Camp Observer1 of 7 photos
Jeanette Lake
Notice
CLOSURE: Superior National Forest is temporarily closing public access to this campground through Thursday, August 6, 2026, after a surge of wildfires across the forest and unusually hot, dry, and windy weather is causing fires to spread fast and unpredictably. For the latest alerts, check www.fs.usda.gov/superior and facebook.com/SuperiorNF/
Jul 25, 2026 – Aug 7, 2026
Overview
Jeanette Lake Campground is a small, single-loop campground on a peninsula reaching out onto the glacier-carved Lake Jeanette in Superior National Forest. Originally built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, this sweet, picturesque campground is well worth the drive.The facility provides sites that are usually accessible to RVs and tent trailers along with tent-only and hike-in sites.
Superior National Forest, located in northeastern Minnesota's arrowhead region, is comprised of three million acres. The forest spans 150 miles along the United States-Canada border. Visitors can find recreation opportunities year-round, including travel in the famous Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
Recreation
The winding shoreline and islands make the 638-acre Lake Jeanette a great place to explore in a canoe or kayak. Fishing opportunities include walleye, northern pike and perch. The campground provides access to the Astrid Lake Hiking Trail for those who want to stretch their legs.The surrounding national forest offers a wide variety of recreational opportunities, including hiking in secluded woodlands and canoeing in pristine lakes and rivers.
View recreation guides and maps of hiking trails and canoe routes in the national forest.
Facilities
There are 12 sites total with six reservable standard sites, 4 First Come First Serve standard sites, and two First Come First Serve tent-only sites.
Most sites have a view of the lake and some are located on the lakeshore. The campsites are close together providing fair privacy, except for walk-in sites which enjoy excellent privacy.
The walk-in tent sites have an additional backcountry latrine nearby (campers may want to bring toilet paper).
Lake Jeanette also has six dispersed backcountry sites that are first-come, first-served and accessible only by boat.
Natural Features
Lake Jeanette is not the largest or most isolated lake in the national forest, but it feels like it is both. Created long ago by a massive glacier, this lake is considered by many to be a special location.The campground is wooded with a pleasant mix of hardwoods, pine and spruce providing shade for most sites. The understory of fern, wildflowers and grass is kept under control by mowing, giving the campground a manicured appearance.
Glacial "erratics" (massive boulders) left behind by the receding glacier give the campground character and a place for moss to grow.
Nearby Attractions
Possible day trips from the campground include Voyageurs National Park, Crane Lake and Vermillion Falls.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 and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
Additional sites of interest
Camp site features
Across 12 camp sites:
- Pets allowed: all 12 sites
- Longest rig: 35 ft
- Largest party: 9 people
Directions
From Orr, Minnesota, take St. Louis County Road 23 for 16 miles to Buyck. At
Buyck, County Road 23 turns into County Road 24. Continue on County Road 24
for 8 miles to the Echo Trail. Turn right onto the Echo Trail and continue 12
miles to Jeannette Lake Campground.
Stay Limit
Check in from 2 PM, check out by 1 PM.
Reviews
Ratings (41)
5 stars
18
4 stars
14
3 stars
5
2 stars
1
1 stars
3
Jennifer M
Loop:Jean
Site:08
Reviewed 10 days ago
Well-maintained and sparsely occupied on July 6. Nice combo of reservable and non-reservable campsites.
William M
Loop:Jean
Site:09
Reviewed 7 months ago
We had all 3 of our kids and most of their kids with us. Wonderful time hiking, swimming, and just hanging out in camp.
Sharon L
Loop:Jean
Site:05
Reviewed a year ago
We love the campground but do find that it can be overcrowded especially sites 9 & 10.
julia r
Loop:Jean
Site:Standard S&P
Reviewed a year ago
Such a lovely area. I was disappointed that the solar water station was not functioning during my stay. I will definitely bring my kayak next time to take advantage of the gorgeous waters…my mission this trip; was blue berry picking.
Ken H
Loop:Jean
Site:09
Reviewed a year ago
Campsite 8. Nice spot for tent and had water access. It rained about 3 inches overnight and our tent sight had good drainage. Nice small quiet campground and beautiful lake.
