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Superior National Forest

Guide to Rustic Car Campgrounds | Way to Camp #4

Way to Camp # 4 | Free Car Camping in U.S. National Forests
                                 Superior National Forest | Guide to Rustic Car Campgrounds​

1 Forest 18 Rustic Campgrounds $Free No reservations.

The Superior National Forest.

From the Iron Range to the North Shore, these 3.9 million acres of forests and waters constitute the largest public land in Minnesota. Deciduous forests of sugar maple, mountain ash, aspen and birch transition towards northern boreal forests and are dominated by the iconic North Woods conifers - pines, spruce and fir. Some 2,000 lakes and rivers course the region, including the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness which comprises one quarter of the Superior National Forest.

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An inexhaustible supply of outdoor recreation abounds, including hiking, fishing, paddling and many varieties of camping experiences. Let’s forget many of these for a moment and feature one, distinct, Way to Camp on Minnesota's public lands...

​Nestled between the southern edge of the wilderness area and the northern shore of Lake Superior is the Tofte Ranger District and collection of 18 rustic car campgrounds. (There are also 23 fee car campgrounds in the Superior National Forest, but we are not talking about those currently.)

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Staying in the rustic campgrounds of the Superior National Forest takes you away from the company of larger campground crowds and still offer the basic furnishings of a campsite for no cost, other than a willingness to exercise some additional self-reliance. Head a little deeper into the wilder corners of this amazing national forest.

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Backcountry Fundamentals  x  Comforts of Car Camping

Approach Roads | Off the beaten path, only a little. ​​

​   Inland and away from the state park and state forest amenities along Lake Superior’s shoreline, these campgrounds are typically 30 to 45 minutes drive away from Highway 61 on a network of graded gravel forest roads. Most vehicles will find these campsites accessible, but all-wheel drive and some ground clearance helps on a few minimum maintenance approach roads. 

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   These campsites are remote enough to keep an eye on the gas tank, and double check your packing list. Resupply trips aren't super quick, but they're doable. 

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   Expect these roads to be unplowed in winter. In spring, wet with snowmelt, many can be impassable. After large rain and flooding events, check the Forest Service website for updates on washed out culverts and other such obstacles.​

Expected Use | Less of a destination, more of a basecamp.​​

   Most of these campgrounds function best as an overnight waystation while you road trip and tour the area during the day. They are near enough to Highway 61 to explore features along the shore, then head inland to find and make camp in the early evening.

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   There are several that are so scenic and offer enough adjacent recreation that make them worth a full weekend or more stay. These tend to be more popular than the rest, and you’ll be sharing communal recreation spaces (outside of your individual campsite); like Hogback Lake and Poplar River. 

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   Nearly all of these campgrounds serve as functional basecamps for motorboat fishing. The extra activity of a boat trailer being launched and a momentary generator running is not unexpected at campsites like Silver Island Lake, Toohey Lake, White Pine Lake and Fourmile Lake. 

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   As Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness entry points, some campgrounds are a bit more remote, or quiet, without motorized boat activity, including Baker Lake and Kawishiwi Lake.

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And, if you’re first to arrive that weekend, campgrounds like Trestle-Pine and Section 29 you may just end up having to yourself.

Amenities | The comforts of car camping, with some backcountry fundamentals.​​

They are first come, first served. 

In other words, not reservable. This is a good thing when every state park car campground from Gooseberry to Grand Marais is already full, these rustic campgrounds are a great alternative. It's a great thing to get right to building camp, instead of hassling with administrative chores.

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However, be prepared to continue your road trip to the next closest campgrounds should you find all sites are occupied upon arrival. This "contigency tour" is a rite of passage. The resources here should help. 

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Campsites are limited in number.

 There are always less than 10 campsites in these “campgrounds”. On average, there are four. Expect less traffic and activity than a typical larger fee campground. Usually, those sharing a rustic campground are seeking a little extra solitude, but you won’t be totally alone. It’s possible to have several campsites with neighbors, but compared to 50+... for better or worse?

These campsites are free. 

  • Maximum stay length is 14 days. Maximum group size is 9. 

  • Open season is May 15 through October 1.

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And you get a lot, for what you're not even paying for. 

Amenities are less than surrounding national forest car campgrounds. Considerably less than state parks. But nearly equivalent to state forest car campgrounds.

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  • Cleared and level tent sites with drive-in parking for a car, small RV or tent trailer.

  • Metal fire rings, most often with a cooking grate attached.

  • Picnic tables.

  • Outhouses with vault toilets. No running water, sinks or flushing toilets.

  • Most are developed towards fishing and include a boat launch and a dock. Some of these launches are more primitive, for paddling watercraft rather than boat trailers. ​

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There is no potable water provided.

Only one of these campgrounds has a drinkable water faucet. All others require filtration and treatment from a wild water source. Every campground has a dependable source of water from a lake or river.

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Practice backcountry food and trash storage.

