Birch Lake Campground
Superior National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hiking
Location: ELY, MN, MN
Price: From $21 per night
Price range: $21–$95 per night
Rating: 4.4 out of 5 (83 reviews)
Season: May through October
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.For facility specific information, please call (218) 365-2963.The campground features shaded campsites, each with a picnic table, tent pad and campfire ring with grill. Campsites are organized into two loops, all near the water and well-separated by dense for
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): weak signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: AT&T.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Drinking Water, Electric Hookups, Fishing, Boat Launch, Firewood for Sale
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/birch-lake-campground to be notified when sites open up.
Birch Lake Campground is located in Superior National Forest near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and offers excellent fishing, boating, and canoeing opportunities. The campground features 32 sites with amenities including fire rings, picnic tables, vault toilets, drinking water, and a boat launch.
Wildlife alert: American Marten, North American River Otter, White-tailed Deer, Common Loon, Canada Jay, and Ring-necked Duck are known to inhabit the area within 8km.
Insider tips for Birch Lake Campground: Book early as this is a federal campground with high demand Bring your own boat to access northern pike, perch, crappie and walleye fishing Firewood is available for purchase on-site From Ely, take Highway 1 south for 8 miles, then turn right on Forest Road 429 for 4 miles to reach the campground
Skip Birch Lake Campground if: You need full RV hookups - most sites have no hookups and only self-contained RVs are suitable. You plan to visit outside May through October - seasonal operations only.
Best time to visit Birch Lake Campground: May-October — Campground operates seasonally during these months only.
Nearby campgrounds: South Kawishiwi River (ELY, MN), Fall Lake (ELY, MN), Mcdougal Lake Campground (Tofte, MN), Fenske Lake Campground (ELY, MN).
Cell Phone Coverage at Birch Lake Campground
Cell signal at Birch Lake Campground (ELY, MN): weak overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: AT&T.
- AT&T 4G LTE: 100% coverage
Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.
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.For facility specific information, please call (218) 365-2963.The campground features shaded campsites, each with a picnic table, tent pad and campfire ring with grill. Campsites are organized into two loops, all near the water and well-separated by dense forest.
Verified facts
RIDB / Recreation.gov official databaseAmenities
RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verifiedStraight talk
CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reportsKnown issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Insider tips & when to go
CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entryBook early as this is a federal campground with high demand
Bring your own boat to access northern pike, perch, crappie and walleye fishing
Firewood is available for purchase on-site
From Ely, take Highway 1 south for 8 miles, then turn right on Forest Road 429 for 4 miles to reach the campground
Campground operates seasonally during these months only
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal. Best carrier: AT&T.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
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.
Campground entrance
Google Maps APICommunity
#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)Pro tips
- Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Superior National Forest fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at Superior National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Birch Lake Campground cost per night?+
What season is Birch Lake Campground open?+
Does Birch Lake Campground have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Birch Lake Campground?+
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Official resources
●Data sources on this page
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