McKinley Park Campground

The Great Outdoors

You'll be in an excellent position to explore several state parks and trails when you have a campsite at McKinley Park Campground. Jay Cooke State Park is home to the churning waters of the St. Louis River, a tributary for Lake Superior. Fifty miles of hiking trails thread through the park and connect to the epic North Country National Scenic Trail that meanders through eight states and runs for 4,600 miles.If commanding views of Lake Superior are what you came for, take your Soudan camper rental to the Tettegouche State Park, where you can stand on the Shovel Point lookout and admire the lake spreading out on your feet and rock climbers in the distance in the thick of the action. If you'd rather explore the park with a rental RV, drive to the top of Palisade Head for panoramic views of the lake.Winding through northeastern Minnesota on old railroad beds and former logging and mining roads, the Mesabi Trail traverses 20+ communities for a length of more than 150 miles. It will take you through streams and creeks winding through forests and rolling hills teeming with wildlife. Cyclists share this mostly paved trail with walkers, inline skaters, and intrepid winter adventurers on skis, snowshoes, and snowmobiles.Minnesota's Arrowhead Region in the northeast corner of the state overflows with wild spaces where you can truly escape from it all and reconnect with nature. Voyageurs National Park, a two-hour drive away while McKinley Park Campground camping, is where you can go if you intend to be on and in water. After all, it's what makes up 40% of the park's 210,000 acres.Consider bringing your own watercraft to access the park's four large lakes and two dozen other smaller lakes. There are over 20 miles of hiking trails, and 110 miles of groomed trails for snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, or snowmobiling. Fishing and swimming in the lakes are also popular. If you're more comfortable having someone steer your vessel while you sit back and soak in the view, join one of the guided boat tours that will take you to three lakes: Crane, Rainy, and Kabetogama.

Exploring the Area

Not far from the center of town lies Minnesota's first iron ore mine half a mile underground. Opened in the late 19th century and closed in the '60s, today, the site is located within the Soudan Underground Mine State Park, where guided mine tours are offered or self-guided audio tours above ground for those uncomfortable in tight spaces. As the mine is located near Lake Vermillion's shores, it would be easy for you to get there when you park your rental motorhome at McKinley Park Campground.In nearby Tower, step inside the Bois Forte Heritage Center & Cultural Museum that tells the story of the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa. The award-winning displays are informative, including outdoor installations like a birch bark dwelling and tipi on the museum grounds.When you're camping at McKinley Park Campground, make the hour-long drive to Chisholm to visit the Minnesota Discovery Center: The Museum of the Iron Range. The center illustrates the pivotal role of iron mining in the area around Lake Superior that contains ore with high percentages of iron. To gain insight into the people and the land of the Iron Range, hop aboard a historically narrated trolley ride that takes passengers to a former mining community known as Glen Location.Natural wonders, abundant outdoor recreation opportunities for all ages, and a wealth of history are all a short drive when camping in Soudan, MN. So when you're looking for a family-friendly campground in the Arrowhead Region, consider bringing your RV rental to McKinley Park Campground and enjoy this well-deserved lakeside getaway.