Deer Lake
Chippewa National Forest
Deer Lake campground is located on the west shore of Cut Foot Sioux Lake, next to Lake Winnibigoshish, and is split into two separate loops. North Deer Lake campground has 17 sites; South Deer Lake has 31 campsites. A boat ramp is centrally located between the loops and provides lake access via Biauswah Creek. Visitors come to the area for boating, walleye, northern, sunfish, and crappie fishing, and beautiful scenery. The 26-mile Cut Foot Sioux National Recreation Trail runs through the Deer Lake campgrounds and is designated for hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking.
The Chippewa National Forest and the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe work together to co-steward resources - making the Forest a great place to recreate as well as a special place where cultural and traditional resources are protected and preserved and the Band’s treaty rights are respected.
The campground offers several single-unit campsites, each equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring.
Vault toilets and handpumps for drinking water are provided. There are no electric hook ups in the campground.
Firewood is available from local vendors.
Need to Know
Fee includes one camping unit 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.
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.
- Off-highway vehicles are not permitted on Eagle Nest Road. If desiring to use OHVs, vehicle must be trailered to a road where OHV use is permitted.
All regulations are found under 36 CFR 261 and are punishable by fines.
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.
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 Itasca County. 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.
Don't move firewood: To limit the spread of invasive tree-killing pests, firewood from outside the area is not permitted. Some states have quarantines and may confiscate your firewood. Please help protect our forests from invasive species by obtaining your firewood at or near your camping destination and burning it on-site. Visit dontmovefirewood.org for more informatio n.
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.
For more information on tribal campping, click here.
Natural Features
A sandy swimming beach is located at North Deer Lake campground.
North Deer Loop is covered by a hardwood forest of maple and oak, with some mature pine trees scattered throughout the site. South Deer Loop is forested with mature red and white pines.
The Cut Foot Sioux area is home to a variety of waterfowl and birds of prey, including loons, osprey, and bald eagles. The much larger Lake Winnibigoshish is accessible by boat and within sight of these two campgrounds.
Nearby Attractions
Down the road, East Seelye Bay offers a large picnic area, boat landing with dock and a swimming beach.
Recreation
Boating, swimming, and fishing are popular activities on Cut Foot Sioux Lake. A boat ramp is centrally located between the campground's two loops and provides lake access via Biauswah Creek. A large swimming beach is located at the North Deer Loop and a smaller beach is located at South Deer Loop. Boats may be moored offshore.
Miles of trails in the area provide great hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, and birding opportunities. The 26-mile Cut Foot Sioux National RecreationTrail runs through the campground and connects with the Simpson Creek Trail. Off-highway vehicles, including ATVs and UTVs, may be brought to the campground. However, OHVs must be trailered to roads legal for riding outside the campground. OHV use is not permitted on Eagle Nest Road.
Cut Foot Sioux Lake is located next to Lake Winnibigoshish, which can be accessed from Cut Foot Sioux. Lake Winnie offers excellent fishing opportunities for walleye, northern, panfish, and muskie. It is one of Minnesota's premier fisheries. Boating and water skiing are popular activities.
Contact Information
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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
Take Highway 46 northwest from Deer River, MN. Turn on Eagle Nest Road (Old CR 33) and travel 4 miles west. You will pass East Seelye and West Seelye Campgrounds. Deer Lake Campground is on the left. North Deer is first and South Deer is another half-mile down the road.
Available Campsites
- Site 001S, Loop SOUTH, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 006S, Loop SOUTH, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 024S, Loop SOUTH, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 004N, Loop NORTH, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 016S, Loop SOUTH, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 008S, Loop SOUTH, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 005N, Loop NORTH, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 002N, Loop NORTH, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 009N, Loop NORTH, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 002S, Loop SOUTH, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 007S, Loop SOUTH, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 006N, Loop NORTH, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 010S, Loop SOUTH, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 015N, Loop NORTH, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 005S, Loop SOUTH, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 022S, Loop SOUTH, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 008N, Loop NORTH, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 018S, Loop SOUTH, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 015S, Loop SOUTH, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site X, Loop MANAGEMENT SITES, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 004S, Loop SOUTH, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 020S, Loop SOUTH, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 023S, Loop SOUTH, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 003N, Loop NORTH, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 003S, Loop SOUTH, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 009S, Loop SOUTH, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 021S, Loop SOUTH, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 001N, Loop NORTH, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site XXX, Loop MANAGEMENT SITES 1, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 007N, Loop NORTH, Type Standard Nonelectric
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