OutReserve

Birch Lake Campground

Picture of table with lake in the background.
Birch Lake Campground
Birch Lake Campground
Picture of picnic table and fire ring.
Birch Lake Campground

Featured amenities

Pet Friendly
Pet Friendly

About Birch Lake Campground

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.

Number of accommodations: 21

Campground Amenities

  • Pet Friendly
    Pet Friendly
  • Potable Water
    Potable Water

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 - Opens on May 1

Sites & Availability

21 Sites Available

Site
Price
🚐 001, Loop: North
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 013, Loop: North
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 014, Loop: North
No Hookups
Price not available
015, Loop: North
45 guests · Campfire · Pet Friendly
Price not available
🚐 017, Loop: South
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 018, Loop: South
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 019, Loop: South
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 020, Loop: South
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 021, Loop: South
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 023, Loop: South
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 024, Loop: South
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 025, Loop: South
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 026, Loop: South
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 027, Loop: South
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 028, Loop: South
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 029, Loop: South
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 030, Loop: South
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 031, Loop: South
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 032, Loop: South
No Hookups
Price not available
🏠 Popple Cabin, Loop: South
6 guests · Campfire
Price not available
🏠 Tamarak Cabin, Loop: South
6 guests · Campfire
Price not available

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.

Review Summary

4.4
84 reviews
5
66.7%
56
4
22.6%
19
3
2.4%
2
2
3.6%
3
1
4.8%
4

Holly S

Verified

January 15, 2020 Stayed at: 023, Loop: South

5

Great place for a family vacation and to get away.

Eva M

Verified

January 13, 2020 Stayed at: 028, Loop: South

4

If you want a basic, rustic campsite off the beaten track near Ely, MN, this is a good choice. The campground was quiet, the toilets were new, well-stocked, and clean (not smelly at all.) The swim area is tiny and the same space as the boat launch. No amenities, but that's now what we were looking for. A great place for bird watching and enjoying the forest.

John S

Verified

January 12, 2020 Stayed at: 018, Loop: South

5

Really enjoyed my motorcycle camping at Birch Lake in 2019. Campsite was great. I did wake up early because the boat launch was active around 5:30 a.m. My fault for picking a site close to it.

Anonymous

5

{"text"=>"Our experience with the rangers thru Outdoor Afros MN Stephen Scott and Caitlyn Utley was so amazing, the welcome and the stay and accomodations was paramount and exceptional. The time they took to teach us and inform us and the enthusiasm they have about what they do radiated in us with so much understanding and knowledge. The hospitality shown and the experience we had with the rangers Makayla Aaron Maggie and of course Kes Ebbs and a few others whom were equally amazing but my mind has lost their names was enlightening informing and wonderful. First time to Ely and the superior forest and the entire experience had me on clouds so high and natural . It was winter wonderland with beautiful folks every where we went. Ill be back some day and I hope so many more venture deep north to the end of this busy life to the beginning if the wilderness where humanity shows out ❤️✨️ Thank you for a forever memory adventure", "languageCode"=>"en"}

Google Maps

Location Birch Lake Campground

Address:
Kawishiwi Ranger District
Ely, MN, 55731
United States

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.

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