State Forest · Minnesota
Bear Lake Campground and Day-Use Area
State Forest · Minnesota, United States · in George Washington State Forest
- Sites
- 27
- Cost
- $17 per night, taxes included
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Elevation
- 1,378 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile none · AT&T none · Verizon none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Phone
- 218-571-2600
About
The campground is considered "primitive," designed to furnish only the basic needs of the camper. The campsites consist of a cleared area, fire ring, and table. Also, vault toilets, garbage cans, and drinking water are available.
This campground was developed in the midst of a marshy area—at least that's the impression one gets driving to the campsite. Bear Lake Campground is like a dry, forested oasis amid marshy, reed-lined bogs, and other lowland vegetation. It's a simple campground along the northern shore of Bear Lake. Most sites are spacious throughout, so the deciding factors are privacy and proximity to the lake.
Bear Lake Campground and Day-Use Area are on a walleye and crappie lake with water access, swimming beach, dock, fishing, four picnic sites, and a picnic shelter in the day-use area.
27 primitive campsites, 2 of them accessible. First come, first served for individual sites; pay the camping fee online on the day you arrive, or at a state park ranger station. Managed from Scenic State Park (218-571-2600). In George Washington State Forest.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 16° | -2° | -28° | 41° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 20° | -1° | -32° | 48° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 37° | 18° | -11° | 63° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 43° | 30° | 10° | 70° | 10 of 11 |
| May | 63° | 43° | 30° | 81° | 1 of 11 |
| June | 72° | 56° | 44° | 87° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 78° | 61° | 50° | 93° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 76° | 60° | 54° | 89° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 69° | 54° | 39° | 84° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 53° | 39° | 24° | 70° | 3 of 10 |
| November | 36° | 25° | 3° | 59° | 9 of 10 |
| December | 25° | 11° | -23° | 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
- Owen Lake Campground and Day-Use Area · State Forest · 6 mi · 18 sites
- Lost Lake Campground · State Forest · 7 mi · 15 sites
- Thistledew Campground and Day-Use Area · State Forest · 9 mi · 23 sites
- Stony Brook Horse Campground · State Forest · 9 mi · 17 sites
- Togo Horse Campground · State Forest · 9 mi · 12 sites
All public campgrounds in Minnesota · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-09-17. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.