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       Tent camping on our way home, somewhere around Two Harbors
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Date/Time: 05/03/2024 01:01AM
Tent camping on our way home, somewhere around Two Harbors

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Previous Messages:
Author Message Text
schweady 05/02/2022 06:59AM
OP says he's looking for something mid June.
okinaw55 05/01/2022 09:26PM
You know, I don't know if that's true. I had a hard time in May finding something but Sept looks pretty open. I know its early season but last year late permits were brutal.
schweady 05/01/2022 12:37PM
BrianDay: "LindenTree: "FYI: I drove in there last year on a Saturday (non holiday weeknd) and the campground in Finland was full, must be a covid thing because I had never seen it full either. I have stayed here 3 times at least, it is nice."



COVID definitely put a lot more people in the woods these past few years. We'll see if this summer is the same.



Brian"

Seeing all of the BWCAW permits and state park campground reservations snapped up as soon as available, my guess is that it will be.
BrianDay 04/29/2022 03:40PM
LindenTree: "FYI: I drove in there last year on a Saturday (non holiday weeknd) and the campground in Finland was full, must be a covid thing because I had never seen it full either. I have stayed here 3 times at least, it is nice."


COVID definitely put a lot more people in the woods these past few years. We'll see if this summer is the same.


Brian
LindenTree 04/29/2022 03:33PM
fsupp: "Just up Hwy 1 from the Eckbeck campground mentioned earlier is the Finland State Forest campground, just outside of the town of, well, Finland. But it's also on the Baptism River, the campsites are much more secluded than Eckbeck, it's only 6 or so miles from Hwy 61, and it's never full.


FYI: I drove in there last year on a Saturday (non holiday weeknd) and the campground in Finland was full, must be a covid thing because I had never seen it full either. I have stayed here 3 times at least, it is nice.
BrianDay 04/29/2022 02:31PM
fsupp: "Just up Hwy 1 from the Eckbeck campground mentioned earlier is the Finland State Forest campground, just outside of the town of, well, Finland. But it's also on the Baptism River, the campsites are much more secluded than Eckbeck, it's only 6 or so miles from Hwy 61, and it's never full. And you're 20 minutes from the Trestle Inn, one of the greatest spots to grab a bite in the middle of nowhere (sorry for no links, but these places are easily found online)."


Thanks for the tip on this one. I may hit Finland instead of Eckbeck next time up there.
BrianDay 04/29/2022 09:39AM
lindylair: "Eckbeck campground is a nice spot but it is about 35 miles north of two harbors. We have been staying there for years the night before and /or the night after our trips. It is along the Baptism River and is just north of Tettegouche State park. Several sites are right on the river but some are not, nonetheless it is a place to stay. All sites are non reserveable so it is a bit of chance to get a site on a Saturday night. "


This is my vote as well. I've stayed here often going to and from accounts on the North Shore and Gunflint Trail. I've never seen it full, even at the peak of summer season when every state park on the North Shore is completely booked.


Eckbeck isn't the most scenic, secluded spot out there and I've been there a couple times when there was a party vibe, but for me it has been a consistently available spot to park my rig for the night.


Here's a little Eckbeck Story from a few years back with pics of the campground.


https://kitchi-gami.com/2019/07/23/highway-61-revisited/


Brian from Wenonah
fsupp 04/28/2022 11:29PM
Just up Hwy 1 from the Eckbeck campground mentioned earlier is the Finland State Forest campground, just outside of the town of, well, Finland. But it's also on the Baptism River, the campsites are much more secluded than Eckbeck, it's only 6 or so miles from Hwy 61, and it's never full. And you're 20 minutes from the Trestle Inn, one of the greatest spots to grab a bite in the middle of nowhere (sorry for no links, but these places are easily found online).
tomo 04/27/2022 06:06PM
I live in Duluth on a semi-private street. You could pitch tents in my yard if you like. Send me an email if you’re interested.
MarshallPrime 04/27/2022 02:29PM
Yeah, we want to go south, on the way back to Indiana.


