Campgrounds and RV parks near Ely, MN

Paddling and fishing dominate the trip list. Bear Head Lake State Park offers 23 miles of shoreline that can be explored by canoe or kayak with several lakes located in the park, along with fishing, boating, canoeing, kayaking, picnicking, swimming, hiking, biking and wildlife viewing. Bear Head Lake offers crappie, bass, northern pike, walleye, and more, and nearby trout lakes are stocked with trout. On shore, hiking, biking, and lake swimming fill the day-use hours. The park office rents paddleboards, kayaks, and motorboats, and loans fishing poles to those who want to fish. Silver Rapids Lodge and Veterans on the Lake Resort also offer boat rentals on nearby lakes, and Birch Lake RV Park and Campground provides direct access to Birch Lake for day paddling. In town, the International Wolf Center and the North American Bear Center are family-friendly stops. Day-use paddle trips into the BWCAW are also possible from several access points close to Ely.

The prime RV season runs from late May through mid-September, when campgrounds are fully open, comfort stations are staffed, and lakes are ice-free. Summer highs typically reach the mid 70s Fahrenheit, and mosquitoes and black flies peak in June before easing in mid to late summer. The Bear Head Lake State Park campground is open year-round, with potable water, trash collection, flush toilets and hot showers in season, and vault toilets available otherwise. Shoulder seasons bring quieter sites. Late September and early October deliver fall color across the birch, aspen, and maple stands, cool nights, and the last stretch before hard freeze. Snow in Ely usually begins around October and ends by April, so water systems shut down at most private resorts by mid-October. Winter is a real season here, not a shoulder. Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, and ice fishing are all standard cold-weather activities in the area. Comfort stations with flush toilets and hot showers operate from May through September. Most RV hookups are drained by then, so cold-season visitors usually shift to camper cabins or lodge rooms.

Bear Head Lake State Park has a total of 73 back-in sites for tents and RVs, and sites in this area tend to be wooded and spacious. Most sites are set back and secluded by trees, which makes the campsite feel like a little sanctuary. Full hookups with water and sewer at the site are limited in state parks; renters wanting full hookups often choose private resorts and RV parks. Cell service is patchy once you leave Ely proper, and some access roads are gravel. Expect to share the area with wildlife. Bears are active, so food and scented items should be stored in the RV or in provided bear boxes, and firewood must be bought locally rather than brought in. Bring layers even in July: nights on the water often drop into the 50s Fahrenheit, and evening bug pressure is real from late spring through midsummer.