About Birch Lake Campground
Number of accommodations: 21
Campground Amenities
-
Pet Friendly -
Potable Water
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Sites & Availability
21 Sites Available
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Site Details
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21 Sites Available
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Reviews (84)
What Guests Are Saying
Birch Lake Campground offers a beautiful and secluded location near Ely, Minnesota, with well-maintained sites that provide privacy and great access to the lake. Visitors appreciate the clean facilities, friendly camp hosts, and opportunities for local activities like hiking and fishing. However, some negative aspects include poor road conditions leading to the campground and occasional issues with mosquitoes and site reservations.
What Guests Are Saying
Birch Lake Campground offers a beautiful and secluded location near Ely, Minnesota, with well-maintained sites that provide privacy and great access to the lake. Visitors appreciate the clean facilities, friendly camp hosts, and opportunities for local activities like hiking and fishing. However, some negative aspects include poor road conditions leading to the campground and occasional issues with mosquitoes and site reservations.
Review Summary
Nicholas P
VerifiedMay 25, 2025 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: North
Beautiful campground and lake. Always a bit noisy in the evenings.
Herb B
VerifiedOctober 2, 2024 • Stayed at: Tamarak Cabin, Loop: South
Campground and the cabin were extremely clean and we enjoyed every minute of our stay. Tony, the camp host, is both kind and attentive. Thank you.
Dana B
VerifiedAugust 26, 2024 • Stayed at: 020, Loop: South
Very clean; well managed by the Camp Hosts. Nicely spaced sites; private. A+++
The only complaint is the gravel road you must drive, to get to the campground: This is one of the WORST roads in the region. Grading the road seems of little concern, and gives the,”Washboard,” term, NEW MEANING!!! I’ve driven in twice, this Summer and towed a Travel Trailer in, once; in these three visits, it has been BAD, BAD, BAD! Get Lake County, or the Forest Service, to do their JOB! (Whomever is tasked with the roadwork!!!) You are damaging business for this campsite! FIX IT!
Emma C
VerifiedAugust 25, 2024 • Stayed at: 029, Loop: South
Great campground
Stephanie K
VerifiedAugust 22, 2024 • Stayed at: 025, Loop: South
Nice campground about 15 minutes from Ely. Be prepared for 4.5 miles of gravel road to get there. Some sites with nice lake views.
Mary Pat G
VerifiedJuly 28, 2024 • Stayed at: Tamarak Cabin, Loop: South
Nancy and her husband are great camp hosts. The campground is maintained to the highest of excellence
Mark L
VerifiedJuly 15, 2024 • Stayed at: 027, Loop: South
Fishing fair. Mosquitos terrible.
Amy S
VerifiedOctober 2, 2023 • Stayed at: 015, Loop: North
We’ll-kept facilities, secluded sites, beautiful area!
William C
VerifiedOctober 1, 2023 • Stayed at: 027, Loop: South
Individual camping spots are close to the lake. They're also secluded by trees and brush, so you get a lot of privacy. Nice spot is a very scenic area.
David A
VerifiedJuly 18, 2023 • Stayed at: Tamarak Cabin, Loop: South
We rented Tamarac cabin in July 2023. The campground was in very good condition. It has a small dock and boat ramp for small motor or un-motored craft and a couple of canoe's one can rent. The cabin was clean and tidy with sleeping for 4 in bunks and a futon sofa if one has small children. The cabin was clean and well kept. There was a nice picnic table and fire pit with plenty of space for camp chairs outside with parking for 2 vehicles is needed. The vault toilets were clean and well vented. The road into the campground is about 4 miles of washboard gravel which could use a regrade and resurface. We enjoyed the local, biked on the Masabi trail, hiked the area and visited Ely a close vacation community. We will return.
Location Birch Lake Campground
Address:
Kawishiwi Ranger District
Ely, MN, 55731
United States
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.
Latitude & Longitude: 47.7569 / -91.7836
Elevation: 443 feet
Policies & Rules
| Category | About |
|---|---|
| General |
Off-road and all-terrain vehicles are not allowed during camping season. |
| General |
During the walk-in season, please contact the local USFS for information. |
| General |
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. |
| General |
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. |
| General |
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). |
| General |
Click here to learn more about Superior National Forest Superior National Forest |
| General |
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. |
