Sawbill Lake Campground - Superior National Forest
Sawbill Lake Campground has immediate access to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, a beautiful, peaceful and wild natural feature of Minnesota's Superior National Forest. The campground acts as a convenient base camp for exploring the nearby wilderness.
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. Visitors can find recreation opportunities year-round, including travel in the famed Boundary Waters.
Sawbill Lake is comprised of two loops with a total of 51 campsites, 27 of which can be reserved (others are first-come, first-served). Campsites can easily accommodate large motorhomes and RVs. Some of the sites offer a partial lake view through the forest.
The campground is equipped with picnic tables and campfire rings with grills, as well as vault toilets, a dump station, drinking water and trash and recycling bins.
Need to Know
Limit of two vehicles per campsite, not including trailers; $10 fee for second vehicle. Extra vehicle can be paid online in advance or in person onsite. If paid onsite, you won't be charged the $2 add-on fee; free public parking lot is also available onsite near the campground
Check-in / Check-out time is 12:00pm (noon)
- Traveling within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness requires a permit; day use requires a self-issued permit; overnight use requires a permit from the quota system
- Be bear aware; keep all food out of site in approved containers or locked inside a hard-sided vehicle and remove all food from area after eating
- Superior National Forest website
- 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 information.
Natural Features
Sawbill Lake is nestled in a thick pine forest that gives campsites excellent privacy. Birds and wildlife are abundant, from moose and bear to bald eagles and loons. Wildflowers add bright colors to the landscape in warmer months.
The campground sits on a hill above Sawbill Lake. The 765-acre lake is within the Boundary Waters.
Nearby Attractions
Sawbill Canoe Outfitters maintains a store with showers, laundry, fishing licenses, bait and tackle, ice, grocery and convenience items, canoe and camping gear, rentals and a pay telephone.
Over 1 million acres in size, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness contains over 1,200 miles of canoe routes, 12 hiking trails and over 2,000 designated campsites.
Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
Additional sites of interest
Recreation
This facility draws canoe enthusiasts who seek a quiet and convenient area from which to access the surrounding wilderness. Day and overnight use of the Boundary Waters requires a permit.
The campground concessionaire, Sawbill Canoe Outfitters, provides a one-stop shop for canoeists of all levels within walking distance of the campground. Canoe rentals, permits and guided canoe trips are available.
Campers who wish to spend time relaxing at the campground can fish for northern pike and bass; hike, bike, picnic and attend educational programs.
View recreation guides and maps of hiking trails and canoe routes in the national forest.
Contact Information
Default
SAWBILL LAKE CAMPGROUND - SUPERIOR NATIONAL FOREST 4620 SAWBILL TRAIL Tofte MN 55615
Phone Number
For campground inquiries, please call: 218-663-7150
Rental Options
Learn more about gear rental options for your trip
Driving Directions
The campground is located north of Tofte, Minnesota. Travel to Tofte via Highway 61 along Lake Superior's north shore. In Tofte, turn north (away from Lake Superior) on Sawbill Trail (CCHS 2). Follow Sawbill Trail 24 miles until it ends at the entrance to the campground.
Available Campsites
- Site 021, Loop Sawbill Lake Campground - Superior National Forest, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 014, Loop Sawbill Lake Campground - Superior National Forest, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site Day Use 1, Loop Sawbill Lake Campground - Superior National Forest, Type Picnic
- Site 020, Loop Sawbill Lake Campground - Superior National Forest, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 009, Loop Sawbill Lake Campground - Superior National Forest, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 017, Loop Sawbill Lake Campground - Superior National Forest, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 015, Loop Sawbill Lake Campground - Superior National Forest, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site Day Use 2, Loop Sawbill Lake Campground - Superior National Forest, Type Picnic
- Site 041, Loop Sawbill Lake Campground - Superior National Forest, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 006, Loop Sawbill Lake Campground - Superior National Forest, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 031, Loop Sawbill Lake Campground - Superior National Forest, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 024, Loop Sawbill Lake Campground - Superior National Forest, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 025, Loop Sawbill Lake Campground - Superior National Forest, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 018, Loop Sawbill Lake Campground - Superior National Forest, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 012, Loop Sawbill Lake Campground - Superior National Forest, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 019, Loop Sawbill Lake Campground - Superior National Forest, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 046, Loop Sawbill Lake Campground - Superior National Forest, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 050, Loop Sawbill Lake Campground - Superior National Forest, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 026, Loop Sawbill Lake Campground - Superior National Forest, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 042, Loop Sawbill Lake Campground - Superior National Forest, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 039, Loop Sawbill Lake Campground - Superior National Forest, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 005, Loop Sawbill Lake Campground - Superior National Forest, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 040, Loop Sawbill Lake Campground - Superior National Forest, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 028, Loop Sawbill Lake Campground - Superior National Forest, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 044, Loop Sawbill Lake Campground - Superior National Forest, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 003, Loop Sawbill Lake Campground - Superior National Forest, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 047, Loop Sawbill Lake Campground - Superior National Forest, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 022, Loop Sawbill Lake Campground - Superior National Forest, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 010, Loop Sawbill Lake Campground - Superior National Forest, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 013, Loop Sawbill Lake Campground - Superior National Forest, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 037, Loop Sawbill Lake Campground - Superior National Forest, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 027, Loop Sawbill Lake Campground - Superior National Forest, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 008, Loop Sawbill Lake Campground - Superior National Forest, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 048, Loop Sawbill Lake Campground - Superior National Forest, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 023, Loop Sawbill Lake Campground - Superior National Forest, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 030, Loop Sawbill Lake Campground - Superior National Forest, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 043, Loop Sawbill Lake Campground - Superior National Forest, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 038, Loop Sawbill Lake Campground - Superior National Forest, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 004, Loop Sawbill Lake Campground - Superior National Forest, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 045, Loop Sawbill Lake Campground - Superior National Forest, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 029, Loop Sawbill Lake Campground - Superior National Forest, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 002, Loop Sawbill Lake Campground - Superior National Forest, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 007, Loop Sawbill Lake Campground - Superior National Forest, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 011, Loop Sawbill Lake Campground - Superior National Forest, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 032, Loop Sawbill Lake Campground - Superior National Forest, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 033, Loop Sawbill Lake Campground - Superior National Forest, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 035, Loop Sawbill Lake Campground - Superior National Forest, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 049, Loop Sawbill Lake Campground - Superior National Forest, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 034, Loop Sawbill Lake Campground - Superior National Forest, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 036, Loop Sawbill Lake Campground - Superior National Forest, Type Standard Nonelectric
