Bear Head Lake Campground

The Great Outdoors

There is plenty to do right at the Bear Head Lake State Park when you camp in an RV near Ely. The park is secluded in the North Woods and features the 674-acre Bear Head Lake as well as smaller lakes and 23 miles of lake shoreline. Black bear, white-tailed deer, red squirrels, moose, chipmunks, snowshoe hares, bald eagles, and red crossbills call the forest their home. A trail center on-site features interpretive exhibits and programs. Fishing gear, boats, motors, canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, and snowshoes are all available for rent. Other recreational opportunities include hiking, picnicking, fishing, nature and wildlife viewing, and photography.The Lost Lake Peatland Scientific and Natural Area is a 2,660-acre area of unspoiled natural beauty that you can access easily when you are RV camping at Bear Head Lake Campground. Native plant species here include rare montane yellow-eyed grass, Torrey’s mannagrass, and coastal sedge. There is also a wide variety of native and migratory birds. Recreational opportunities in the area include dog walking, hiking, fishing, hunting and trapping, nature and wildlife viewing, photography, snowmobiling, and cross-country skiing.Superior National Forest is another great way to experience the great outdoors with your motorhome rental near the Bear Head Lake Campground. It covers over three million acres with 1,300 miles of coldwater streams, 950 miles of warm water streams, and 2,000 miles of trails. Gray wolves call this massive forest home. Special places in the forest include the Superior National Forest Scenic Byway, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, and the Sturgeon River Trail. Naturalist programs for all ages are offered through the North Shore Resort Naturalist Program. The Discovery Auto Tour features self-guided interpretive scenic drives, and popular recreational opportunities in the forest include boating, swimming, hiking, climbing, fishing, hunting, nature viewing and photography, rock and mineral collecting, and geocaching and letterboxing.

Exploring the Area

There is lots to do and see right in Ely when you rent a camper near the Bear Head Lake Campground. Ely is situated on the Vermilion Iron Range, and it has been the site of several iron ore mines. It remains an industrial city, yet it also retains much of its spectacular scenery. Some of the must-see sights here include the North American Bear Center, the International Wolf Center, the Brandenburg Gallery, and the Dorothy Molter Museum and Cabin. The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness contains one million acres of forest and 1,500 miles of waterways, and there are many other local, state, and federally maintained parks and green spaces. Special events that take place here every year include the Boundary Waters Blues Festival and Dog Jam, the Chocoholic Frolic, the Harvest Moon Festival, the Festival of Trees, and the WolfTrack Classic. Be sure to check out the Ely Chamber of Commerce and Explore Minnesota for up-to-date information on area attractions, events, happenings, and visitor guides.You can also explore the majestic Voyageurs National Park near International Falls with your Ely rental motorhome. This park is named after the fur traders and travelers of the North Woods, and you can learn about their history and culture here. The park has designated 13 Visitor Destinations, and there are also over 400 archaeological sites that have been preserved. A wide variety of boat tours and other ranger-led programs are offered, including canoe trips, an ethnobotanical garden tour, Creature Feature, the Life on the Lake Tour, an Ellsworth Rock Gardens Cruise, and the Grand Tour.If you’re in the mood to head out of the RV campgrounds for local fun and food, you’ll have your choice of steakhouses, pizza and wings, classic and contemporary American fare, brewpubs and grills, ethnic eateries, and familiar fast-casual chains. And when it’s time to fuel up your Ely motorhome rental, you can find both gasoline and diesel fuel easily at any of the area truck stops, convenience stores, and service stations.