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National Forest

Photo: Via Recreation.govPublic domainRecreation.gov

Sawbill Lake Campground - Superior National Forest

Grand Marais, MN

Verify with the local Forest Service ranger district

Forest Service campgrounds vary by district. Fire restrictions, road conditions, and operating dates are set locally and change seasonally. Call the ranger district to confirm.

Directions

74

Total Sites

0.0

0 Reviews

74 Tent48 RV

Official sources & verification

Managed by US Forest Service

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Source of truth

Managing agency

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

About

Overview 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. 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](http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/superior/maps-pubs/?cid=stelprdb5202373) of hiking trails and canoe routes in the national forest. Facilities 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. 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](http://www.recreation.gov/wildernessAreaDetails.do?page=details&contractCode=NRSO&parkId=72600) [Additional sites of interest](http://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/superior/home/?cid=fsm91_049663&width=full)

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How busy it gets

Recreation.gov
Popular4.7

258 camper reviews on Recreation.gov

Amenities

Showers
Flush Toilets
Potable Water
Dump Station
Firewood
Camp Store
Accessible
Picnic Tables
Fire Rings
Trash Service
Cell Service

Cell reception

Camper reports · checked Sep 29, 2026

Major Issues

Average 0.9 of 4 bars · 196 reports across 3 carriers

Phone calls drop frequently; text messages delayed. No data, or mostly unusable data. Signal may be limited to small areas of site/facility. No social media.

  • Verizon

    Major Issues

    0.6/4

    103 reports

  • AT&T

    Some Coverage

    1.9/4

    50 reports

  • T-Mobile

    No Service

    0.3/4

    43 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 12:00 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 (74)

Within ~30 miles

Trails near Sawbill Lake Campground - Superior National Forest

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