Can you reserve a site at Fenske Lake Campground?

Yes, Fenske Lake Campground is reservable through Recreation.gov.

What is the maximum RV length at Fenske Lake Campground?

80 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.

Are pets allowed at Fenske Lake Campground?

Yes, pets are allowed at Fenske Lake Campground.

Are campfires allowed at Fenske Lake Campground?

Campfires are allowed at Fenske Lake Campground. Check for a current fire restriction before you go.

Fenske Lake Campground, Minnesota — 16 sites, fees and cancellation alerts

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.

The facts

Season: May 5 – October 21 — USDA Forest Service, Aug 24, 2026
16 bookable sites
4 accessible sites
Vehicles up to 80 ft
Up to 25 people per site
Loops: FENSKE LAKE CAMPGROUND

Site types

10 Standard Nonelectric
5 Walk To
1 Group Standard Nonelectric

Amenities

Campfires allowed
Shade
Pets allowed

Not recorded upstream: electric hookups, water hookups, sewer hookups, fire pits, picnic tables, grills.

Book on Recreation.gov

16 campsites at Fenske Lake Campground

Check-in 3:00 PM · Check-out 12:00 PM

Accessible only

Site	Loop	Type	Entry	Surface	Max rig	People
001	FENSKE LAKE CAMPGROUND	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	36 ft	9	🐾
002	FENSKE LAKE CAMPGROUND	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	80 ft	9	🐾
003	FENSKE LAKE CAMPGROUND	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	44 ft	9	🐾
004	FENSKE LAKE CAMPGROUND	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	32 ft	9	🐾
005	FENSKE LAKE CAMPGROUND	Walk To	Back In	Gravel	—	9	🐾
006	FENSKE LAKE CAMPGROUND	Walk To	Back In	Gravel	—	9	🐾
007	FENSKE LAKE CAMPGROUND	Walk To	Back In	Gravel	—	9	🐾
008	FENSKE LAKE CAMPGROUND	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	32 ft	9	🐾
009	FENSKE LAKE CAMPGROUND	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	36 ft	9	♿ 🐾
010	FENSKE LAKE CAMPGROUND	Walk To	Back In	Gravel	—	9	🐾
011	FENSKE LAKE CAMPGROUND	Walk To	Back In	Gravel	—	9	🐾
012	FENSKE LAKE CAMPGROUND	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	32 ft	9	🐾
013	FENSKE LAKE CAMPGROUND	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	20 ft	9	🐾
014	FENSKE LAKE CAMPGROUND	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	20 ft	9	♿ 🐾
015	FENSKE LAKE CAMPGROUND	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	36 ft	9	♿ 🐾
016	FENSKE LAKE CAMPGROUND	Group Standard Nonelectric	—	Gravel	45 ft	25	♿ 🐾

Getting there

From Ely, Minnesota, travel east on State Highway 169 North (toward Winton) for about 1 mile. Turn left onto County Road 88 and travel about 2 miles. Turn right onto Echo Trail and continue about 7 miles to the campground entrance on the right.

47.99528, -91.91389 · 47°59'43.0"N 91°54'50.0"W

Directions (Google Maps) · Directions (Apple Maps)

Typical weather

Typically 79°F in Jul, down to 15°F in Jan.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °F	15	23	36	51	65	75	79	78	68	52	35	21
Low °F	-7	-5	10	25	38	49	53	52	44	32	19	3
Precip in	1.1	0.8	1.3	2.3	3.0	4.2	4.5	3.4	4.8	2.9	1.7	1.3

1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 5.6 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.

Map

Common questions about Fenske Lake Campground

Can you reserve a site at Fenske Lake Campground?: Yes, Fenske Lake Campground is reservable through Recreation.gov.
How many campsites does Fenske Lake Campground have?: 16 sites.
What is the maximum RV length at Fenske Lake Campground?: 80 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.
Are pets allowed at Fenske Lake Campground?: Yes, pets are allowed at Fenske Lake Campground.
Are campfires allowed at Fenske Lake Campground?: Campfires are allowed at Fenske Lake Campground. Check for a current fire restriction before you go.

Also listed by

Fenske Lake Campground also appears in other federal recreation data. Facts below are matched by name and location, not confirmed by Fenske Lake Campground's operator.

USDA Forest Service — data as of Aug 24, 2026

Single Site: $20/night
Group Site: $60/night

Restrictions:

Maximum of 9 people per site. There is space for 1 vehicle and 1 towed vehicle (such as a boat trailer). Additional vehicles at the site require additional half fee and must park on the spur. No vehicles may park on the grass or where they impede traffic. ATVs not allowed.

USDA Forest Service's own page

Camping near Fenske Lake Campground

Fall Lake 9.6 mi · Campground · we watch it
South Kawishiwi River 15 mi · Campground · we watch it
Nels Lake 1.7 mi · Facility
West Twin Lake 2.3 mi · Facility
Picket Lake 4.4 mi · Facility
Agassa Lake 4.6 mi · Campground
Big Lake 7.6 mi · Campground
Twin West 10.2 mi · Facility
Johnson Lake 12.6 mi · Campground
Bear Island Lake 15.1 mi · Campground
Tofte Lake 16 mi · Campground
Glacier Pond 2 16.3 mi · Campground

Contact

Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-03-11.

Fenske Lake Campground