Birch Lake Campground

Kawishiwi Ranger District, 1393 Highway 169, Ely, Minnesota, United States
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Picture of table with lake in the background.
Picture of picnic table and fire ring.
Picture of camping spur.
Picture of Birch Lake from boatlanding.
Picture of open grassy area.

Featured amenities

Pet Friendly Pet Friendly
View all amenities

About Birch Lake Campground

Birch Lake Campground is located in Superior National Forest near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, about 13 mi from Ely, Minnesota. It is an ideal place to relax while enjoying fishing, boating and other recreational activities.

Available sites

21 total sites
RV Sites 18 sites Check Availability Tent Sites 1 site Check Availability Cabins 2 sites Check Availability

Seasonal information

2026 (Current year)

2026 Season availability

Current season
Upcoming seasons
Past seasons
Closed periods
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Currently closed

Campground Amenities

Most popular amenities

Pet friendly Pet friendly
Water and Hygiene

Water and Hygiene

  • Potable Water
Pets and Policies

Pets and Policies

  • Pet friendly
Missing information?

Rates, Sites & Availability

Select check-in and check-out dates to see real-time availability for each site.

21 Sites Available

Site
Price
🚐 001, Loop: North RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 013, Loop: North RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 014, Loop: North RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
⛺ 015, Loop: North Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
🚐 017, Loop: South RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 018, Loop: South RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 019, Loop: South RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 020, Loop: South RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 021, Loop: South RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 023, Loop: South RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 024, Loop: South RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 025, Loop: South RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 026, Loop: South RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 027, Loop: South RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 028, Loop: South RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 029, Loop: South RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 030, Loop: South RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 031, Loop: South RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 032, Loop: South RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🏠 Popple Cabin, Loop: South Cabin
6 guests
🏠 Tamarak Cabin, Loop: South Cabin
6 guests

Reviews

100 reviews

Summary

AI generated

Birch Lake Campground offers a spacious and well-maintained environment with clean bathrooms, good drinking water, and a peaceful atmosphere, making it ideal for family gatherings and outdoor activities. Many campers appreciate the privacy between sites and the beautiful surroundings, although access to the water for activities like swimming and fishing can be limited. Some guests expressed concerns about road conditions leading to the campground and occasional issues with site reservations, but overall, the campground is highly recommended for its cleanliness and natural beauty.

Based on guest feedback

4.4

Overall rating

Based on 100 reviews

Write a review
5 stars 65.0% (65)
4 stars 22.0% (22)
3 stars 3.0% (3)
2 stars 5.0% (5)
1 star 5.0% (5)

Showing 100 reviews

Verified Only
Sort by: Oldest First
Newest First Oldest First

Dana B

Verified

August 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!

Helpful

Herb B

Verified

October 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.

Helpful

Nicholas P

Verified

May 25, 2025 Stayed at: 001, Loop: North

Beautiful campground and lake. Always a bit noisy in the evenings.

Helpful

Ashley F

Verified

June 3, 2025 Stayed at: 021, Loop: South

This was our second time staying at Birch Lake Campground (South). Would highly recommend. The vault toilet rooms were as clean as they possibly could be! The lots are pretty private as well. We were able to catch fish from shore, but one highlight is the nice boat landing to launch your boat to fish and explore beautiful Birch Lake! Lasting family memories were made! <3

Helpful

Dale C

Verified

July 1, 2025 Stayed at: 018, Loop: South

It was sad to see how the camp is being run this summer. I've camped here for over 20yrs. and have never seen the grass and weeds knee deep in the sites. Also the bathrooms have been left uncleaned and stocked for weeks at a time. Hope it's not a sign of things ahead.

Helpful

Georgina P

Verified

July 7, 2025 Stayed at: 014, Loop: North

No campground host on site. We made reservations 6 months in advance just to arrive and find our site taken by someone else.

Helpful

Eric E

Verified

July 8, 2025 Stayed at: 015, Loop: North

Real beautiful spot!

Helpful

Brandon W

Verified

August 16, 2025 Stayed at: 014, Loop: North

Very clean site with great access to the lake and a fun trail to walk to our lake access. The mosquitos were very tough and fishing was very poor but we had a great time as a family. The restroom’s are very clean and the hand pump for drinking water is a drive from this site.

Helpful

TOM P

Verified

August 24, 2025 Stayed at: 017, Loop: South

Lots of vegetation and space between sites made for a good deal of privacy.

Helpful

fred b

Verified

September 19, 2025 Stayed at: 020, Loop: South

campsites and grounds are well maintained

Helpful

Location & Directions for Birch Lake Campground

Kawishiwi Ranger District, 1393 Highway 169, Ely, MN 55731 United States

Elevation: 443 ft

Getting There

From Ely, Minnesota, travel about 8 mi south on State Highway 1 toward Lake Superior, until Forest Road 429 (Little Lake Road). Turn right on Forest Road 429 and continue 4 mi to the campground entrance road. Turn left onto the campground road and...

Nearest town

Ely, MN - 13 mi

About 23 min to downtown

Policies & Rules

Arrival & departure

Check out time

12PM

General

  • Off-road and all-terrain vehicles are not allowed during camping season.
  • During the walk-in season, please contact the local USFS for information.
  • 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.&nbsp;
  • Reserved Sites will be held until 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.
  • 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).
  • Click here to learn more about Superior National Forest Superior National Forest&nbsp;
  • 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.

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Nearby destinations

Explore destination

Ely

11 mi away

City
Explore destination

Embarrass

20 mi away

Day trip
Explore destination

Isabella

22 mi away

Day trip

Last updated: October 22, 2026

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Explore Ely, MN

Population: 3,240

Nearby city: Duluth, MN

Approx. 69 mi away (straight-line distance)

Elevation: 1,470 ft

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