OutReserve

Crescent Lake (MN)

CRESCENT LAKE (MN)
CRESCENT LAKE (MN)
CRESCENT LAKE (MN)

About Crescent Lake (MN)

Crescent Lake is an undeveloped lake surrounded entirely by the remote Superior National Forest. This quiet campground has waterfront campsites with easy access to fishing, exploring the nearby wilderness and simply enjoying the beauty of the natural area. 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 famous Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

Number of accommodations: 20

Nearby Activities & Attractions

Fishing

Hiking

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 open - May 8 to Sep 30

Campground Amenities

Water and Hygiene

Water and Hygiene

  • Potable Water
Missing information?

Rates, Sites & Availability

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

20 Sites Available

Site
Price
001, Loop: CRESCENT LAKE (MN)
9 guests · Campfire · Pet Friendly
Price not available
003, Loop: CRESCENT LAKE (MN)
9 guests · Campfire · Pet Friendly
Price not available
005, Loop: CRESCENT LAKE (MN)
9 guests · Campfire · Pet Friendly
Price not available
006, Loop: CRESCENT LAKE (MN)
9 guests · Campfire · Pet Friendly
Price not available
008, Loop: CRESCENT LAKE (MN)
9 guests · Campfire · Pet Friendly
Price not available
🚐 009, Loop: CRESCENT LAKE (MN)
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 010, Loop: CRESCENT LAKE (MN)
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 012, Loop: CRESCENT LAKE (MN)
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 013, Loop: CRESCENT LAKE (MN)
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 016, Loop: CRESCENT LAKE (MN)
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 017, Loop: CRESCENT LAKE (MN)
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 020, Loop: CRESCENT LAKE (MN)
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 021, Loop: CRESCENT LAKE (MN)
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 023, Loop: CRESCENT LAKE (MN)
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 025, Loop: CRESCENT LAKE (MN)
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 026, Loop: CRESCENT LAKE (MN)
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 027, Loop: CRESCENT LAKE (MN)
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 030, Loop: CRESCENT LAKE (MN)
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 031, Loop: CRESCENT LAKE (MN)
No Hookups
Price not available
034, Loop: CRESCENT LAKE (MN)
18 guests · Campfire · Pet Friendly
Price not available

Reviews (120)

What Guests Are Saying

Crescent Lake is a well-maintained campground with beautiful, private sites and clean facilities, making it a favorite for families and tent campers. Camp hosts are friendly and helpful, contributing to a pleasant atmosphere, although attention to some issues, such as dog control and road maintenance, could enhance the experience. Overall, visitors appreciate the serene environment, beautiful lake access, and well-equipped amenities, promising a relaxing camping trip.

Review Summary

4.6
120 reviews
5
70.0%
84
4
20.8%
25
3
8.3%
10
2
0.0%
0
1
0.8%
1

Tommy M

Verified

February 8, 2020 Stayed at: 006, Loop: CRESCENT LAKE (MN)

5

We camp at Crescent Lake every summer and love it! Beautiful sunrises, peaceful kayaking outings, and listening to the loons are our favorite parts of the lake. The bathrooms are clean, the drinking water is good, and the camp host is helpful.

Nancy J

Verified

January 24, 2020 Stayed at: 009, Loop: CRESCENT LAKE (MN)

5

Love camping here! Clean sites and restrooms. Friendly and water edge sites are a favorite. Hope fishing picks up!

Michael K

Verified

January 22, 2020 Stayed at: 031, Loop: CRESCENT LAKE (MN)

5

Crescent Lake is the best of both worlds. You have the BWCAW right across the road (The Grade) so there's very little air traffic above, and yet you have the ability to pack all the gear you need and camp out of the car. So far I've seen two wolves, tons of deer, one moose, and zero bears... bald eagles, actually birds galore. Loads of grouse. Hummingbirds everywhere so if you're a fan of those you'll go crazy. Sawbill Outfitters manages the grounds very well. Clean, well maintained, vault toilet houses, and a couple of places to get water. You can get firewood from Jack the host at site 32, or over at Sawbill Canoe Outfitters at Sawbill Lake. It's rustic, and you're looking at 25-30 miles of gravel logging road to get to Crescent Lake, but it's well worth the effort. Walleye, smallies, and Muskies seem to be the majority of the fish, and there are literally dozens of other lakes in the area to check out. There is ZERO cell service, although Sawbill canoe Outfitters about 20 miles away is a WiFi hotspot. I highly recommend Crescent Lake! - Mike from Chicago

Andrew S

Verified

January 15, 2020 Stayed at: 025, Loop: CRESCENT LAKE (MN)

5

I messed up the reservation, but it worked out in the end. Camp host very helpful.

Mia J

Verified

January 15, 2020 Stayed at: 025, Loop: CRESCENT LAKE (MN)

5

We accidentally booked the wrong dates for our trip, but we were warmly welcomed by the camp host anyway. He directed us to the best sites along the water and we had a great spot. Overall a very good experience!

Julia R

Verified

January 12, 2020 Stayed at: 017, Loop: CRESCENT LAKE (MN)

5

one of the best campsites I've ever seen! clean, quiet, and very pleasant overall.

Kevin P

Verified

January 11, 2020 Stayed at: 023, Loop: CRESCENT LAKE (MN)

4

We enjoyed our one night stay.

Cory S

Verified

January 10, 2020 Stayed at: 023, Loop: CRESCENT LAKE (MN)

5

Great campground, quite, good restrooms.

Ray F

Verified

January 10, 2020 Stayed at: 003, Loop: CRESCENT LAKE (MN)

5

This is a great spot. Definitely more remote than other National Forest campgrounds. Gravel roads from both Tofte & Grand Marais take you there. Bring the gravel bike, great riding. The lake itself is great for a 1/2 day paddle. There are also a couple BWCA entry points close. Great chance to see wildlife. We saw a wolf from a distance and multiple spots where there were moose tracks. We stayed at the walk-in sites and they were private with lake views and access to the lake.

N Luke B

Verified

December 18, 2019 Stayed at: 008, Loop: CRESCENT LAKE (MN)

5

Excellent no-frills campground on a lake. Plenty of mosquitoes, but that's MN.

Location Crescent Lake (MN)

Address:
Crescent Lake , 3236 The Grade (Forest Road 170)
Tofte, MN, 55615
United States

Latitude & Longitude: 47.8368 / -90.7731

Elevation: 542 feet

Policies & Rules

Arrival & departure

Check in time

12PM

Check out time

12PM

General

  • Limit of two vehicles per campsite, not including trailers; $10 fee for second vehicle. Extra vehicle can be paid online in advance or in person onsite. If paid onsite, you won't be charged the $2 add-on fee; free public parking lot is also available onsite near the campground
  • Dogs are allowed but must be leashed
  • Fires in campfire pits only and must be completely extinguished; cutting of live vegetation is not allowed
  • Be bear aware; keep all food out of site in approved containers or locked inside a hard-sided vehicle and remove all food from area after eating
  • Click here for more information on Superior National Forest
  • 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.

Nearby Campgrounds

Nearby destinations


Last updated: June 4, 2026

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