Birch Lake Campground
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.
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.
Need to Know
- Off-road and all-terrain vehicles are not allowed during camping season.
- During the walk-in season, please contact the local USFS for information.
Please Note: One RV with tow vehicle per single site or two vehicles per tent site. Most sites can accommodate 1 extra vehicle that is not included with the reservation fee. Extra vehicle will be charged a per night fee and collected at the campground.
Reserved Sites will be held until check out time (NOON) the day following your arrival date. Sites must be occupied by the checkout time of that following day to hold a reservation or the site will be forfeited and released to other guests. Once your reservation start date has begun, neither the Recreation.gov Contact Center nor the campground manager will be able to modify your reservation.
Refunds: Refund requests made through www.recreation.gov will be charged a $10 processing fee. This fee is retained by the reservation service contractor along with the non-refundable reservation fee. All requests for the return of the non-refundable reservation fee and the cancellation fee will be declined by the campground concessionaire as they did not receive these fees (these are the fees retained by the reservation contractor, a different entity).
Click here to learn more about Superior National Forest Superior National Forest
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
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.
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.
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.
View recreation guides and maps of hiking trails and canoe routes in the national forest.
Contact Information
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KAWISHIWI RANGER DISTRICT 1393 HIGHWAY 169 ELY MN 55731
Phone Number
For campground inquiries, please call: KAWISHIWI RANGER DISTRICT: 218-365-7600, CONCESSIONAIRE (SUMMER): 218-365-2963
Rental Options
Learn more about gear rental options for your trip
Driving Directions
From Ely, Minnesota, travel about 8 miles south on State Highway 1 toward Lake Superior, until Forest Road 429 (Little Lake Road). Turn right on Forest Road 429 and continue 4 miles to the campground entrance road. Turn left onto the campground road and continue 1 mile to the campground.
Available Campsites
- Site 031, Loop South, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 012, Loop North, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 002, Loop North, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 032, Loop South, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 029, Loop South, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site Tamarak Cabin, Loop South, Type Cabin Nonelectric
- Site 028, Loop South, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 025, Loop South, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 005, Loop North, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 004, Loop North, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site Popple Cabin, Loop South, Type Cabin Nonelectric
- Site 008, Loop North, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 007, Loop North, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 021, Loop South, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 013, Loop North, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 030, Loop South, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 010, Loop North, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 003, Loop North, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 019, Loop South, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 018, Loop South, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 020, Loop South, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 027, Loop South, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 026, Loop South, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 001, Loop North, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 024, Loop South, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 015, Loop North, Type Group Standard Nonelectric
- Site 014, Loop North, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 006, Loop North, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 017, Loop South, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 023, Loop South, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 011, Loop North, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 009, Loop North, Type Standard Nonelectric
