USDA Forest Service · Minnesota
Sawbill Lake Campground - Superior National Forest
USDA Forest Service · Minnesota, United States
- Sites
- 53
- Hookups
- 26 with water, 48 no hookups
- Season
- May 8 to October 20
- Max RV length
- 45 ft
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Showers
- Yes
- Dump station
- Yes
- Laundry
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 1,850 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- AT&T weak · T-Mobile none · Verizon none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- SAWBILL BWCA ENTRY PARKING LOT (NFSR 1550A) · crushed aggregate or gravel · moderate degree of user comfort
- Lake
- Superior National Forest
- Nearest town
- Tofte
- Address
- SAWBILL LAKE CAMPGROUND - SUPERIOR NATIONAL FOREST, Tofte, MN, 55615
- Phone
- 218-663-7150
- Activities
- Camping, Canoeing, Concessions, Educational Programs, Fishing, Hiking, Hunting, Mountain Biking, Wildlife Viewing
27 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
Sawbill Lake Campground has immediate access to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, a beautiful, peaceful and wild natural feature of Minnesota's Superior National Forest. The campground acts as a convenient base camp for exploring the nearby wilderness.
Superior National Forest, located in northeastern Minnesota's Arrowhead Region, is comprised of 3 million acres. The forest spans 150 miles along the United States-Canada border. Visitors can find recreation opportunities year-round, including travel in the famed Boundary Waters.
Recreation
This facility draws canoe enthusiasts who seek a quiet and convenient area from which to access the surrounding wilderness. Day and overnight use of the Boundary Waters requires a permit.
The campground concessionaire, Sawbill Canoe Outfitters, provides a one-stop shop for canoeists of all levels within walking distance of the campground. Canoe rentals, permits and guided canoe trips are available.
Campers who wish to spend time relaxing at the campground can fish for northern pike and bass; hike, bike, picnic and attend educational programs.
View recreation guides and maps of hiking trails and canoe routes in the national forest.
Facilities
Sawbill Lake is comprised of two loops with a total of 51 campsites, 27 of which can be reserved (others are first-come, first-served). Campsites can easily accommodate large motorhomes and RVs. Some of the sites offer a partial lake view through the forest.
The campground is equipped with picnic tables and campfire rings with grills, as well as vault toilets, a dump station, drinking water and trash and recycling bins.
Natural Features
Sawbill Lake is nestled in a thick pine forest that gives campsites excellent privacy. Birds and wildlife are abundant, from moose and bear to bald eagles and loons. Wildflowers add bright colors to the landscape in warmer months.
The campground sits on a hill above Sawbill Lake. The 765-acre lake is within the Boundary Waters.
Nearby Attractions
Sawbill Canoe Outfitters maintains a store with showers, laundry, fishing licenses, bait and tackle, ice, grocery and convenience items, canoe and camping gear, rentals and a pay telephone.
Over 1 million acres in size, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness contains over 1,200 miles of canoe routes, 12 hiking trails and over 2,000 designated campsites.
Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
Additional sites of interest
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 16° | 1° | -29° | 39° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 18° | 1° | -26° | 43° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 32° | 16° | -9° | 55° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 41° | 28° | 6° | 66° | 11 of 11 |
| May | 58° | 40° | 28° | 79° | 2 of 11 |
| June | 67° | 51° | 42° | 81° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 75° | 59° | 50° | 98° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 72° | 58° | 52° | 86° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 66° | 52° | 41° | 80° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 49° | 39° | 24° | 66° | 3 of 10 |
| November | 33° | 26° | 3° | 56° | 10 of 10 |
| December | 22° | 10° | -15° | 46° | 10 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Baker Lake Rustic Campground · USDA Forest Service · 3 mi
- Crescent Lake (Mn) · USDA Forest Service · 6 mi · 34 sites
- Crescent Lake Campground · USDA Forest Service · 6 mi
- Clara Lake Rustic Campground · USDA Forest Service · 9 mi
- Poplar River Rustic Campground · USDA Forest Service · 10 mi
All public campgrounds in Minnesota · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-02-25. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.