Fall Lake
Fall Lake Campground is located on the shores of Fall Lake and provides direct access into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). The campground opens in early May in time for walleye fishing season, making it a popular place for anglers. Others are drawn to Fall Lake for its birding, swimming, hiking and boating opportunities. 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.
Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
More like this: electric hookups in Minnesota · first-come in Minnesota · reservable in Minnesota · big rigs in Minnesota · pets allowed in Minnesota · group sites in Minnesota
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard with electric | 50 |
| Tent-only | 9 |
| group standard electric | 2 |
| tent only electric | 1 |
| Host/management | 4 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 40 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
62 sites in 5 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Power | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 002 | BASS | Electric | Back-in | 35 | Gravel | Full | 30 amp | 9 / 1 | Yes | Yes |
| 003 | BASS | Electric | Back-in | 30 | Gravel | Full | 30 amp | 9 / 1 | Yes | Yes |
| 004 | BASS | Electric | Back-in | 35 | Gravel | Full | 30 amp | 9 / 1 | Yes | Yes |
| 005 | BASS | Electric | Pull-through | 40 | Gravel | Full | 50 amp | 9 / 1 | Yes | Yes |
| 006 | BASS | Electric | Back-in | 35 | Gravel | Full | 30 amp | 9 / 1 | Yes | |
| 007 | BASS | Electric | Back-in | 35 | Gravel | Full | 30 amp | 9 / 1 | Yes | Yes |
| 008 | BASS | Electric | Back-in | 35 | Gravel | Full | 30 amp | 9 / 1 | Yes | |
| 009 | BASS | Electric | Back-in | 35 | Gravel | Full | 30 amp | 9 / 1 | Yes | Yes |
| 010 | BASS | Electric | Pull-through | 40 | Gravel | Full | 50 amp | 9 / 1 | Yes | Yes |
| 011 | BASS | Electric | Back-in | 28 | Gravel | Full | 30 amp | 9 / 1 | Yes | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 3:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | Electric |
| Max vehicle length | 40 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Tent pads | Yes |
| Accessibility | Sites 002, 003, 004, 005 and 22 more are listed accessible |
This lake has some sites that can be reserved and some that are first-come, first-served. Many sites at Fall Lake are made to accommodate RVs including pull-through sites. Trees provide privacy between most campsites. The facility is very accessible. A store, canoe rentals, firewood and ice are available at the facility, and a campground host is on-site during the season.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Season | May 1 to October 1 |
| Forest | Superior National Forest |
| Booking | Some sites are reservable through Recreation.gov's Fall Lake Campground page. |
| Fees | Single Site $28/night. Electric: Additional $7 at 30 amp sites, additional $9 at 50 amp sites. Group Site $100/night or $120/night |
| Rules | Maximum of 9 people per site. There is space for 1 vehicle and 1 towed vehicle (such as a boat trailer). Additional vehicles at the site require additional half fee and must park on the spur. No vehicles may park on the grass or where they impede traffic. ATVs not allowed. |
Weather by month
Getting there
Fall Lake is located in Northeast MN, 100 miles North of Duluth MN. From Duluth, MN, take Highway 53 north for 50 miles to Virginia, MN. Take Highway 169 northeast for 50 miles to Ely, Minnesota, travel an addition 6.5 miles to County Road 182 (Fall Lake Road). Travel north on County Road 182 for 2 miles.
| Nearest town | Ely, Minnesota |
| Coordinates | 47.9525° N, 91.7164° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Boundary Waters Outfitters ↗ | 4.8 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 20.2 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Ely Blueberry Festival and Fall Lake Campground
Trails nearby
- 0.2 miStub Lake1.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.2 miFall Lake Campground ↗0.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.1 miFall Lake-Newton Lake0.3 mi trail · hiking
- 1.7 mi4-Mile Portage4.2 mi trail · hiking
- 2.6 miMud-Four Mile Portage0.3 mi trail · hiking
- 2.9 miElla Hall-Mud0.3 mi trail · hiking
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, which overlaps Superior National Forest.
- inBoundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 816,244 acres
- inSuperior National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 3,886,760 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Pioneer Mine Buildings and A HeadframeHistoric district · Ely · 7.2 mi
- Tanner's HospitalBuilding · Ely · 7.5 mi
- Ely State TheaterBuilding · Ely · 7.6 mi
Natural features
The campground is nestled among majestic pine and abundant aspen and fir trees, providing the ultimate northwoods setting. Average summer temperatures are a pleasant 60-75 degrees. Birds and wildlife are abundant.
Recreation
Part of Fall Lake lies within the BWCAW, while the rest of the lake is open to unrestricted boating, permits are required to enter the BWCAW. Kids love the campground's swimming beach, playground and picnic area. A 1.5 mile hiking trail is also a favorite pastime for families. Anglers can try their luck for smallmouth bass, walleye, northern pike, crappie, perch and bluegill. Some campers might be interested in the unique opportunity to view the visitor center's display of replica artifacts found during archaeological digs within the campground and surrounding areas. There's no shortage of popular local events to attend, including the City of Ely's July 4th fireworks, the Blueberry Festival (the last full weekend in July) and the Harvest Moon Festival-mid September.
Nearby
Guests may want to take a day trip to the Dorothy Molter Museum, International Wolf Center, North American Bear Center, Ely-Winton History Museum or Soudan Mine. By far the most popular nearby attraction is the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Over one million acres in size, the Boundary Waters contain over 1,200 miles of canoe routes, 12 hiking trails and over 2,000 designated campsites.
Guidebooks for Minnesota
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Fall Lake?
For some sites. Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Fall Lake?
Single Site $28/night. Electric: Additional $7 at 30 amp sites, additional $9 at 50 amp sites. Group Site $100/night or $120/night
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Fall Lake?
Check-in 3:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Fall Lake have?
66 sites, including 50 standard sites with power, 9 tent-only sites, 2 group standard electric, and 1 tent only electric.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Fall Lake?
The longest site here provides 40 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Does Fall Lake have hookups?
Yes, electric hookups at some sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Fall Lake?
Yes, pets are allowed at Fall Lake. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Fall Lake?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. Maximum of 9 people per site.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there accessible sites at Fall Lake?
Sites 002, 003, 004, and 005 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov, 26 sites in all. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is there cell service at Fall Lake?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE and AT&T 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Fall Lake?
Part of Fall Lake lies within the BWCAW, while the rest of the lake is open to unrestricted boating, permits are required to enter the BWCAW. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Fall Lake?
Ely, Minnesota. Guests may want to take a day trip to the Dorothy Molter Museum, International Wolf Center, North American Bear Center, Ely-Winton History Museum or Soudan Mine.
Source: Getting there