Camping in Northern MN/Iron range

My wife and I met in the sawtooth mountains on a backpacking trip, so it’s safe to say we like to tent camp/rough it. I have lived in Mn 95% of my life and have done a lot of camping in the BWCA and such but we have a 7 month old and are not quite ready to take a baby in the bush yet.

So I guess my question is where are some good camp grounds “I’m willing to pay a little” where I don’t have be to 10′ from the next tent/spot. Hiking a mile in would’t be the end of the world. Just kind of a weird stage of life we want to camp but don’t want to be miles out either.

I was talking with my Dad and he remembered camping at some local grounds and small lakes in Orr back in the 70’s but did not remember the name of the place or the lake??? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Get the Superior National Forest map. It will list both campgrounds and backcountry sites. Spend a little time looking it over and you’ll find lots of options.

I’ve camped at most of the sites inland from the Sawtooth a few miles. Including a couple that require a short hike or paddle to get to. Baker, Dumbell, Whitefish, Wilson, Sawbill, etc.

Only note on free sites is they are first come first serve. From when I started finding this area in the early 2000’s it’s much harder to find an open spot now.

There is a really nice campground at the end of the Gunflint Trail

Look up some of the us forest service campgrounds near Ely. I Like the Birch Lake campground, Fall Lake, Kawishwi River, those are all very scenic campgrounds and easy to access with good fishing and right on the edge of the BWCA. Another place to go is the New Lake Vermilion State Park, they have some good campsites as well. If you are looking to be off the beaten path, Perch and Whisper Lakes have some campsites on them, they are a short walk off of the roads and offer some very good fishing.

Chief Wooden Frog Campground on Kab…… for a state campground, it offers decent privacy, with VNP at your back door……

Vermillion is tough to beat, especially if you have a boat and want to camp an island.

Thanks for the info guys

Here’s some good info too:
http://www.twincities.com/outdoors/ci_27929060/great-minnesota-camping-spots

Don’t forget to look at the state forest campgrounds too, they have some of the quietest and most private sites I have found. The Best In Tent Camping Minnesota by Tom Watson is a good resource.