Lisa M
Loop:Jean
Site:10
Reviewed a year ago
The bugs tried to carry us away. No cell service! There were a lot of mosquitoes and flies - horse flies, little biting flies. And some hornets?
The lake is pretty but there are large underwater rocks everywhere. The fishing was non existent.
No electricity. And the trails were overrun by bugs. It is a nice looking lake but Echo, Fenske, Fall lake and Bear Head are nicer
Frank S
Loop:Jean
Site:10
Reviewed a year ago
Overall my stay was good. I got confused and didn't book enough days as so had to go in and book an extra day and that cost me another service fee. The camp site had some garbage that I tried to clean up and there was a dog on the site next to me making some noise. Not too bad. Overall, the site was good, it had a lot of firewood and was beautiful, right on the water. The restroom was clean. The location is exquisite, offering access to the best hiking I've ever had! Thank you for everything. I hope to be back in the fall.
Lola S
Loop:Jean
Site:06
Reviewed a year ago
Beautiful sunset and sunrise. Lots of song birds! Bring bug spray! No camp host so it was disappointing when I arrived and discovered someone in my site! Thankfully, they were just parked there while they went fishing. And moved when I asked them to.
David L, H
Loop:Jean
Site:05
Reviewed a year ago
It's a nice rustic, hilly campground. Clean toilets, no running water but a pump house for good well water. Even when sites are full it is still quiet.
Dana B
Loop:Jean
Site:08
Reviewed 2 years ago
We were very happy with this campground.
Our only issues were that our campsite did not have our reservation posted; three other prior reservations were still posted.
And, the people at the next campsite were harassing the Swans, literally chasing them every time they put their Kayaks out on the water. If you cannot respect the Flora and Fauna, PLEASE STAY HOME!
PEDER L
Loop:Jean
Site:07
Reviewed 2 years ago
The Camp sites are beautiful and the shoreline is not weedy. We had a great experience.
Vincent M
Loop:Jean
Site:05
Reviewed 2 years ago
If you could arrange for no mosquitoes, I think we would live at Jeanette Lake forever. Even without power and water, and with mosquitoes in extreme numbers, we thoroughly enjoyed the beauty and peace of this campground.
RIck K
Loop:Jean
Site:08
Reviewed 2 years ago
Nice and calm campground. Site #8 is on a hill, with a set of stairs down to the site. Nice lake access!
Sandra O
Loop:Jean
Site:09
Reviewed 2 years ago
Our family has been camping at Jeanette Lake for 59 years. We love the family memories that have been created over the years with our multi-generational family gathering.
This year there was a red fox that was roaming throughout the campsite every day. Even though we had our pets on a leash, we had to keep constant watch on the pets and the young children since the fox came very close to our campsite and it looked like it could be sick. I understand the Park Service has been made aware of this problem and hasn’t done anything to resolve the issue.
david g
Loop:Jean
Site:05
Reviewed 3 years ago
this is a very nice back woods,lake side camp.very clean and quiet.
only drawback is the 40 miles to Ely and a 40/45 minute drive to Orr part way on a gravel road.get your ice and settle in! heavy trees and thick woods all around.lake side sites on the west side have wonderful views.nice short trail to the boat landing thru the woods is a nature hike!
several forest roads are close,norway and #200.i take slow drives and hike down some of the side roads off of them because they are not fit for a car and finding turn arounds is guess work.
Orr is a very nice tourist village with everything you need even a bank.
i stay in the main camp but out in the lake there are several camp sites that fisherman use.
any boating is very low key with smaller outboards.lots of canoes!
i have been using the camp since the late 1980's and nothing has really changed the charm of this small camp.
Peter K
Loop:Jean
Site:06
Reviewed 3 years ago
Drove 4.5 hours out of the city to get some nature and peace and quiet only to show up and have to listen to a generator running not 30 feet from my picnic table all day from the next campsite. Very discouraging.
Susan P
Loop:Jean
Site:05
Reviewed 3 years ago
Beautiful site, views are phenomenal, really enjoyed ourselves.
