Fall Lake Campground

Nice national forest campground that seems well run, has sites with decent privacy and nice bathrooms.

Sites vary a lot in size and some are quite unlevel so luck of the draw on whether your rig can fit, but worth trying.

I'd you have a Class B, B+, or small C, try to snag Site 42. It's around the curve from other sites on the loop and has great privacy. Parking spot is down a small hill from your picnic table and fire ring but the parking is quite level.

Bathrooms only have one shower per gender but work well and have good hot water.

You can get water here but note there is no RV dump station.

Lake is on the smaller side and seemed peaceful the one day we were here. Decent boat ramp for access Swimming beach isn't much but works if you want it to.

Overall a nice tucked away campground in the forest with a lake, a short paved biking/hiking trial, decent amenities and friendly staff.

Great FS Campground at the entrance to the Boundary Waters Canoe Wilderness Area. Campground is very well maintained with excellent bath houses. Many sites with electricity. Some of the sites are pretty far out of level and will require generous blocking to level RV's. Many of the sites are on the small side and won't fit big rigs or fifth wheels. Fall Lake is lovely and great for paddling. the Boundary Waters begin at the boat launch in the campground. Kawishiwi Falls is a short hike nearby. The toen of Ely is a great outdoor town and can provide anything you need. The campground does not have a dump station. The Chamber of Commerce in Ely has a dump station for $5 (2021). Drinking water is available at the campground at the checking office and also in town at the Chamber of Commerce. Our site 52 was on the lake @ 50' above the water with steps from the campsite to the lake. We launched our kayak at the boat launch then kept it at the base of the steps during our stay making it simple and easy to get out on the water.

We had a big site it was one of the biggest sites we’ve had. We had electric and filled with water where the office is. We had a path at the back of the site to the lake. We floated on rafts, sat in chairs in the water out back and fished. The bath house was so clean nice hot water. The dump station is in Ely.

Great boating, and kayaking lived to meet the people who portage to other lakes to fish. It is the Boundary waters canoe area. So much water so little time.

There are some great sites on the water I believe primitive in the campground and many on islands on the lakes. Many come to canoe into the boundary waters and camp for weeks. Just don’t canoe across the Canadian border. Saw eagles and lions mostly and listened to white throated sparrows. They are so cool. Can’t see them but the sing beautifully.

There is a ice cream shop in town called Northern expressions ice cream it was so good. The lines were out the door at tines. Had a good meal at the Ely Grand lodge. We didn’t like the Chinese restaurant at all the worst ever. The Wolf center was ok something to do on a rainy day. There are 2 grocery stores in town.

The only con was the camp host was across from our site and they back their golf cart out early in the morning and we sleep in a little. Luckily they were gone the 2nd week on vacation.

We bought an RV this year and have “camped” for about 8 weeks this summer. Fall Lake campground is by far the best place we’ve been. Everything is clean, the hosts very friendly and go out of their way to help you, the sites are very private. The antithesis of a KOA experience. Most of the sites are a very short walk to the water. While not an actual boundary waters experience (which we’ve done every year for the last 5), this is about as close as an RV can provide.

Site 42 is a first come first serve site. It is at the end of the loop and other than people leaving the campground, you pretty much never see anyone. It is not right by the water. Tmobile (MintMobile) was able to get 1 bar of LTE but was unusable and extremely slow with a WeBoost. I had pretty good luck with 3G on the lake itself and was able to send MMS photos to family but not in the site. My wife came halfway through the trip with her Verizon (Visible) and had full signal.

Came here in early August on a Monday at noon and had a few different site options to choose. Nice campground at entry point 24 to the boundary waters. Paved all the way throughout the campground so no problem there. Clean restrooms with flush toilets and a shower for free. Potable water available. They have a beach area for swimming as well as a playground. Little store also has some basics available for sale like ice and they also sell firewood at various spots throughout the campground. The town of Ely is a short drive away (approximately 10 minutes). Multiple restaurants, shops, and grocery stores in town. I recommend going to the nearby Dorothy Molter Museum, as well as the wolf center and bear center. This campground is a great spot to have as a base during your stay near the Boundary Waters!

We arrived mid day to check on availability of sites. There were about six left when we arrived, which is normally not the case. This is unlike most national forest campgrounds, since it had water fill station, electric sites and the nicest bathroom/shower houses we have seen yet. I think the reason is this is one of the main entry/exit points for the boundary waters wilderness canoe area. Those arriving from time out in the wilderness had to rent a site or pay to use the facilities. When we arrived they stated the site was not cleaned yet, since the last campers just left and would send someone over. When they arrived to clean the site the fire pit was cleaned out and picnic table washed. The sites were immaculately kept. All roads in the campground were paved, so there was no dust. The sites had nice privacy. There were a lot of opportunities in the area for hiking and found our favorite one maintained for cross country skiing a few miles away. There was could hike with the dogs off leash and had the trails to ourselves. The kayaking in was great and had nice views. If you plan on venturing out you will need a free permit.