Superior National Forest
Guide to Rustic Car Campgrounds | Way to Camp #4
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Way to Camp # 4 | Free Car Camping in U.S. National Forests
Superior National Forest | Guide to Rustic Car Campgrounds
1 Forest 18 Rustic Campgrounds $Free No reservations.
The Superior National Forest.
From the Iron Range to the North Shore, these 3.9 million acres of forests and waters constitute the largest public land in Minnesota. Deciduous forests of sugar maple, mountain ash, aspen and birch transition towards northern boreal forests and are dominated by the iconic North Woods conifers - pines, spruce and fir. Some 2,000 lakes and rivers course the region, including the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness which comprises one quarter of the Superior National Forest.
An inexhaustible supply of outdoor recreation abounds, including hiking, fishing, paddling and many varieties of camping experiences. Let’s forget many of these for a moment and feature one, distinct, Way to Camp on Minnesota's public lands...
Nestled between the southern edge of the wilderness area and the northern shore of Lake Superior is the Tofte Ranger District and collection of 18 rustic car campgrounds. (There are also 23 fee car campgrounds in the Superior National Forest, but we are not talking about those currently.)
Staying in the rustic campgrounds of the Superior National Forest takes you away from the company of larger campground crowds and still offer the basic furnishings of a campsite for no cost, other than a willingness to exercise some additional self-reliance. Head a little deeper into the wilder corners of this amazing national forest.
Backcountry Fundamentals x Comforts of Car Camping
Approach Roads | Off the beaten path, only a little.
Inland and away from the state park and state forest amenities along Lake Superior’s shoreline, these campgrounds are typically 30 to 45 minutes drive away from Highway 61 on a network of graded gravel forest roads. Most vehicles will find these campsites accessible, but all-wheel drive and some ground clearance helps on a few minimum maintenance approach roads.
These campsites are remote enough to keep an eye on the gas tank, and double check your packing list. Resupply trips aren't super quick, but they're doable.
Expect these roads to be unplowed in winter. In spring, wet with snowmelt, many can be impassable. After large rain and flooding events, check the Forest Service website for updates on washed out culverts and other such obstacles.
Expected Use | Less of a destination, more of a basecamp.
Most of these campgrounds function best as an overnight waystation while you road trip and tour the area during the day. They are near enough to Highway 61 to explore features along the shore, then head inland to find and make camp in the early evening.
There are several that are so scenic and offer enough adjacent recreation that make them worth a full weekend or more stay. These tend to be more popular than the rest, and you’ll be sharing communal recreation spaces (outside of your individual campsite); like Hogback Lake and Poplar River.
Nearly all of these campgrounds serve as functional basecamps for motorboat fishing. The extra activity of a boat trailer being launched and a momentary generator running is not unexpected at campsites like Silver Island Lake, Toohey Lake, White Pine Lake and Fourmile Lake.
As Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness entry points, some campgrounds are a bit more remote, or quiet, without motorized boat activity, including Baker Lake and Kawishiwi Lake.
And, if you’re first to arrive that weekend, campgrounds like Trestle-Pine and Section 29 you may just end up having to yourself.
Amenities | The comforts of car camping, with some backcountry fundamentals.
They are first come, first served.
In other words, not reservable. This is a good thing when every state park car campground from Gooseberry to Grand Marais is already full, these rustic campgrounds are a great alternative. It's a great thing to get right to building camp, instead of hassling with administrative chores.
However, be prepared to continue your road trip to the next closest campgrounds should you find all sites are occupied upon arrival. This "contigency tour" is a rite of passage. The resources here should help.
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The Campsites Catalog below orders the Rustic Campgrounds by geographic proximity.
Campsites are limited in number.
There are always less than 10 campsites in these “campgrounds”. On average, there are four. Expect less traffic and activity than a typical larger fee campground. Usually, those sharing a rustic campground are seeking a little extra solitude, but you won’t be totally alone. It’s possible to have several campsites with neighbors, but compared to 50+... for better or worse?
These campsites are free.
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Maximum stay length is 14 days. Maximum group size is 9.
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Open season is May 15 through October 1.
And you get a lot, for what you're not even paying for.
Amenities are less than surrounding national forest car campgrounds. Considerably less than state parks. But nearly equivalent to state forest car campgrounds.
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Cleared and level tent sites with drive-in parking for a car, small RV or tent trailer.
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Metal fire rings, most often with a cooking grate attached.
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Picnic tables.
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Outhouses with vault toilets. No running water, sinks or flushing toilets.
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Most are developed towards fishing and include a boat launch and a dock. Some of these launches are more primitive, for paddling watercraft rather than boat trailers.
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There is no potable water provided.
Only one of these campgrounds has a drinkable water faucet. All others require filtration and treatment from a wild water source. Every campground has a dependable source of water from a lake or river.
Practice backcountry food and trash storage.
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Avoid all woodland critters, the local black bears included - by keeping all trash, food and scented hygiene products secure;
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Use your vehicle as a locker overnight.
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Correctly use bear hangs, bear barrels or bear bags.
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Do not leave trash, food or cookware unattended.
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Have trash bags and receptacles ready to pack out all of your garbage. There are no dumpsters or recycling containers. Pack out what you pack in.
There is no resident staff or support.
No campground host. Visits from park staff or local law enforcement are unlikely. Cell phone service is also not guaranteed.
Firewood is not provided. It is gathered sustainably, or brought along from local DNR approved vendors.
#4 Free Car Camping in the National Forests
Where the fundamentals of backcountry camping share the comforts of car camping.
Let's Go Camping.
Area Overview Map
The Superior National Forest is divided into 5 ranger districts. Almost all of the rustic car campsites are in the Tofte District.
The Campsites Catalog
Superior National Forest | Rustic Campgrounds
Tofte Ranger District
Harriet Lake Rustic ★ 3.5
Unexpectedly majestical. If you're perhaps bored of northwoods forests, these pine barrens meadows feel like a western alpine meadow, especially during wildflower blooms. Pines creak in the wind, and sandhill cranes visit. A lake with dock and boat launch is behind the meadows, but not super close to many of the campsites.
6 campsites total. Maybe more.
Loop 1 has more sun than shade. Incredibly spacious.
Loop 2 has more shady sites.
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☐ No drinking water, must treat water from nearby lake.
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☑ Metal fire ring with cooking grate. ☑ Picnic table.
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☑ Outhouse with vault toilet.
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A gravel boat launch with dock.
Hogback Lake Rustic ★ 4.5
These small, separated and shaded spaces are not directly on the shoreline, but share a communal "front yard" of lakefront amenities. Open nooks for lounging and picnics. Fish for stocked trout from the dock pier. Launch a boat and paddle or portage to several lakes. 5 miles of fairly overgrown trail travels along eskers and lake edges to views of palisades and backcountry hike-in campsites.
4 campsites total.
Another 5 hike-in backcountry campsites use this as a trailhead.
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Each space has room for a couple of large tents.
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☑ Metal fire ring with cooking grate. ☑ Picnic table.
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☑ Outhouse vault toilet.
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No drinking water, must treat from lake.
Eighteen Lake Rustic ★ 3
A beautiful lakeshore beneath mature pines. A spacious community campfire spot hosts pretty evenings, and a short hiking trail along the shore offers local excursion. Quite a nice shore for swimming and wading.
3 campsites total.
Sites #1 and #2 are better than #3.
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No drinking water, must treat from lake.
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Metal fire ring with cooking grate. Picnic table.
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Outhouse vault toilet.