bear head lake state park

Bear Head Lake State Park is still a beautiful park. It has changed quite a bit since I lived in Ely but in a good way. There's a very nice interpretative center, great trails and campsites. They've also added some rental cabins -- primitive cabins - only downfall that I saw to those was that there was no cooking facilities in them. They are basically just bunks and a table.

The park ranger was rude from the moment we walked in the door. When we asked her if there was anything specific we should see at the park the younger blonde woman stated, "well it's a state park so there there are outdoor things to do." I tried to bite my tongue and be pleasant and asked again if there was anything specific and she stated, "well, you can visit our new Trail Center building" ...I was astonished by the bad behavior for a park that was awarded the top state park in the country. We will be visiting another park in the future that treats their clientele with more respect and interest.

This was the first time I made it to Bear Head Lake State Park and I was pleasently impressed with the park. The trail head center was new and right next to the beach which was amazing. Bear Head Lake is quite beautiful and serene. The beach seemed to be in the perfect spot to really capture the views. I hiked the Norberg lake loop and loved the scenery. Norberg lake is one of those really perfect spots. The lake is stocked with brook trout but the lake itself is a picture of pure woods majesty. There were beaver and a loon in the lake when I sat beside it. Really a highlight of the whole area. After the lake I was hiking the trail and startled a moose and watched it clomp off in a hurry. Really a piece of heaven and the true heart of the northwoods in nature here. Come see it!

Sites were smaller than at other campgrounds we have stayed at but it was very scenic and the showers were nice.

This was my first time to the park and we had a great time. Some things I wish I had known ahead of time: There are two campgrounds, one with electric sites and one without. I typically choose the campground without electric because they usually have more privacy. However, at this park that is not the case. The electric sites have just as much privacy and actually seem larger than the non electric sites. We camped with friends who brought their horse trailer/camper. They had a very hard time even driving around the road to get to their site because the road is very narrow. The electric campground had much wider roads and is much better suited for campers. There are currently several non reservable sites but that will be changing next year so don't expect to be able to just drive there and pick a site. The sites in the non electric camp are quite narrow. Ours had so much brush that you couldn't really even sit all the way around the campfire ring. It's nice to have privacy but it would also be nice to be able to sit around the fire! There are trails galore in the park, fishing, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, etc. Lots of things to do!

Recently took a three day trip with my 8 yr old nephew to Bear Head Lake SP. We stayed at backpack/canoe-in site BP5. The site was very large with great views of the lake and west facing for amazing sunsets. I have been to the Boundary Waters many times and the quality of the scenery and fishing was very similar to that of the BWCA but without the hard work/portaging. Bear Head Lake itself is probably large enough to explore/fish for 3-5 days in a canoe. In our time there we didn't even cover 25% of the lake. One afternoon we canoed over to the public swimming beach which was a popular spot. In all it was a great canoe trip for a fraction of the time and effort exhausted on BWCA trips.

This is an absolutely beautiful park. The main lake is surrounded by pine trees and great for canoeing or kayaking. They can be rented for $15 for 4 hours or $25 for a whole day. It was our first time ever camping together but despite our inexperience we were able to paddle around almost the entire Bear Head Lake within 4 hours. We were able to watch a pair of loons protecting their egg and a beaver swimming and working while paddling around. It was an amazing opportunity to see these beautiful animals in their own habitat from a relatively close proximity.There were tons of mosquitoes in land and it rained a lot while we were there but I think that is just the nature of of northern MN this summer. The rain prevented us from seeing all the park but we did see was beautiful.The ranger staff were very helpful and friendly. The park was kept very clean as were all the common facilities.It is wise to make reservations for camping spots well ahead of time, as they fill up. However, the park itself is by no means overcrowded like some others in the state.

We had a wonderful experience on our first camping trip with our new trailer. The sites are wonderfully set up, with trees and shrubs between the sites to give more privacy. The trails and the boat launch were well maintained and easy to use. The shower facilities were cleaned daily and well maintained.

