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
Season dates aren't confirmed for this campground yet - opening and closing dates haven't been verified. Check the operator's page or call ahead before you plan a trip.
Site map
The imagery of the campground. Press and hold the map to drop your own pins and notes; the operator publishes no site points here. Your ratings, notes, pins and photos are kept with the campground on your Saved list, the same list the camping map and the drive page keep.
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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.