Iron Lake
Superior National Forest — lakeside, fishing
Location: Grand Marais, MN, MN
Price: From $24 per night
Rating: 4.1 out of 5 (35 reviews)
Season: May through October
Iron Lake Campground is located in a dense forest along the banks of Iron Lake in far northern Minnesota. The campground is unique due to its remoteness and small size. Fishing and canoeing are its biggest draws, as the lake provides access to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
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, Camp Host, Fishing
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/iron-lake to be notified when sites open up.
Iron Lake Campground offers remote access to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness with excellent fishing and canoeing opportunities. Campers praise its quiet, well-secluded setting with large, spread-out sites and gorgeous scenery (4.6/5 rating from 24 reviews).
Wildlife alert: Moose, Bald Eagle, Common Loon, White-tailed Deer, Northern Plains Red Fox, Canada Jay, and Western Painted Turtle documented in the area.
Insider tips for Iron Lake: Book early—it's a federal campground with only 7 sites and high demand. Most sites lack hookups; only select sites have electric. Bring water if staying multiple nights. Sites are large and spread out; site 5 specifically noted by campers as excellent with lake access.
Skip Iron Lake if: You need full RV hookups (water/sewer unavailable; electric on select sites only).. You prefer modern facilities—this is a rustic campground requiring comfort with basic amenities.. You're visiting November-April (seasonal closure)..
Best time to visit Iron Lake: May-October — Campground operates seasonally May through October only..
Nearby campgrounds: Flour Lake Campground (GRAND MARAIS, MN), East Bearskin Lake Campground (Grand Marais, MN), Trails End Campground (Grand Marais, MN), Crescent Lake (Mn) (Tofte, MN).
Cell Phone Coverage at Iron Lake
Cell signal at Iron Lake (Grand Marais, MN): weak overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: AT&T.
- AT&T 4G LTE: 100% coverage · AT&T 5G: 100%
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.
Iron Lake Campground is located in a dense forest along the banks of Iron Lake in far northern Minnesota. The campground is unique due to its remoteness and small size. Fishing and canoeing are its biggest draws, as the lake provides access to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
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
it's a federal campground with only 7 sites and high demand.
Most sites lack hookups; only select sites have electric. Bring water if staying multiple nights.
Sites are large and spread out; site 5 specifically noted by campers as excellent with lake access.
Campground operates seasonally May through October 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 Grand Marais, Minnesota, take Gunflint Trail (County Road 12) 36 miles north, turn left on County Road 92 and travel 2 miles on a narrow gravel road to Iron Lake 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.
- Bear country — store all food in bear boxes or locked vehicle at all times.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Iron Lake cost per night?+
What season is Iron Lake open?+
Does Iron Lake have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Iron Lake?+
How do I make reservations at Iron Lake?+
What is the cell service like at Iron Lake?+
What season is Iron Lake open, and what are check-in times?+
Official resources
●Data sources on this page
CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.
Nearby Campgrounds
Own a campground nearby?
List free on CamperWatch — we take 5% only on bookings we send. No monthly fee.