Discover the best forest campgrounds near Ely, Minnesota

96% (300 reviews)

Popular camping styles for Ely

Community favorites near Ely

Public campgrounds near Ely

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Fall Lake Campground

64 sites · RVs, Tents In Superior National Forest

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South Kawishiwi River Campground

32 sites · RVs, Tents In Superior National Forest

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Windy Lake Rustic Campground

1 site · RV, Tent In Superior National Forest

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Cadotte Lake Campground

10 sites · RVs, Tents In Superior National Forest

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Eckbeck Campground

31 sites · RVs, Tents In Finland State Forest

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Tettegouche Camp

4 sites In Tettegouche State Park

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Sawbill Lake Campground

27 sites · RVs, Tents In Superior National Forest

How beautiful is the campground? I took this photo behind a latrine. You'll like it here.

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Finland Campground

39 sites · RVs, Tents In Finland State Forest

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Whiteface Reservoir Campground

40 sites · RVs, Tents In Superior National Forest

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Bear Head Lake Campground

74 sites · RVs, Tents In Bear Head Lake State Park

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Lake Superior Cart-in Campground

13 sites In Tettegouche State Park

Tettegouche State Park boasts some of the most incredible bluffs in Minnesota. Hike along the Superior Hiking Trail to Bean & Bear Lakes or Mount Trudee for some of the areas best scenes.

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Tettegouche Baptism River Campground

28 sites · RVs, Tents In Tettegouche State Park

6 top forest campgrounds near Ely

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Cabin O' Pines

19 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents25 acres · Orr, MN

Northern Minnesota Family Fishing Resort Enjoy all the best of Northern Minnesota at Cabin O Pines. Wake up every morning to hear the sounds of local wildlife, and sit down every night to warm up by the campfire. While staying at Cabin O’ Pines, enjoy fun beach activities, or rent one of our Cabin O’ Pines marine rentals and get out on the lake. Whatever the occasion, you are sure to have a memorable Northern Minnesota experience.

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Wooded camping in Babbitt MN

5 sites · RVs, Tents36 acres · Babbitt, MN

Visit our rustic property which offers multiple camp sites in a wood-lined area in our very own backyard. Sizable, maintained sites are secluded and away from our home. They include a fire pit, and some have picnic tables available. Guests are welcome to choose any of the available camp sites upon arrival. RV ready. Sites do not include hook-ups/ electricity. Please note that we do not provide bathroom facilities at this time, visitors must provide their own and that sites are near our track, which is not for use. Camp 15 mi. from Ely MN, gateway to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The property is only a minute from popular ATV trail access, and just minutes away from public lake access for fishing, boating and more. Be our guest and please allow us to share our piece of beautiful Northern Minnesota with you!

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Blue Pony Acres

3 sites · Tents6 acres · Eveleth, MN

Welcome to Blue Pony Acres. Thirty eight years ago we bought the remaining acreage and buildings from a northern Minnesota dairy farm. We have always enjoyed sharing our beautiful piece of the planet with friends. We want to share the beauty we experience every day with you. Leave your cubicle and the city life for a short respite in the north woods and enjoy one of our campsites. Bring your kids, your dog, camera, canoe, kayaks, and bikes. Pitch a tent or swing a hammock in the pines. Enjoy your private campfire while you hear the stars sing, watch the northern lights dance and count the shooting stars. On a clear night you might see satellites pass overhead. Lay your sleeping bag on the ground, snuggle in with hot chocolate and smores and watch the night light show in comfort. After a long day of hiking, biking, kayaking, fishing or photography cook over your private campfire. The firewood is free! Exercise and walk your leashed dog in the state land adjacent to your campsite. A private composting toilet is available at each campsite (we do not have vault toilets), We are 3.5 hours north of Minneapolis, MN., and one hour north of Duluth, MN. The Saint Louis River carry in landing is only 3.2 miles from your site. A 5 mile drive gets you to the Mesabi Trial, over 160 miles of paved hiking and biking trail stretching from the Mississippi River on the west almost to the boundary waters and Ely, MN on the east. Local lakes within a few minute drive have public landings for boat launch and canoe carry in for your boating and fishing enjoyment. The famous Sax-Zim Bog is within a half hour drive and a great place for wildlife photography, and they have an interpretive center and very nice volunteers to help you identify wildlife. We’re about 5 miles south of the United Sates Hockey Hall of Fame; a great day trip for you and your sports minded children. A few miles further and you’re outside the doors of the Natural Harvest Food Co-op; a great shop for organic foods. Get local fresh food for your evening meal. Sneak into Lisa’s raspberry patch for “desert” or pick some hopps from the back fence in September and take them with you for your next home beer batch. I’m told they’re “Cascade Hopps”. They have a grapefruit taste. Mmm good! We invite you to join us. Bring your camping gear, including camp cook stove (sometimes we’re under a fire ban). Ask your dog to bring it’s leash, yes we have a leash law. Warm clothes and light clothing as the weather changes. Rain gear. Your favorite bug repellent. Good hiking boots. Don’t forget bikes, canoes, kayaks, cameras, fishing gear, and maybe some band aids. Come to unplug and unwind and enjoy the clean air and sweet smell of the north woods. Come on up North! Come on up North!

Silver Rapids Lodge

6 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents40 acres · Ely, MN

Located just 4 miles outside of Ely (on the edge of the Boundary Waters), Silver Rapids Lodge is located on a vast private peninsula with water on three sides, allowing for some of the best fishing around! We have electric/water sites, and full hookup sites available. Tent and van camping is fine by us. Bring your boat...bring your canoe! Heading in the boundary waters? We've got parking packages, too.