  • Avoid all woodland critters, the local black bears included - by keeping all trash, food and scented hygiene products secure;

    • Use your vehicle as a locker overnight.

    • Correctly use bear hangs, bear barrels or bear bags.

    • Do not leave trash, food or cookware unattended.

  • Have trash bags and receptacles ready to pack out all of your garbage. There are no dumpsters or recycling containers. Pack out what you pack in. 

​There is no resident staff or support. 

No campground host. Visits from park staff or local law enforcement are unlikely. Cell phone service is also not guaranteed. 

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Firewood is not provided. It is gathered sustainably, or brought along from local DNR approved vendors.

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#4 Free Car Camping in the National Forests​

Where the fundamentals of backcountry camping share the comforts of car camping.

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Let's Go Camping. 

Area Overview Map

The Superior National Forest is divided into 5 ranger districts. Almost all of the rustic car campsites are in the Tofte District. 

The Campsites Catalog

Superior National Forest | Rustic Campgrounds

Tofte Ranger District

Harriet Lake Rustic      ★ 3.5

Unexpectedly majestical. If you're perhaps bored of northwoods forests, these pine barrens meadows feel like a western alpine meadow, especially during wildflower blooms. Pines creak in the wind, and sandhill cranes visit. A lake with dock and boat launch is behind the meadows, but not super close to many of the campsites.

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6 campsites total. Maybe more.

Loop 1 has more sun than shade. Incredibly spacious.

Loop 2 has more shady sites.

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Hogback Lake Rustic      ★ 4.5

These small, separated and shaded spaces are not directly on the shoreline, but share a communal "front yard" of lakefront amenities. Open nooks for lounging and picnics. Fish for stocked trout from the dock pier. Launch a boat and paddle or portage to several lakes. 5 miles of fairly overgrown trail travels along eskers and lake edges to views of palisades and backcountry hike-in campsites.

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4 campsites total.

Another 5 hike-in backcountry campsites use this as a trailhead.

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Eighteen Lake Rustic     ★  3

A beautiful lakeshore beneath mature pines. A spacious community campfire spot hosts pretty evenings, and a short hiking trail along the shore offers local excursion. Quite a nice shore for swimming and wading.

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3 campsites total.

Sites #1 and #2 are better than #3.

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Silver Island Lake Rustic     ★  3

A communal feeling driving loop surrounding a boat launch hosts fairly standard campsites. They are somewhat partitioned and screened by cedar and spruce. Site #5 however, has it's own "personal" dock on a stunning, wide open Boundary Waters -esque lake. Plenty of ground for boat adventuring.

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8 campsites total.

Campsite #5 is 4.5 to 5 star. All others are 2.5 star.

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Section 29 Lake Rustic      ★ 5 or 3

There is one really worthwhile campsite here, exposed and scenic on a craggy northwoods lakescape. Interesting scenery, recovering from wildfire. It feels remote here. ​

 

4 campsites total.

Campsites #4 is 5 star. Others are away from lake view, but still 2.5 or 3 star.

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Kawishiwi Lake Rustic     ★  4

This breezy, birch covered peninsula has several double tier elevation campsites around it's shoreline edge.Several offer nice lake views and personal points of lake access, though the backside is more of a marshy bay than a lake.

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5 campsites total.

Campsites #1-3 and #4 are 5 star. Campsite #5 is separated and alone at the bottom of the hill. 

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Wilson Lake Rustic     ★  2.5

Small clearings of mixed sun and shade in thick young woods. This vegetation offers some screened privacy from each other. There is no sightline or interaction with the water besides the nearby primitive boat launch, and is rather banal lake scenery at that.

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4 campsites total.

Sitte #2 is probably the most attractive.​

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  • 47.66062322274157, -91.06303476163713

  • Metal fire ring with cooking grate. Picnic table.

  • Outhouse vault toilet. 

  • No drinking water, must treat from lake.

  • Boat launch with a dock.

  • Forest Service Webpage

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Whitefish Lake Rustic     ★  3

A few small and very adjacent campsites aren't spectacular, but do offer a jumping off point to paddle in to more remote backcountry sites on the Timber Frear Canoe Route. In thick woods without lake views.

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3 campsites total.

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Fourmile Lake Rustic     ★  2.5

These campsites have pretty unimpressive surroundings, but offer an immediate put-in to paddling on an expansive lake.​

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4 campsites total.

There are two other paddle-in backcountry campsites on the lake's islands.​

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Toohey Lake Rustic     ★  4

A collection of spacious and well separated campsites in the more mature forests along Toohey Lake.​

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7 campsites total.

Site #1 is alone, on sloped ground but very close to the lake. 4 star.​

Sites 2,4,5 and 7 are at least 4 stars, shaded with shoreline access but a little ways from.

Sites #3 and 6 are away from the shoreline.

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  • 47.713060091058246, -90.95295992452027

  • Metal fire ring with cooking grate. Picnic table.

