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CampingJon
member (15)member
  
01/30/2024 03:14PM  
Does anyone know how busy this small campground gets? Was hoping to use it the night before a trip in Late May. I know it only has 5 sites though. Is is usually full? Just don't want to count on a spot, if its likely to be full.
 
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Jefflynn06
member (32)member
  
01/30/2024 04:07PM  
I'm not sure about how busy it will be in late May. A couple of years ago I arrived on a night in late June and the Baker Lake Campground was completely full. Another option is Crescent Lake Campground which is about 3-4 miles to the east. They have some sites that are reservable and some are non-reservable. For peace of mind, make a reservation (around $20) so you know you have a place to stay the night before.
01/30/2024 04:09PM  
CampingJon: "Does anyone know how busy this small campground gets? Was hoping to use it the night before a trip in Late May. I know it only has 5 sites though. Is is usually full? Just don't want to count on a spot, if its likely to be full. "


Went through that EP in July of 2022 and poked my nose in before I started to paddle. The campground had 3 groups on it that looked to be camping for a period of days and one person who was heading in that morning. There was a site open. I was surprised about the groups multi=day camping.... but I am guessing there should always be a spot open. If it were full you could zip over to sawbill and probably find one open.
01/30/2024 06:02PM  
It's kind of a crap shoot, with no rhyme or reason to when it's full or not, but May gives you a pretty good chance to get a spot there. The earlier in the day you get there, the better.

I have camped there 3 times and driven through several times and I've seen it empty, full, and everything in between.

Late July 2023 I camped there 3 nights with my 4 year old son. It was completely empty when we arrived at 10 am on a Tuesday and only one other group moved in. Nobody else came in the next 2 nights. The previous year when he was 3 we camped at Kawishiwi Lake the same week and drove through Baker when out exploring and Baker was full.

May of 2021 on the Friday of the weekend in between fishing opener and Memorial Day I stayed there one night with one of my daughters the night before entering the BWCA. We arrived at 10 am and it was empty. After 4pm three more groups arrived.

Oct. 2013 I stayed there one night with my wife and there were 2 sites open when we arrived around 6:00.

When I've driven through there multiple other times I've seen it full a couple of times.

As mentioned above, if Baker is full Crescent Lake is very close (I think $18 per night) and about 1/2 the sites are first come first serve. I've never seen it completely full. Last July when I drove through, at least 10 of the first come first serve sites open.

01/30/2024 07:47PM  
Been there 3-4 times, camped there a couple times. Never seen it full, have seen it empty. Was a great spot for camping the night before our Baker entry to the BWCA.
The 30 second drive to the EP was to our liking. Nice spot but like all SNF campgrounds in warm weather season, its hit or miss for availability. There are some other good options not too far away. Worth checking out.
 
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