grid, but close to it. There is no potable water, just a peaceful Pine and Birch wooded area overlooking the lake. Ideal if you’re camping with friends/family. Pull your RV's in or pitch a tent and stay as long as you like. 8 miles south of Nevis in the Heartland Lakes area. Adjacent 8 acres of 'Common Use' woods and picnic area with dock for fishing. Or bring a canoe/Kayak to launch. 4th Crow is NOT a recreational lake, but great for fishing, waterfowl and wildlife spotting. Fire pit, picnic table and swing on site. 9 miles from Heartland Biking Trail and within 3 miles of OHV/Snowmobile trails access. Wonderful public swimming beach 3 miles away on Big Stony Lake.

Electrical hookup

Pets

RV There Yet Campground

98%

(29)

19mi from Gulch Lake Campground · 6 sites

The 80-acre property is carved out of a Norway pine plantation. Sites are approximately 10,000 square ft. in size with about 50 ft. of trees between each site for semi-privacy. We have tried to maintain a balance of nature while making the sites as RV friendly as possible. Although the property is located in the country, it is located along a state highway for easy access and there are three towns and many amenities and recreational venues within 15 minutes drive. Currently no hook-ups, but there is a yard hydrant and dump station. There are also portable restrooms on site. 

Pets

Sunset Pines MN

100%

(6)

29mi from Gulch Lake Campground · 35 sites · RVs, Lodging

Mike and Loellen discovered Ruttger’s Camping Resort in the winter of 2005 while driving around the area and scanning websites for trailers. We bought a trailer on a seasonal site and have thoroughly enjoyed our summers here ever since! Our sons grew up on the lake, boating and fishing and exploring the area and we have developed a wonderful lake-family. We have watched Bill and Candy Ruttger build the resort into the beautiful property that it is today and feel privileged to have the opportunity to now share it with you. Under our new ownership and with a new name, Sunset Pines MN in January 2023, we are eager to carry on the legacy created by our friends and mentors. We welcome you to enjoy our piece of “Up North” Minnesota lake-life with your family and friends, and don’t forget to enjoy a sunset or two! Mike & Loellen

Pets

Toilets

Full hookups

Fire Tower Pond

100%

(26)

19mi from Gulch Lake Campground · 1 site

Campsite is set next to a large pond, deep in the woods on 40 private acres. The pond is accessible for swimming/kayaking/canoeing. Beautiful Itasca State Park is directly across the road from the property with biking, hiking, nature drives, boating, fishing, equipment rentals, dining and more. Within a few miles are several local eateries. The area has many miles of ATV trails and the Heartland Bike Trail.

Pets

Campfires

Toilets

The Hippie Hideaway Camp & Trails

100%

(2)

36mi from Gulch Lake Campground · 1 site · Tent, RV

Welcome to The Hippie Hideaway. This is a place to slow down, breathe deep, and reconnect. My hope is that during your stay you feel free, relaxed, and completely re-energized. You’ll have a large, private open space for you and your family to enjoy time together—no crowds, no strangers, just nature and quiet. At night, you can take in the northern lights and enjoy incredible stargazing under wide open skies. The property features about a mile of walking trails that wind through peaceful sloughs and into open prairie, where you’ll see a variety of wildlife, butterflies, and beautiful native plants. Shell Lake and Island Lake are both just a few miles away, and Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge is nearby as well. For adventure lovers, the Smokey Hills and Two Inlets four-wheeling trails are close, and Itasca State Park is about a 45-minute drive. Our land offers several unique landscapes, making it a perfect setting for photos and quiet moments alike. You may also spot wildlife passing through the property, including deer, bear, otters, and raccoons. We’re so happy to share this special place with you—welcome to your hideaway.

Pets

Campfires

Picnic table

TriBirches Resort And Campground

100%

(10)

26mi from Gulch Lake Campground · 2 sites

Set along a quiet Minnesota lakeshore, our family-owned resort blends classic Up North cabin stays with light agrotourism and wide-open space to explore. Guests can choose from cozy cabins, tent sites, or RV sites, then spend their days swimming and fishing from the dock, paddling the lake with complimentary kayaks and pedal boats, or renting a boat for a longer adventure. Wander the grounds, gather around evening campfires, and visit the working barn, where chickens, sheep, and goats are part of daily life—an authentic farm presence that adds charm without feeling like a petting zoo. When you’re ready to mix in some play, enjoy our game room, indoor golf simulator, or a friendly match on the outdoor giant chess board. Mornings start slow with coffee and birdsong, days unfold with water time and wandering, and nights end under star-filled skies—perfect for travelers seeking nature, comfort, and a genuine rural experience.

Pets

Campfires

Toilets

I Live in the Country

98%

(32)

17mi from Gulch Lake Campground · 4 sites

This is home, a realization of a lifelong dream of living in the country. The land is magical. Our animals are our family. Learn more about this land: If you like privacy you'll love our 200 acre haven. Come up the long driveway and experience the spacious view of the open hay field. Camp in the open or tucked away in the trees. You choose the spot as long as it's not in the horse pasture, cow pasture when cows are in, or in the hay field when hay is long before it's cut. Hay field would be off limits roughly late June to Mid July during optimal growth time and cutting. Note: This is a primitive camping experience. We offer no amenities, no toilets, no water. We are a 20 minute drive from the North Entrance to Itasca State Park and the Headwaters of the Mississippi. LaSalle Lake State Recreation Area is also just a few minutes down the road from us. Also LaSalle Lake Recreation Area is only about six or seven miles down the road.

Pets

Fireside Among the Pines Retreat

33mi from Gulch Lake Campground · 1 site · Tent, RV

Escape to 50 acres of total privacy and enjoy a peaceful camping experience with just one exclusive campsite available on the entire property. Located on a quiet dead-end trail, this site offers extra seclusion with little to no through traffic. The land is home to abundant wildlife, including grouse, turkey, deer, bear, and a wide variety of birds—making it a perfect spot for nature lovers and wildlife watchers. Adventure is just minutes away. Located only five miles from the beautiful Crow Wing River, you will have easy access to excellent fishing, canoeing, kayaking, swimming, and tubing. Snowmobile and ATV trails are also just miles away for year-round outdoor fun. Canoe rentals are available nearby at Gloege’s, and Meech Bucking Bulls—just four miles away—hosts an exciting Bull Bash twice each summer. The nearby town of Nimrod offers a friendly bar and grill known for delicious burgers and cold drinks, along with a public swimming beach and playground. Unleashed pets are welcome, so bring your furry friends and enjoy the great outdoors together. To reach the site, go straight off 269th Ave onto the trail. Drive past the big red star and continue until you see the welcome sign on the right-hand side of the trail.

Pets

Campfires

Picnic table