We will drive all night on Fri June 10th, get a tow Sat morning, Camp for 7 nights (5 men, 3 sons -14,13,12 years old) from west end of Sag down to SArm of Knife, back out on Sag on June 7th.


thanks again
Z4K 04/27/2022 01:39PM
I go inland and a bit north for the free sites. Most of these are 'rustic' aka free/dispersed/unreservable. If you're just looking to throw up a tent next to the car for the night I'm sure there'll be space. This is a straight up capture of a google map search for campground, IIRC, a bit north of two harbors. There are a few further south, but it does thin out quite a bit.


Maiingan 04/27/2022 10:20AM
There is Burlington Bay Campground in Two Harbors on the Big Lake. Many of the resorts between Two Harbors and Duluth on the scenic route also have campgrounds.
tomo 04/27/2022 07:21AM
When are you going?
MarshallPrime 04/25/2022 08:27AM
thanks guys, some good options there.


People are so helpful around here.
analyzer 04/23/2022 10:03AM
If you don't make it as far as Two Harbors, Crescent Lake out of tofte, has first come first serve campsites. They allow reservations on half, and the other half, are FCFS. It's probably not what you're looking for as its well off 61, right by baker lake entry. Pretty lake though. You'll feel like you're in the boundary waters, even though it's car camping.
Unas10 04/23/2022 07:10AM
Amnicon Falls State Park is just a couple of miles from the split of Hwy's 2 and 53 south of Superior. They have a few sites that are first come first serve.


Also, right there is, https://www.thesleepyhollowmotel.com/ . A very inexpensive, clean, non-chain motel. By the time you pay camping fees, you are probably halfway to the cost of a room. I keep their number in my phone for whenever I am in that area. I even lucked into a last minute room for one night for Grandma's Marathon a few years back.


lindylair 04/22/2022 07:43PM
Eckbeck campground is a nice spot but it is about 35 miles north of two harbors. We have been staying there for years the night before and /or the night after our trips. It is along the Baptism River and is just north of Tettegouche State park. Several sites are right on the river but some are not, nonetheless it is a place to stay. All sites are non reserveable so it is a bit of chance to get a site on a Saturday night.


I have been there, I would do my homework and try my best to reserve a site somewhere or you might find yourself driving all night. Even hotel rooms will be very difficult to find on a summer weekend in northern MN.
Blatz 04/22/2022 07:32PM
If you're going inland, get the Superior National Forest map. It has all of the campgrounds. Some are really nice but you'll want to reserve now if you have to. There's others that are first come first serve. Actually you can camp anywhere in the National forest that isn't private land.
schweady 04/22/2022 07:16PM
Speckled: "Anything right along the shore or 61 will be reservation only. "
And, for state park campgrounds, you pretty much need to reserve 120 days in advance... :-(
plander 04/22/2022 06:45PM
About 60 miles/1 hour past Two Harbors in Wisconsin on 53 is Lucius Woods County Park campgrounds.


Lucius Woods County Park campground link


I live in Indy and drive up to the BWCA a few times a year. Typically I spend the night in Northern WI on my return, not far from 53 or 63.
jwettelrin89 04/22/2022 05:22PM
Going to be tough to find a first come first serve campsite that time of yr on a saturday. The Tettegouchie rest area always has about 10 people sleeping in the parkinglot overnight. That's always an option.
WHendrix 04/22/2022 04:39PM
About 11 miles up the Sawbill Trail north of Tofte is the Temperance River Campground. It is pretty basic, but it does have pit toilets. Another 11 miles on up the Trail is the Sawbill Campground with more facilities. And Sawbill Outfitters have a shower building.
Speckled 04/22/2022 02:28PM
Anything right along the shore or 61 will be reservation only. I know of a spot if you're willing to drive a few miles inland (7 to 8). Shoot me an e-mail and I'll send you some coordinates. You'll be able to see it clearly on Google Earth.
MarshallPrime 04/22/2022 01:32PM
So we will finish in the afternoon on the GunFlint, get showers at the outfitter and then stop by Trail Center for dinner. We then plan to head back out to the highway and head south toward home in Indiana. We are looking for just a rustic campground (not real far off the highway) that we can stop at, toss down a couple of tents then get up pretty early and continue after a decent night of sleep for a few hours.

Where would be a good place to stop? Nothing that I would need to reserve in advance in case we just keep driving all night for 13 or so hours. It is a sat night so that might make it more difficult.
A bathroom wouldnt be bad but not required. Just a place to get a few hours of sleep after we drive for a few hours.

thanks