East Bearskin Lake Campground

Date July 2-5, 2020

East Bearskin Lake Campground is just off the Gunflint Trail, 26 miles up from Grand Marais.
It is a US Forest Service Campground with no hookups, there are Pit Toilets and a solar powered water pump.
Some sites and camper cabins can be reserved on Recreatiton.gov others are 1st come 1st served.
Bearskin Lodge is the concessionaire that manages the campground.
They are a neighboring resort with some boat/canoe rentals, firewood, etc.
But no access to showers or other lodge facilities.

The Lodge and campground are on the western end of East Bearskin Lake.
The eastern edge of the lake is actually part of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
Which means there is a boat motor size limit. I think it is 25 hp and there are very few boats you will see or hear.

Site 3 is right next to the water pump and near toilets. It is also on the lake with a nice pebble landing good for boat/canoe/kayak landing or tube floating and swimming. Very private.

This is an excellent central trail campground providing great access to hiking trails and BWCA canoe routes.
I've found these types of activities more enjoyable to the classic canoe camping experience.
Some of the great nearby hiking I have done are Honeymoon Bluff, Blueberry hill, Magnetic Rock and Caribou Rock trail. These are varying degrees of difficulty, do your research before you strike out for one.

We recently experienced very rare hot (90 degree) weather and having the lake to cool off in after a mid-morning hike was just awesome.

Just a few miles up the trail be sure to stop at Loons Nest Gifts. It is a cute little craft shop stocking locally made souvenirs and gifts. Very affordable.
Poplar lake area has Trail Center lodge with Bar and Restaurant and shop for last minute supplies and maybe gas but unsure with Covid going on. Did not stop this last time but it looks nice.

One caveat: The bugs! pretty constant between day-time horse flies and evening mosquitoes, bring spray and some even bring a screened in tent.