Diane T
Loop:Jean
Site:10
Reviewed 3 years ago
I have been vacationing here each summer for the past 50 years. I have been disappointed for the past 5-10 years as no one is maintaining the campgrounds. The outhouses stink bring your own toilet paper. And how about cut the grass! Very disappointed. The lake is beautiful but the maintenance of the grounds is disappointing. You charge people to walk around in knee high grass. Shameful
david g
Loop:Jean
Site:05
Reviewed 3 years ago
a very nice lake side campground.well kept and clean.
i drove the forest roads to the south of the camp and saw deer,moose and bear.
Laura P
Loop:Jean
Site:10
Reviewed 3 years ago
Very quiet & peaceful, with great views of the lake/sunset. Very buggy in June though!
Jonathan E
Loop:Jean
Site:09
Reviewed 3 years ago
Overall a nice quiet campground. Some of the sites have lake views. Site #9 is basically in the driveway of site #10.
Sandra O
Loop:Jean
Site:09
Reviewed 3 years ago
We were camping for five days. The bathrooms were never cleaned and toilet paper was never replenished the entire time we were camping. Be sure to bring your own toilet paper!
Thomas R
Loop:Jean
Site:07
Reviewed 4 years ago
We stayed here the night before our entry into the BWCA (EP16). Jeanette lake is very pretty, and the campsites are reasonably secluded. The campground has vault toilets and drinking water.
Roger C
Loop:Jean
Site:07
Reviewed 4 years ago
We've been enjoying Jeanette Lake for 50 years. We remember back when the grass was mowed around the sites and toilet paper was never this scarce. What's up with this? What does our fee go to pay for? We do appreciate that the trees felled during a storm are cleared from the paths and roadways. It doesn't seem too much to ask that the toilets are supplied with paper during the week, not just on Friday for the week-end. Campers are visiting all week. Thanks for making some necessary changes.
We were pleasantly surprised to find that we had cell service-a first in 50 years. Thank you for this.
Paula K
Loop:Jean
Site:05
Reviewed 4 years ago
Very basic services at this small campground but it is worth it for a remote feeling getaway. Worth the dusty drive up the Echo Trail. We were surprised that all the first come first serve sites filled up the first day we were there (mid-week) so we were glad we had reserved a site. Gorgeous sunsets, super quiet, felt like we were in the BWCA.
Cheryl M
Loop:Jean
Site:07
Reviewed 4 years ago
Beautiful campground unfortunately best spots occupied by long term reservations
Rebekkah G
Loop:Jean
Site:07
Reviewed 4 years ago
Small campground. Each site had its own personality. It was quiet and extremely tranquil.
Sandra O
Loop:Jean
Site:06
Reviewed 4 years ago
Lake Jeanette is a wonderful campground if you like to enjoy nature. It is primitive camping with beautiful views of a gorgeous lake.
Laurie A
Loop:Jean
Site:06
Reviewed 5 years ago
I was fortunate enough to spend 40+ years hiking, canoeing and camping in the BWCAW and it is no longer an option for me. Camping at Jeanette Lake re-created the BWCAW experience for me - the deafening silence, the stillness of the water, the mega-rocks and boulders, the scent of the forest - all brought back many, many fond memories. I plan to return for sure!
Cynthia H
Loop:Jean
Site:06
Reviewed 5 years ago
Beautiful lake and campsite 6 had it’s own stairs down to the lake for easy kayak launch. Gorgeous sunsets across the lake and just very peaceful. Loved the solar pump house for campground water. Genius!
Trish F
Loop:Jean
Site:06
Reviewed 7 years ago
it is the most peaceful relaxing place on earth. Been going to Jeanette lake for 45 years and the beauty never tires.
Maren D
Loop:Jean
Site:06
Reviewed 7 years ago
This is a beautiful campsite, well maintained, gorgeous and serene - when not interrupted by a large and loud family group that reserves 5 of the sites at a time.
Rex F
Loop:Jean
Site:01
Reviewed 7 years ago
We had a lovely stay at Lake Jeanette. the first day there we kayaked around the lake for a few hours. On the second day we drove up to Crane Lake to check out the Vermillion Gorge and Falls trail, use the internet, and stop at the ranger station for our permit for the Little Sioux River. The campground had many nice sites and was very peaceful.
Popularity
Quiet · 23%
Busiest in July, when about 23% of sites are booked. Based on 9 years of reservations.
Location
COOK,, MN 55723
Phone: (218) 666-0020