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Luna Light Trails

3 sites · RVs, Tents20 acres · Makinen, MN

Come walk or bike our emerald aisles! We have five miles of groomed trails that lead through state land to the Mud Hen Creek! Bring your kayak and pole! By the creek we have a few beaver lodges and so much wildlife to admire! As you trek along Silver Ridge Canyon, don't be surprised by the sudden flight of grouse along this trail! Visit Scout Hill for a sunny afternoon picnic; the cedar trees will lead you there. If you hear knocking, you will see Mr. Woodpecker enjoying his lunch on a nearby birch tree! Our campsites are nestled underneath a canopy of mixed wood forest. We have birch, poplar, maple, and a variety of pine. Nearby you will find our newly finished outhouse, complete with a portable shower and natural light. You will have access to parking near or next to your site with plenty of space to spread out and enjoy! Our property features a beautiful variety of trees and plenty of trails throughout our land with wildlife you might see or hear. It might be the hoot of an owl or the drum of a grouse! You will also hear the "buck wheat" and the "chee-chee" of our guineas calling for each other. Our beautiful forest is our main feature. Since 95% of our land is wooded, we enjoy the great beauty and majesty of the trees. giant is hidden on the northeastern side of our property. His beautiful branches tower over our trails and we have cleared a spot there to rest. His lovely "Princess" is near the back of the main house. She is surrounded by strong pines that stand guard through our long cold winters. Our property extends, via trail, to state land and the Mud Hen Creek. The views are breathtaking! Please come and bring your family and friends! Our campsites' proximity would create a great weekend getaway for a retreat event or a family reunion, as well as a quiet romantic weekend! Off site: We have Long Lake public access 5.8 miles down our road. Mud Hen Lake, Half Moon Lake, Pleasant Lake, Elliot Lake (all with public access) are just a few within a 15 minute drive. We are also within an hour drive from either Duluth or Two Harbors. The Range Cities are charming and you could visit several in one day. Other wonderful things to do in this area are walking or biking the Mesabi Trail. The Redhead Mt. Bike Park is within 45 minutes. The Soudan Underground Mine will be open summer of 2024! There are many local museums, parks, and more to discover on the Iron Range! Here at home we raise chickens, ducks, and guinea fowl. We also have a Catahola Leopard dog named Hickory. She enjoys roaming our Luna Light Trails on the off season. When I was a child, I lived on a church camp property in Uruguay, South America. This plot of land had a grove of the most beautiful, tall, eucalyptus trees in the neighborhood. These trees were the home to Monk Parakeets. These small green parrots are the only members of the parrot family to build stick nests and to nest colonially. Needless to say, they were very loud, but one of my favorite childhood memories! This little plot on the Minnesota map has been our home for the last three and a half years. We have enjoyed our woods and so will you!

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Marko's grampa's cabin.

1 site · Lodging4 acres · Babbitt, MN

Our family has lived here on this property since Great Grandma Alma bought it in 1928. I am the fourth, raising the fifth generation of Carlson's living here. The log cabin was built by my grandfather, Oliver, in the 1950's and he lived there full time after he retired. The cabin is set apart from the two other homes on the property which is where our family lives full time. Birch Lake is over 6500 acres and stretches for 16 miles from our home to where HWY 1 passes over it. Most of the shoreline is federal and state land giving the lake a wild/undeveloped feel compared to more developed lakes in the area. It's known for producing walleye, northern pike, and crappie as well as other species of fish. SUMMER OF 2024 Update: The cabin will be under construction/improvement for this season. What this means is that only the main room will be available. We will be dismantling the back bedroom and old kitchen. This will impact your stay in terms of visible structural work to the cabin taking place but will not affect the main room or it's amenities. I will not be working on the cabin during any guest stays and will make sure the site is safe and clean for your stay with minimal indication work is going on. I'll make sure the main room of the cabin is clean and ready for your stay but the back bedroom will no longer be useable. The main room will still be bug free, dry, and have electricity. The grey couch is suitable for 1-2 people to sleep on, the beige couch pulls out a full/queen, and there is a cot for another. You may bring your own cot/sleeping pad or pitch a tent in the spacious and grassy lawn. Also note there is a new outhouse (the green one in pics). The old one is still pictured (hipcamp doesn't have a delete option) but not in use. Trust me, the new one is better. There is a small (12 foot) aluminum row boat and a pedalboat available for guests to use. What we provide: One room log cabin with guest only private beach. Electricity, outhouse, small kitchenette with limited utensils, fridge, small gas grille, microwave, toaster oven, hotplate, electric tea kettle, clean fitted sheets, and cot. What you'll need to bring: Sleeping bags/blankets, potable water or water treatment system, green propane cannister if you'd like to use the grille, charcoal if you'd like to use the larger grille, tp, etc. Please ask for more specifics. Can usually and am happy to accommodate.

Nearby parks

Explore the area’s public lands.

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Superior National Forest

Tettegouche State Park

Silver Bay, Minnesota

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(9)

Bear Head Lake State Park

Soudan, Minnesota

100%

(2)

George H. Crosby Manitou State Park

Finland, Minnesota

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Kabetogama State Forest

Orr, Minnesota

Cloquet Valley State Forest

Rice Lake, Minnesota

Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

Forest camping near Ely guide

Overview

Looking to escape to the forest near Ely, Minnesota? Hipcamp has over 105 camping options to choose from, each nestled in the beautiful forest terrain. With an average price per night of $35 and options as low as $13, there's something for every budget. Check out top campsites like Balsam Ridge Retreat (506 reviews), Camp Floodwood (130 reviews), and Woods and Meadows Farm (88 reviews) to see why they're so highly rated. Plus, enjoy popular amenities like potable water, campfires, and toilets, and take part in activities such as boating, biking, and off-roading (OHV). Get ready to experience the great outdoors in style!