Guide to Superior National Forest, Minnesota
Everything the RV Renter Needs to Know
Everything the RV Renter Needs to Know
Nearly 4,000,000 acres of boreal forest lie between Canada to the north and Lake Superior to the south. There, the Superior National Forest offers an outdoor enthusiast’s playground for every manner of wild adventure. This massive forest is a vacation destination in its own right, offering endless camping opportunities alongside its outdoor activities—making it the perfect place to visit in a rented RV. As you’re planning your next visit to Superior National Forest, consider renting a recreational vehicle to serve as your home base while you explore the forest and everything it has to offer. Here’s everything you need to know to plan an unforgettable RV vacation to Superior National Forest.
With more than 400 miles of trails running throughout Superior National Forest, hiking and backpacking are two of the most popular activities at the park. There are dozens of trails in each district of the forest, each offering unique looks at beautiful vistas, sparkling lakes, carnivorous plants, woodland creatures, and breathtaking old-growth forests. Trails range in difficulty, so no matter where you’re setting out, there’s always a trail that will match with your family’s hiking experience and thirst for adventure.
Of course, on an RV trip to the forest, you’ll have your campsite (more on camping in Superior National Forest below), but the chance to go backpacking and spend a night out under the stars in a backcountry camping area may be too attractive to resist. Learn more about the trails in the forest, plus get info about campsites and other landmarks you might find, in this helpful hiking brochure from the National Forest Service.
Step one: head to the Minnesota DNR website for a license. Step two: enjoy all the fishing and hunting you can handle in Superior National Forest. Anglers love this destination for its thousands of lakes, dozens of lake accesses for fishing by boat, and 13 fishing piers perfect for a relaxing day casting lines. The cold, rocky waters of the forest’s lakes are home to a wide variety of species, from walleye and lake trout to pike, yellow perch, bass, and crappies. To get a good overview of the lakes in the forest and where to find specific species, check out Minnesota’s Lake Finder.
Hunting is also allowed everywhere within Superior National Forest, and the seasons each offer different opportunities. Throughout the year (within appropriate hunting seasons), there’s big game like white tailed deer and black bear in abundance. Small game like grouse and snowshoe hare are also popular targets. With the fall comes duck hunting season, and the thousands of lakes in Superior National Forest make for prime waterfowl hunting. Learn more about the game available, the seasons, and rules and regulations surrounding hunting at Superior National Forest here.
The thousands of lakes within the forest mean it’s a major destination for boating of both the motorized and paddleboat varieties. Superior National Forest is home to the Boundary Water Canoe Area Wilderness, a massive stretch of pristine wilderness that’s an absolute canoer’s dream. You’ll need a special permit to enter the area, but once you do, you’ll find more than 1,200 miles of canoeing routes, 150 miles of which run along the border with Canada. A trip out to this area is another great opportunity to get out of the RV for a night and do some backwoods camping.
If motorboating is more your speed, it’s allowed on virtually all of the lakes outside of the Boundary Water Canoe Area Wilderness. There are 77 lake access points for easy entry into a lake, and countless other carry-in trails that will allow you to carry in your johnboat and a motor to get out on the water for fishing and a relaxing day topside. For more information on boating at Superior National Forest, check out this webpage.
It should come as no surprise that swimming is another popular activity in the lakes of Superior National Forest. The crystal-clear waters left behind by glacial activity make for refreshing, crisp dips after long hikes or afternoons spent under the sun fishing and boating. There are dozens of developed swimming holes in the forest that are sure to offer fun and safe swimming, but of course you can always find your own private spot to float—just be careful of currents in the rivers.
Get a full list of swimming destinations, as well as safety tips and rules for swimming in Superior National Forest, here.
When the weather gets cold and snow covers the boreal forests at Superior National Forest, the park transforms into a winter wonderland with a totally different flavor. The hundreds of miles of hiking trails transform into snowy landscapes perfect for cross country skiing and snowshoeing. Prefer to let a vehicle do the hard work? Snowmobiling is a popular activity in the forest and opens the door to fun activities like sledding and tubing.
Ice fishing is an activity worthy of an entire RV trip to Superior National Forest. There are three designated ice fishing sites in the forest, two of which are adjoining campgrounds which, while not designed for RVs, can accommodate them and offer some relief from the biting cold. Come prepared to haul in a bountiful cooler filled with fish and enjoy the still quiet of a frozen Minnesota lake on a sunny day.
At 3,900,000 acres, to say Superior National Forest is big would be an understatement. Like many federal lands, there are many developed campsites littered throughout the forest, all of which you can reserve in advance. In total, there are 37 RV-friendly campgrounds in Superior National Forest with mixed degrees of offerings in terms of space size and electric or water hookups. For a full list of all campgrounds, visit this page specifically about RV camping in Superior National Forest.
The main office for Superior National Forest is in Duluth, Minnesota, and that’s where you’ll find Duluth Indian Point Campground. This no-frills campground offers shady RV campsites with full hookup, great shower facilities, and a camp store with snacks and firewood to keep your campfire burning throughout your vacation.
Spirit Lake Marina & RV Park, also in Duluth, Minnesota, is a rather unique RV park since it doubles as a marina. That’s not super uncommon, but what is unusual is the RV campsites extend out into the water, mixed right in alongside the boat slips. Come for the full-hookup RV sites, stay for the fishing areas and unbeatable setting.
Just over the state line in Superior, Wisconsin, Northland Camping and RV Park is a quaint family campground in a convenient location. Northland features full hookup RV sites, plus a playground, heated pool, hot tubs, wireless internet, and close access to a nearby hiking and biking trail.
Though it’s a little farther than the other parks on this list, Sherwood Forest Campground in Gilbert, Minnesota might be worth the trip if you’re a Good Sam Club member in order to score the park’s member discount. Guests to this RV park love the location on Lake Ore-Be-Gone, which is a popular destination for divers.
There are dozens of excellent restaurants in Duluth, so there’s something to suit any palate. The top rated restaurants in the city include Fitger’s Brewhouse Brewery and Grille and Canal Park Brewing Company, both excellent spots for local craft beer and pub favorites. For something a little more upscale, Va Bene Caffe offers Italian cuisine with romantic Lake Superior views. Looking for breakfast or some traditional American grub? You can’t beat Duluth Grill.
For a complete list of dining destinations in Duluth, check out the city’s tourism website.