Wondering if anyone here has any information on Wakemup Campground outside of Cook, MN on Lake Vermillion? I know it is a primitive first come/first serve type State Forest Campground, with water and pit toilets, but that's pretty much all I know. I'm considering staying there the night before a trip begins so I can get into Cook quickly the following morning to get my BW permit at the Forest Service office in Cook. Would be entering at EP 14, so this seemed to be a better option that staying at Fall Lake and getting my permit in Ely to get me onto the water a bit earlier. Thoughts?

Or if you have any other ideas for campgrounds that close to Cook, feel free to leave those as well.

Jeanette Lake Camp is very close to EP14 and quite pleasant.

Yes but I’m not arriving until after 7:00 PM. So I am trying to avoid staying at Jeanette, drive back an hour to Cook for the permit, then drive back to EP14. But I do agree about Jeanette, I’ve stayed there multiple times in the past and will be staying there again before a June trip this summer.

Wakemup campground is OK. Might get a bit busy/noisy at times. The other option would be Pfieffer Lake. Similar distance out of your way assuming you are coming from the south. You just hang a right on Highway 1 about 5 miles south of Cook. Pfieffer Lake is a quiet little national forest lake with zero cabins. Nice little campground with a swimming beach.

Sorry. Missed the ranger station. Was thinking EP14.

Coming through Duluth, pick up at Duluth Pack Store? Open til 9:00 except Sunday.

marsonite: "Wakemup campground is OK. Might get a bit busy/noisy at times. The other option would be Pfieffer Lake. Similar distance out of your way assuming you are coming from the south. You just hang a right on Highway 1 about 5 miles south of Cook. Pfieffer Lake is a quiet little national forest lake with zero cabins. Nice little campground with a swimming beach. "

Thank you, I hadn’t noticed that one. I’ll check into it as well.

billconner: "Sorry. Missed the ranger station. Was thinking EP14.


Coming through Duluth, pick up at Duluth Pack Store? Open til 9:00 except Sunday."

That might work, I didn’t even know picking up there was a possibility. Thank you, I like options!

Check into Anderson's Outfitters . I believe they are the closest outfitter to EP 14. They should be able to set you up with everything you need. (Including a place to stay the night before. )

Bear Head Lake State Park might work for you. ?? Fairly quiet. Just head out very early morning to beat the road crews if they haven't finished improvements on nearby section of MN-1/MN-169 yet. A 25-minutes drive to reach Kawishiwi Ranger Station just outside Ely.
I assume you know you can go online and change the issuer of your permit from Cook to the ranger station in Ely.