Bear Head Lake State Park

This guide is for campers comparing drive-in, backpack and canoe-in sites, families looking at cabins, and winter visitors planning to ski or snowshoe. It covers lodging, trails, fishing, seasonal facilities, costs and directions. Facts come from the Minnesota DNR park record and park map unless noted; sources are at the end.

The park in brief

The DNR says Bear Head Lake State Park was established in 1961, and that a new road and campground were built within six months. The park map adds that it won the America's Favorite Park contest in 2010 and describes an "Up North, Boundary Waters feel." The DNR lists wildlife including black bears, wolves, moose and nesting eagles, and the park highlights include 23 miles of lakeshore.

Two numbers for the park's size do not match. The DNR park page lists 5,685 acres; the 2023 park map says "more than 4,000 acres."

Camping and lodging

All drive-in sites are in one wooded campground, which the DNR calls "fairly secluded." Some sites stay open for winter camping.

The DNR warns the campground "is not suitable for some large Class A motorhomes." The group camp has a hand pump, a vault toilet and bear-proof food lockers.

Backpack sites

The DNR park record does not agree with itself here. It lists the backpack sites as "4 sites" but then describes five, numbered BP1 to BP5. It also says all sites are "between 0.75 miles and 1.4 miles" from parking, while giving BP1 as a 0.7-mile hike:

Confirm the site count and distances in the reservation system when you book.

Reservations

Book online at mndnr.gov/reservations or call 866-857-2757, up to 120 days ahead. The DNR reservation FAQ says every campsite and cabin needs a reservation, including winter sites, that a newly opened date can be booked starting at 8 a.m. Central, and that same-day bookings carry no reservation fee. The state park reservation guide explains the 120-day window.

The same FAQ points campers who want to skip reservations to state forest campgrounds, which have first-come, first-served sites. Bear Head Lake staff manage three of them in the Kabetogama State Forest: Woodenfrog, Ash River and Wakemup Bay. Call the park office for details.

Trails, lakes and things to do

The DNR park record lists 14 miles of hiking trail, while its seasonal update says 12 miles. The trails connect to the Taconite State Trail. Per the park map:

Fishing and paddling

The DNR names walleye, bass, crappies and trout. The park map notes that Cub and Norberg lakes are designated trout lakes that require a trout stamp along with a fishing license. Facilities include a swimming beach, an accessible fishing pier, a drive-in boat access with docks, a canoe access, and a picnic area near the beach with an accessible shelter you can reserve by calling the park.

The ranger station rents boats, motors, canoes, kayaks and paddleboards in season, and lends fishing kits, birding kits, GPS units and kids discovery kits for free. The trail center parking lot has one free electric vehicle charger.

Winter

The Trail Center serves as a warming house with a wood-burning fireplace.

When to go

Camping, the camper cabins and the guesthouse are available year-round. As of November 2026, the DNR reports:

• The campground sanitation buildings are closed for the season. Flush toilets at the Trail Center and vault toilets in the campground stay open all year.
• The DNR adds that "the sanitation building by the fish house offers single private showering facilities."
• Drinking water is available year-round from a tap outside the park office and at the Trail Center.
• Water is off at the trailer dump station, which "will remain open until the snow falls."

As of November 2026, the DNR alert (updated October 4, 2026) also restates that ATVs and side-by-sides are not allowed in the park.

Fees and permits

From the DNR vehicle permit page and fee schedule, before tax:

The $7 overnight permit is valid through 4 p.m. the next day. For multi-night stays, ask the park which permit covers your whole stay; the $35 year-round permit covers every visit for a year. The vehicle permit is sold at the ranger station. Firewood is sold there year-round or through the Yodel app; gathering it is not allowed.

Getting there

From the DNR: take Highway 169 to County Highway 128 and follow it south 7 miles to the park. Ely is the nearest town. For other parks in the area, see all Boundary Waters and Iron Range guides or the state park finder.

Before you go

1. Reserve every site or cabin ahead, including in winter.
2. Check that your RV fits: back-in pads, 60-foot limit, and some large Class A motorhomes will not work.
3. Buy a trout stamp if you plan to fish Cub or Norberg lakes.
4. Carry a Great Minnesota Ski Pass for the groomed ski trails.
5. Leave the ATV at home; it is not allowed on any park trail.
6. Fill water at the office tap or Trail Center in the off-season.

Related guides: Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park · McCarthy Beach State Park · Scenic State Park

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Sources

• Minnesota DNR, Bear Head Lake State Park (camping, trails, seasonal update, alerts): https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state-parks/park.html?id=spk00109
• Minnesota DNR, Bear Head Lake State Park map and guide (PDF, 2023): https://files.dnr.state.mn.us/maps/state_parks/spk00109.pdf
• Minnesota DNR, Reservation FAQ: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/reserve-faq/index.html
• Minnesota DNR, State park fees (includes ski pass and guesthouse rates): https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/fees.html
• Minnesota DNR, Vehicle permits: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state-parks/permit.html