We visited this beautiful state park on the weekend of June 7 and 8, 2014 with my hubby and mother in law. We had booked a tent drive in campsite which was about 100 ft away from Bear Head Lake. The Campgrounds are very well planned and laid out as each site is well separated from other with lots of woods in between. The weather was perfect for boating and kayaking-not too hot but pleasant n overcast. We saw lots of kids and families fishing and managing a good catch. The lake seemed to be full of trouts and snapping turtles.We walked along the beach trail which takes you around the Bear Head Lake. The trail has benches and fishing piers all along it till the picnic shelter and beach area. This trail is an easy and small one. Evening was a perfect set up with lake in view, a bonfire and great dinner under the stars. Next day morning, we decided to see the Norberg Lake which is to the north-east of the Bear Head Lake. Norberg lake is a much smaller lake but beautiful and serene , surrounded by vegetation all around. The water there was as clear as it could get..We walked on the trail around the lake and reach the East bay of Bear Head lake. This site had a group camping area which was very well laid out. The view of the east bay lake was way more better than the main Lake area. There were small islands in the middle with trees. We did 3 mile long Norberg Trail which actually takes you within the woods and gives you a view if the East bay to your left. It was one of the most naturally laid trails i have ever been to. It was safe as my mother in law who has had a knee surgery was able to complete with some rest breaks in between.Only word of caution for everyone who would want to camp here is to be prepared to deal with lost of mosquitoes and bugs. The number of mosquitoes is so high that one point we decided to return the same day. However, with the application of bug spray and wearing lighter color clothes, the nuisance reduced to some extent. Apart from this, everything else was memorable and scenic. I would definitely recommend the State Park for camping.

We have been to several state parks in Minnesota, but for us, this one ranks as the BEST so far. WE LOVE IT! The campgrounds are meticulously well kept and every single person who works here is PROUD to work and live here and it shows! No matter what site you get, it will not be a bad site and all are very close to the water and fishing/boat access. This campground has EASY access to all of the lakes on it and has the most fishing (land) access I have ever seen. Literally, a small fishing "dock" every 20-50 feet or so. It is amazing. There are also 2 "hidden" lakes that require a bit of hiking, but are well worth it, especially if you are fishing for trout. Cub Lake has quite a few logs and weeds, but the other lake (escapes me on name - Nelson?) is awesome. It is so beautiful, peaceful, and serene at this state park. There are all kinds of wildlife all around. At night you will hear several loons calling and may even see them, bald eagle, and beaver on the lake during the day.There are so many things to do here too! Bring your bike along, be ready to hike/walk. You can fish to your heart's content from shore without a license and if you need equipment the office will lend it to you. You can also rent boats with small trolling motors by the 1/2 day or day. It is very, very reasonable and well worth the price. I believe you can also rent kayaks. In addition, there is a swimming beach! See, it has it all.Sunsets here are spectacular. Last year I took at least 30 pictures solely of sunsets and had friends from all over remarking at how beautiful they were. Do not miss the sunsets.This state park also has AMAZING water. There is an old time pump (get ready to WORK YOUR MUSCLES) that pumps fresh spring water. It is the best water I have ever tasted. You will not regret driving to what feels like the edge of nowhere for this ultimate relaxing vacation. If it ends up being a rainy day (or 2) head into Ely and see the National Bear Center, International Wolf Center, Dorothy Molitor museum, or browse the shops lining the streets of Ely. Everyone is friendly and welcoming in town too and it is only about 17 miles away. We've been 2x and this is now an annual destination for us. We are on our way for a week tomorrow and hope to be back again at the end of summer! LOVE THIS PLACE!

Tucked away in the beautiful northwoods, the park is full of great skiing/hiking trails and nice campsites. Close enough to the Soudan Underground Mine or Ely attractions if it's a cool and rainy day, but there's plenty to do here anytime!