  • Outhouse vault toilet. 

  • No drinking water, must treat from lake.

  • Has a boat launch and a dock.

  • Forest Service Webpage

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Oxbow Rustic     ★ 1

Functional, and not far from Highway 61. Not commonly visited - the sites are a bit grown in and the approach road is rugged. Offers a no frills accomodation - a reasonable base camp for accessing spring fishing runs.

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3 campsites total.

The first campsite is better than the second. Where is the third?​

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  • 47.63358943338905, -90.85252622482183

  • Metal fire ring with cooking grate. Picnic table.

  • Outhouse vault toilet.

  • No drinking water. Access to the Temperance River from campsites is not easy. Better to meet the river on 600 Road crossing just north. 

  • Included on the Camping Recreation Opportunity Guide, but no online listing.

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Poplar River Rustic    ★ 2

Several of these campsites are perched on the bank of the Poplar River, offering light sounds of moving water at the right times of the season. They don't offer quality views or access. This campground is fairly unremarkeable.

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4 campsites total.

Campsites #1-3 are adjacent to each other, and #4 is secluded, but further from water.​

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White Pine Lake Rustic    ★ 2

Surrounded by birch woods and some pines, but feels 'run of the mill'. There is no views or shoreline access from the campsites, and even the boat launch is forced through boulder cobble and heavy vegetation, so not much of a shoreline.

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3 campsites total.

All adjacent. One is larger than the rest. .

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Clara Lake Rustic     ★ 3

A bit more attractice than other nearby campgrounds, with a spot of mature white pine canopy. Campsites are reasonably spaced apart. A creek runs alongside but is not seen, and really not heard either. Access to a cramped arm of Clara Lake isn't direct, but is a little walk down the road.

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3 campsites total.

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Baker Lake Rustic     ★  4.5

The surrounding pine forest feels like old growth, and is very distinct from elsewhere in the forest. The open subcanopy from placement on top a large hill affords glimpses of the surrounding lake. Enjoy the scent of pine needle carpets and scenic paddling. This one is pretty remote, on well graded and accessible road.

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5 campsites total.

Campsites #1 and #4 are 5 star. Campsite #5 is separated and alone at the bottom of the hill and near a creek.

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kawishiwi District

Sand Lake Rustic     ★ 3.5

A very pretty approach through open meadow and recently burned region delivers a pair of spacious feeling campsites amongst mature spruce and cedar trees. Lakeshore access is immediate and aided by an excellent step structure. Water is open and swimmable. ​

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2 campsites total.

However, the second isn't often used judging by the overgrown fire ring. Staying here as "campsite #2" feels a bit like you're invading the space of whoever may have arrived here first.

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Gunflint District

Cascade River Rustic     ★   3

A super quaint and compact collection of newly built campsites. The surrounding forest feels open and airy, but the structures are really on top of each other. The bathroom is immediately adjacent several sites - which may or may not be a good thing. And a road separates most sites from direct river shoreline access, but a nice communal river access is shared, for picnics, a swimming hole or some pretty good fishing.

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4 campsites total.

Campsites #1 is more isolated from the others, includes direct water access from site. 4 star.

Campsite #4 can hear the water, but is super close to the others.

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Trestle-Pine Rustic     ★  4.5

First of all, keep your approach on Road 1365, and keep going! You'll definitely know when you've arrived. This spot is confusingly remote, and a bummer if it's already occupied. If not, what a unique and quirky cool campsite. Unusually close to the water's edge, this spot is private, save for those who need to turn around here. Viewshed up the lake doesn't include nearby lake homes (but you can hear their fun). Breezy.

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Listed as 2 campsites, but really, seriously, feels like only the one.

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Why This Guide?
And Other Resources.

There are several sources of information about #4 Rustic Car Campgrounds in the Superior National Forest. 

This Minnesota Camp Guide presents much of this information within the full context of Minnesota's car camping recreation landscape.

​1. Superior National Forest 'Camping Recreation Opportunity Guide’

This document lives online here, and can be found printed in USFS information offices.

 

All Superior National Forest camping opportunities are listed and described here. The Rustic Campgrounds page includes the map used above. 

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Minnesota Camp Guide has added photos and qualitative descriptions to help narrow your selection, link to digital maps with driving directions and display alongside other public land campsites.​

2. USFS Online Information | Resource Webpages

The US Forest Service website for Superior National Forest's Campground Camping is here. The rustic campgrounds are listed within regular fee campgrounds. Each rustic campground has a webpage with additional information. Updated status, alerts and warnings can be found here. 

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3. USDA National Forest Map

For the best printed physical map of the Superior National Forest, visit the US Geological Survey store. This map does not include all the rustic campgrounds, and/or does not use legible symbology classifying these sites - but it does serve as the most useful navigation aid while driving around outside of cell service.

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Happy Camping.

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       Cheers!​​

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