USDA Forest Service · Minnesota
Fenske Lake Campground
USDA Forest Service · Minnesota, United States
- Sites
- 16
- Hookups
- 11 no hookups
- Season
- May 7 to September 25
- Max RV length
- 80 ft
- Group sites
- Yes
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 1,496 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- Verizon weak · AT&T good · T-Mobile none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- FENSKE LAKE (NFSR 1882) · crushed aggregate or gravel · moderate degree of user comfort
- Lake
- Superior National Forest
- Nearest town
- ELY
- Address
- KAWISHIWI RANGER DISTRICT, ELY, MN, 55731
- Phone
- KAWISHIWI RANGER DISTRICT: 218-365-7600, CONCESSIONAIRE (SUMMER): 218-365-2963
- Activities
- Biking, Boating, Camping, Fishing, Hiking, Hunting, Swimming Site, Wildlife Viewing
16 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
Fenske Lake Campground offers visitors an escape to a small, remote campground with large, majestic pine trees and easy access to water. It is a popular base camp for exploring, fishing, hiking, sightseeing and backcountry canoeing in Superior National Forest and the nearby Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The campground lies approximately 10 miles outside of Ely, Minnesota.
Recreation
Because of its proximity to access points into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and its status as a Superior National Forest canoe circle route, Fenske Lake is very popular for canoeing and kayaking.
Families and children enjoy exploring the short, 1-mile nature trail in the campground, as well as swimming at the grassy beach or waiting for a catch on the accessible fishing pier. Anglers can make use of the boat ramp and try their luck for bass, northern pike, crappie and sunfish.
View recreation guides and maps of hiking trails and canoe routes in the national forest.
Facilities
The campground is tent-friendly; most sites do not accommodate large RVs. Sites are spaced widely apart along a large loop. All sites have partial to full shade, and some overlook the lake.
A group campsite for 10 to 25 people is situated on a separate parking spur away from the main campground. The site is perched high on a rock ledge overlooking the lake, offering a spectacular view.
Families and groups of friends will enjoy the facility's small picnic area. An open log shelter is available for use during inclement weather.
Natural Features
The facility overlooks 130-acre Fenske Lake, a small and scenic body of water surrounded by dense hardwood and pine forests in the northwoods of Minnesota. Birds and wildlife are abundant in the area.
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.
Nearby Attractions
Numerous outdoor recreation opportunities lie within Superior National Forest's 77 lake accesses, 13 fishing piers, 10 swimming beaches and 22 picnic areas. The forest is also home to three scenic byways.
Campers can also explore the nearby Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Over 1-million acres in size, the Boundary Waters extends nearly 150 miles along the United States-Canada border and contains over 1,200 miles of canoe routes, 12 hiking trails and over 2,000 designated campsites.
Additional sites of interest
Contact Info
For facility specific information, please call (218) 365-2963.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 16° | -1° | -28° | 39° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 16° | 3° | -25° | 42° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 34° | 19° | -9° | 56° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 41° | 29° | 8° | 64° | 11 of 11 |
| May | 61° | 41° | 29° | 81° | 2 of 11 |
| June | 71° | 54° | 44° | 88° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 77° | 61° | 51° | 97° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 74° | 60° | 55° | 90° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 69° | 54° | 43° | 82° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 51° | 40° | 26° | 70° | 3 of 10 |
| November | 35° | 27° | 4° | 56° | 9 of 10 |
| December | 24° | 13° | -16° | 45° | 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
- Fall Lake · USDA Forest Service · 10 mi · 66 sites
- Bear Head Lake State Park · Minnesota State Parks · 15 mi · 73 sites
- South Kawishiwi River · USDA Forest Service · 15 mi · 33 sites
- Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park · Minnesota State Parks · 17 mi
- Birch Lake Campground · USDA Forest Service · 18 mi · 32 sites
All public campgrounds in Minnesota · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-03-11. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.