We camped in a tent & enjoyed having plenty of trees around to keep us secluded from the neighbors. We were close to the lake for a nice walk. Granted we were there in the fall, but the beach area looked very nice. We caught the fall colors coming to peak, so it was awesome.

We camped at Bear Head State park for three days early September and couldn't have asked for more. These sites are private, level and well shaded. You are allowed to fish without a liscense if you are a Minnesota resident as it is totally on the state park grounds. There are plenty of hiking trails nearby as well as biking trails. Camping at its best!

This park is wonderful, so much to do and see! We loved the area and will definitely return.GROUP SITE: This is probably THE BEST group site I've ever camped in MN. There is one group site and it is HUGE! I believe it accommodates up to 50 people. There is a main site that could hold a dozen tents (size dependent) and 3 micro sites that would hold 1, 2 and 3-4 tents with their own firepits. There is a dock with 2 picnic tables and an amazing private view - no other cabins or lights in site! It is great for fishing (caught several good size walleyes), boating or swimming. There is a cove to the right where I saw a couple otters playing and bathing early one morning. On our private road in, we also saw a red fox and a couple of courting grouse, with the male in full splendor.There is a slight haul of gear, about 25-50 yards down a slope. You cannot park at that landing as the bear lockers are there. But you can park about 8 cars max a short walk down the road. There are 2 vault toilets that are a bit of a hike in the middle of the night. The star gazing would is amazing if you didn't have a huge moon, which we did that was as bright as a streelamp! This would be a particularly good summer campsite as it only gets maybe a few hours total direct sunlight. My only complaint of the site is that because it's in a cove, when there's a breeze, it swirls around the main firepit, making avoiding smoke a bit annoying. Perhaps using one of the other firepits would have been a better option? The wind changed direction constantly and there was no good seat, you couldn't sit upwind or downwind. And because the park firewood is birch, it causes lots of ashes that can swirl onto you. Sadly, an ash landed on my leg and burnt about a 1" hole in my fleece :0( HIKING: We did a 5-mile loop hike from the group site to the beach/picnic shelter to the park office then around to Norberg Lake (which is nirvana AND stocked with trout). I didn't care for the couple short lengths that were on road, but the park wasn't busy so it wasn't a big deal. The trails are full of rocks, so they are tripping hazards and slippery after a rain.The beach/public use area is BEAUTIFUL! I think it would be a great place to have a wedding! There is a large, flat green area that's on the water with lots of picnic tables. There's a small, pristine beach that looks very clear and inviting. There's a nice outdoor shelter at the back of this area. And there's an absolutely beautiful, brand new center that appears to be used for winter use and classrooms. It is a gorgeous simple building with a huge patio, impressive firepit and recycled adirondack chairs.Loved it, beautiful area, awesome park!

I stayed at Backpacking site B3. It was beautiful, quiet, well shaded with a lake view. But... the camp pad was slanted which made for very bad sleeping, the lake view was obstructed, and it was a 40 min hike to get there over uneven terrain. (Only 25 min to get out, I always hike faster on my way out.) I checked out campsite B2 on my way out and it was definitely a better site with a flat camp pad and a better lake view. At the park office I asked about the difficulty of the trail and the girl at the desk said 1) "I don't know I've never hiked that trail" which is a horrible answer, don't you think?! and then she said 2) "but I do know that someone had to be rescued from the trail today." As the drive-in campsites were full, I had no other option, so I went ahead and took B3. So, how hard was it? (This also applies for B1, B2 and B4.) The trail was definitely uneven with lots of rocks and exposed tree roots. This was true for the entire trail. Also, there was quite a bit of up and down, though no ascent or descent was steep or long. If you are light on your feet and you have a well weighted pack, it will be fine, otherwise you will need to be rescued. On a positive note, the trail was beautiful, with lots of varied trees, undergrowth, mushrooms, flowers, berries, animals, etc... Oh, and a pair of loons live on the lake to keep you company.