Camping & Cabins

Choose from the following to find a site: Campsite at Ninemile Lake

The Superior National Forest has five different types of camping opportunities: Fee Campgrounds, Rustic Campgrounds, Backcountry Campsites, Dispersed Camping, and Wilderness Camping. Whether you’re in a tent or recreational vehicle (RV), one is right for you!

Camping Opportunities on the Superior

Camping Recreation Opportunity Guide (pdf)

Camping Recreation Opportunity Guide (html)

Fee Campgrounds

Fee campgrounds provide sites that can usually accommodate tents, tent trailers, or RVs, as well as a few hike-in and tent only sites. These campgrounds include accessible outhouses, drinking water faucets, garbage and recycling, and possibly trails, fishing piers, boat launches, picnic areas, beaches, showers, and electricity. Each campsite has a fire ring, picnic table, and level tent pad. Check out Cabin Rentals, Campground Camping, Group Camping and RV Camping for fee sites.

Rustic Campgrounds

Rustic campgrounds have fewer than ten sites and there is no charge for camping. Facilities include outhouses, tables, and fire rings but there is no drinking water or garbage cans. Sites are generally for tents, but some will accommodate a small RV or tent trailer. These campgrounds were often developed with fishing in mind, so be sure to pack your poles. Check out Cabin Rentals, Campground Camping, Group Camping and RV Camping for rustic sites.

Campsites are first come, first served.

Backcountry Campsites

Backcountry campsites are the same style of campsites you may know from the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, but since they are not in the BWCAW, they require no permits or fees. These single sites outside of a campground have a fire grate, flat space for a tent, wilderness latrine (an outhouse without the house), and may have as picnic table. There is a group size limit of nine. Check out Dispersed Camping for backcountry sites.

Campsites are first come, first served.

Dispersed Camping

If your idea of camping is literally off the beaten trail, most of the Superior National Forest outside of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is open for dispersed tent camping with no permits or reservations needed. This is camping outside of designated sites - just you and the woods without latrines, fire rings, or any additions. Please follow Leave No Trace ethics to make sure no evidence of your visit remains. Check out Dispersed Camping for information on dispersed camping.