Leech Lake Recreation Area
Leech Lake Recreation Area is located in the heart of the Chippewa National Forest in Federal Dam, Minnesota on the Leech Lake River. The area is best known for its fishing and boat access to Portage Bay on Leech Lake, a famous perch, walleye and musky fishery.
More like this: electric hookups in Minnesota · full hookups 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 | 73 |
| Walk-in | 4 |
| group shelter electric | 1 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 116 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
78 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Power | Water / sewer | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Electric | Back-in | 45 | Gravel | Partial | 20/30/50 amp | No / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 02 | Electric | Back-in | 48 | Gravel | Partial | 20/30/50 amp | No / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 03 | Electric | Back-in | 70 | Gravel | Partial | 20/30/50 amp | No / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 04 | Electric | Back-in | 57 | Gravel | Partial | 20/30/50 amp | No / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 05 | Electric | Back-in | 55 | Gravel | Partial | 20/30/50 amp | Yes / Yes | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 06 | Electric | Pull-through | Gravel | None | 20/30/50 amp | No / No | 16 / 4 | Yes | ||
| 08 | Electric | Back-in | 36 | Gravel | Partial | 20/30/50 amp | Yes / Yes | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 09 | Electric | Back-in | 50 | Gravel | Partial | 20/30/50 amp | Yes / Yes | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 10 | Electric | Back-in | 77 | Gravel | Partial | 20/30/50 amp | Yes / Yes | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 11 | Electric | Back-in | 60 | Gravel | Partial | 20/30/50 amp | Yes / Yes | 8 / 2 | 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 1:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | Electric, water, sewer |
| Max vehicle length | 138 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Accessibility | Sites 15, 16, PICNIC are listed accessible |
This campground offers 73 wooded sites with electric hookups, including eight sites with full hookups. Additionally, there are four primitive walk-to tent sites. A group day-use picnic shelter with electric is available, as well as two mini-picnic shelters. Amenities include flush toilets, showers, drinking water, laundry facilities, a dump station, boat ramps and overnight boat mooring. Campers enjoy the park's basketball, volleyball, badminton and shuffleboard courts, as well as the horseshoe pits. Younger campers love the playground areas.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From Grand Rapids, Minnesota, take Highway 2 west for 33 miles to Bena. Turn south onto County Road 8 and proceed 8 miles to Federal Dam. From Bemidji, Minnesota, take Highway 2 east for 35 miles to Bena, Turn south onto County Road 8 and proceed 8 miles to Federal Dam. From Walker, Minnesota, take Highway 200 east for 20 miles to County Road 8.
| Nearest town | Federal Dam, Minnesota |
| Coordinates | 47.2447° N, 94.2308° W · Directions ↗ |
Charges and cancellations
A $10 service fee will be withheld from any refund for a cancellation. A customer who cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee (not to exceed the total paid for the original reservation). Cancellations for a one-night reservation will forfeit the entire amount paid and will not be subject to an additional service fee. If a customer wants to switch dates that are entirely outside of the original reservation dates, there is a $10 change fee.
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Reeds Family Outdoor Outfitters ↗ | 19.3 mi |
| RV sales & service | Lake Country RV ↗ | 20.1 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 34.3 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Camping at Leech Lake COE Campground Minnesota.
Trails nearby
- 0.8 miSoo Line ATV Trail ↗21 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, ATV and 1 more
- 4.4 miBoy River Canoe Route ↗15 mi trail · boat, paddle
- 4.9 miTriville Gia Snowmobile Trail ↗19 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
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 Chippewa National Forest.
- inChippewa National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,598,139 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
- Battle Point (21Ca12)Historic district · Cass Lake · 6.7 mi
- Winnibigoshish ResortBuilding · Bena · 7.1 mi
Natural features
Leech Lake has 316 miles of shoreline and encompasses 14 natural lakes. A mixed forest of elm, ash, maple, basswood, birch, aspen and pine covers the area.
Recreation
Boating, canoeing and fishing are very popular activities. Anglers will find walleye, perch, bass, northern pike and musky, where every cast has the potential to yield a trophy. Miles of scenic hiking trails meander around Leech Lake, including the Soo Line, Heartland and North Country National Scenic Trails.
Guidebooks for Minnesota
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Leech Lake Recreation Area?
Sites at Leech Lake Recreation Area are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Leech Lake Recreation Area?
Check-in 1:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
What does it cost to cancel a reservation at Leech Lake Recreation Area?
A $10 service fee will be withheld from any refund for a cancellation.
Source: Charges and cancellations
How many sites does Leech Lake Recreation Area have?
78 sites, including 73 standard sites with power, 4 walk-in sites, and 1 group shelter electric.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Leech Lake Recreation Area?
Recreation.gov lists no practical vehicle capacity limit for the largest site here, which usually means pull-through or open parking. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Does Leech Lake Recreation Area have hookups?
Yes, electric, water, and sewer hookups at some sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there showers or a dump station at Leech Lake Recreation Area?
Amenities include flush toilets, showers, drinking water, laundry facilities, a dump station, boat ramps and overnight boat mooring.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Leech Lake Recreation Area?
Yes, pets are allowed at Leech Lake Recreation Area. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Leech Lake Recreation Area?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there accessible sites at Leech Lake Recreation Area?
Sites 15, 16, and PICNIC are listed accessible on Recreation.gov. 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 Leech Lake Recreation Area?
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 Leech Lake Recreation Area?
Boating, canoeing and fishing are very popular activities. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation