Bear Head Lake State Park

Bear Head Lake State Park is located in northern Minnesota about 20 southeast of Ely, Minnesota. This beautiful northern forest park is over 4000 acres in size and has the feel of Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCA). It has 23 miles of lakeshore. The forest in the park includes red and white pine, spruce, paper birch and fir in the upland areas; while tamarack, black spruce and white cedar grow in the lowlands. In 2010 Bear Head Lake State Park was voted America’s Favorite Park.

Outdoor recreational opportunities abound at this park. The park has over 14 miles of hiking trails including the Norberg Lake Trail. Fishing is a popular activity at the park and the park has two designated trout lakes. There is a wheelchair accessible pier in the park. Boats, canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards are available for rent. There is a picnic area and beach located on Bear Head Lake. There is also a picnic shelter that is available for rent at this location.

Winter activities include cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling. There are seven miles of groomed cross-country skiing trails in the park. Snowshoes are available for rent and can be used anywhere in the park except for on the groomed trails. There are four and a half miles of snowmobile trails in the park including a spur trail to the Taconite State Trail.

There is a campground in the park with a total of 73 drive-in sites, of which 45 have electric hook ups with 30-amp service. In addition to the main campground, there are four backpack sites, two canoe-in sites, and one group site. The park also offers five camper cabins for rent and a guesthouse that sleeps ten is available year-round.

A link to the Minnesota DNR website for Bear Head Lake State Park can be found here.