• Light your Minnesota fire in a Federal campground.Golden glow of a campfire image by Jorge Moro from Fotolia.com
  
  Minnesota features an array of camping options for residents and visitors seeking to spend some quality time in the great outdoors. Private and state-run facilities dominate throughout much of the state, but some Federal agencies offer camping facilities in some prime locations. Ranging from rustic to modern, and remote to conveniently located, the Federal campgrounds are some of the best kept secrets in the state.
  
  

Sawbill Lake Campground

• The Sawbill Lake Campground is a United States Forest Service campground located on the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) in northeastern Minnesota. The remote campground at the end of the Sawbill Trail is managed by Sawbill Canoe Outfitters, located directly adjacent to the campground. The campground features 51 rustic and heavily-wooded campsites on a hill overlooking the wilderness lake. Direct access to the BWCAW is available by paddling across the motor-restricted lake. Day-trips into the wilderness let campers experience abundant wildlife, fertile fishing lakes and peaceful solitude. Complete outfitting is available from Sawbill Canoe Outfitters along with shower and laundry facilities. Although there is no electrical service to the campground, many sights will accommodate larger RV’s.
  
  Sawbill Lake
  
  4620 Sawbill Trail
  
  Tofte, MN 55615
  
  218-663-7150
  
  sawbilllake.com
  
  

Gull Lake Recreation Area

• Located within the popular summer vacation spot known as the Brainerd Lakes Area, the Gull Lake Recreation Area is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers campground offering full facilities at the Gull River dam. All 39 campsites are wired with electrical service and many provide water and sewer hook-ups for RV’s. Swimming beaches, playground areas and boating access to Gull Lake are all available in the campground. Golfing, amusement parks and other attractions are minutes away. Ancient burial grounds dating to 800 B.C. are featured prominently in the campground. An interpretive exhibit helps to explain the property’s past. Fee’s are nominal and are collected by a park ranger during routine patrols. A total of 16 campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Check with a ranger before setting up in an empty campsite that is available for reservations.
  
  Gull Lake Recreation Area
  
  10867 E. Gull Lake Dr.
  
  Brainerd, MN 56401
  
  218-829-3334
  
  mvp.usace.army.mil/fl_damage_reduct/default.asp?pageid=65
  
  

Leech Lake Recreation Area

• Hiking through the Chippewa National Forest and boating on the 110,000-acre Leech Lake are popular activities for campers at the Leech Lake Recreation Area. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers campground features 79 wooded campsites, most with full RV hook-ups. Those bringing boats have direct access to Leech Lake via Portage Bay and a protected mooring area provides safe harbor if the lake’s open areas get too rough. Walleye, perch, bass, northern pike and musky populate the clear, deep lake and can frequently be heard sizzling around the campground’s evening campfires.
  
  Leech Lake Recreation Area
  
  01217 Federal Dam Dr. NE
  
  Federal Dam, MN 56641
  
  218-654-3145
  
  mvp.usace.army.mil/recreation/default.asp?pageid=66