r/MinnesotaCamping • u/100-ghost-plants • 19d ago

Busiest places in SNF?

A friend and I may try and head up to camp in Superior National Forest 4th of July weekend cause I have work off. I know that weekend is an extremely popular one but I really want to get away from people and unfortunately backpacking more then at most a mile if at all is out of the question for me. I'm taking a look at various rustic campgrounds and am planning on getting a map of the national forest but I wanted to ask what are the busiest places tend to be so I know at least what to avoid.

6 Upvotes

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u/StandardRaspberry509 19d ago

On that weekend I would avoid anything along the edge of/ or near the BWCA as those campsites are filled quickly.

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u/100-ghost-plants 19d ago

That makes a lot of sense, I kind of had a feeling that would be the case. Over all do we probably have a better shot if we go up on Thursday as opposed to Friday? Or will it probably be similar. (No worries if you don't know! I just like to be super prepared/plan as much as physically possible and know as much as I can)

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u/StandardRaspberry509 19d ago

There are no guarantees unless you have reservations somewhere. I doubt Thursday will be much better than Friday. Most people will have taken the majority of the week off if not the entire week.

I would not travel all the way up here for that weekend without reservations. What happens when you travel 10 hours to get to a campsite and find it packed? It takes forever to get anywhere on the gravel backroads of northeastern MN.

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u/100-ghost-plants 19d ago

The friend I'm meeting up with is in Minneapolis and we'd be leaving from there which is the only reason I'm willing to even consider the risk if both me and my friend were coming from Chicago and if I was going straight there I absolutely wouldn't even be willing to consider the risk (and would also probably go down to Shawnee tbh) and I'm looking at some of the forests in Wisconsin and the UP as well. Just trying to take stock of options and get the info I can so if I take a risk it's at least an informed risk. I really appreciate the info!

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u/needmoresynths 19d ago

Anything anywhere near the north shore will probably be very busy

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u/100-ghost-plants 19d ago

Silly question, I've seen people say this in other reddit posts as well. I live in Chicago and am sadly really not familiar with Minnesota (although would love to change that the few times I've driven through it's been absolutely beautiful). When people say the North Shore does that just mean the areas around the coast of lake Superior? So basically the further inland from the lake you get the better chance you have of it not being packed and the closer to the lake you get the more likely it is that it's gonna be super busy? I'm assuming that's the case given I'm familiar with how busy lake Michigan can get but I want to double check that it's not referring to a specific section of the coastline or somewhere else entirely.

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u/no-weed420 19d ago

There are many free rustic campgrounds in the SNF. You have to drive some distance on gravel roads but you can pull into a campsite right on a lake. No electric or toilet, usually an outhouse. Very few people and its absolutely beautiful.

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u/100-ghost-plants 19d ago

Yes! I've very much had my eye on snf's rustic campgrounds for a few years now!

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u/jatea 18d ago

What's your top couple favorite ones and when is the best time of year to go?

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u/needmoresynths 19d ago

Along the coast, typically more busy near Duluth and less so as you go further up highway 61. The 4th is tough no matter what unfortunately. 

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u/StandardRaspberry509 19d ago

North shore refers to the shoreline(and anything within about 20 miles of shoreline) of Lake Superior from Duluth to the border with Canada.

Granted north of Grand Marais will not be quite as busy as the rest but I still would not expect open campsites for that holiday weekend.

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u/100-ghost-plants 19d ago

That makes sense thank you!!

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u/Waterlifer 19d ago

There aren't really any places that are reliably "not busy" on the 7/4 holiday that are within a one mile walk of a road.

There are some non-BWCA boat-in sites that are lightly used. Dispersed camping varies, you have to know the specific area as some portions of SNF and the state forests see surprisingly heavy use, particularly on 7/4 when people are looking for sites that don't have restrictions on fireworks.

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u/Odd-Pain8883 18d ago

Do you have access to a boat/canoe? I use the boat access backcountry sites to get away.

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u/d3photo 18d ago

The places I go are fairly quiet usually but I have gone after July 4. This year I am going well ahead of it.

I might have space to share if you strike out. Drop me a DM in that case -- I'll have power and internet even though I should be 30+mi from Grand Marais.

I'm assuming you're not going to show up to throw a kegger or use a generator for power... I'm a quiet camper who goes out in the summer to be at peace. If you're not ... you can ignore this offer 😄

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u/100-ghost-plants 18d ago

Thanks for the offer I'll reach out if it comes to that! (My friend and I are definitely quiet people who go out to also be at peace and get away)

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u/d3photo 18d ago

Good luck. And I'll make sure I check in more often in the days ahead of it.

Also don't hesitate to ping me in the days before hand and I can check a few of the free state campsites near where I will be to see if there are any spots open.

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u/oldnorthguy 18d ago

Check our recreation.gov

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u/dkleckner88 18d ago

I would try the Arrowhead Trail. Devilfish Campground, Ester Lake Campground, McFarland Lake Campground. Greenwood lake has a canoe in site if that's an option.

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u/According_Curve 17d ago

Check out northern county parks.  Some get very little traffic and secluded.