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State Park

Photo: FSPublic domainRecreation.gov

Birch Lake Campground

Ely, MN

Verify with the state park system

State parks set their own rules and reservation systems. Fire bans, road closures, and operating dates change seasonally — check the state park website before traveling.

Directions

32

Total Sites

0.0

0 Reviews

29 Tent29 RV2 Cabin1 Group

Official sources & verification

Managed by State Park

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Source of truth

Verify by phone or mail

We display cached information from agency feeds. Hours, fees, permits, closures, fire restrictions, and conditions change without notice. Outdoors is not the permitting authority. Confirm current conditions for this campground using the links above before you go — you are responsible for compliance. Last verified by us: Aug 8, 2026. Our copy is more than a month old — please reconfirm with the agency before relying on it.Spot an error in our data?

Live availability

via Recreation.gov
See every open campground nearbySame dates & filters, across the whole area

Availability is a recent snapshot, not a live hold — you always complete the booking on recreation.gov.

About

Overview 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. 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](http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/superior/maps-pubs/?cid=stelprdb5202373) of hiking trails and canoe routes in the national forest. Facilities 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. 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.

Reviews

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How busy it gets

Recreation.gov
Well reviewed4.4

100 camper reviews on Recreation.gov

Amenities

Flush Toilets
Potable Water
Dump Station
Picnic Tables
Fire Rings
Trash Service
Cell Service

Cell reception

Camper reports · checked Sep 29, 2026

Some Coverage

Average 1.9 of 4 bars · 81 reports across 3 carriers

Phone calls may occasionally drop; text messages may be delayed. Data service may be unusable. Drop-outs are common and it may be necessary to search for signal. Social media likely unusable.

  • Verizon

    Major Issues

    1.1/4

    32 reports

  • AT&T

    Good Coverage

    2.6/4

    31 reports

  • T-Mobile

    Some Coverage

    2.0/4

    18 reports

Reported by campers on Recreation.gov, not measured by us. Reception varies by handset, weather, and where you stand in the campground. Recreation.gov

Check-in & Check-out

Check-in 3:00 PM

Check-out 12:00 PM

Campground Rules

  • Campfires generally permitted — verify current fire restrictions before lighting

Reservations

This campground accepts reservations. Book early for popular dates.

Make a Reservation

Individual Sites (32)

001
#001

001

Loop North

Check official pricing Max 9 guests45 ft
CampsiteStandardAccessiblePets OKCampfires
Reserve
002
#002

002

Loop North

Check official pricing Max 9 guests49 ft
CampsiteStandardAccessiblePets OKCampfires
Reserve
003
#003

003

Loop North

Check official pricing Max 9 guests48 ft
CampsiteStandardPets OKCampfires
Reserve
004
#004

004

Loop North

Check official pricing Max 9 guests58 ft
CampsiteStandardPets OKCampfires
Reserve
005
#005

005

Loop North

Check official pricing Max 9 guests54 ft
CampsiteStandardPets OKCampfires
Reserve
006
#006

006

Loop North

Check official pricing Max 9 guests38 ft
CampsiteStandardPets OKCampfires
Reserve

Within ~30 miles

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