Trail’s End Campground, Superior National Forest, MN
Enjoy camping at the Trail’s End Campground on the edge of the Boundary Waters in Minnesota’s Superior National Forest.

Our summer trip along Lake Superior included a stop in the Boundary Waters. We took a scenic byway from Grand Marias called the Gunflint Trail, 57 miles to the end. That led us to the aptly named Trails End Campground.
This rustic national forest campground is along the edge of the Boundary Waters. We stayed two nights, canoeing the day in between.
Trail’s End Campground
This small campground has 33 campsites. They are spaced out in three loops. None of the sites have electricity. Sites 3 – 13 have a water faucet.
All sites have a wooden picnic table and a fire ring. The gathering of dead wood on the ground is permitted. Firewood, ice, and basic camping supplies are available at Way of the Wilderness Outfitters, located right outside the campground. We rented a canoe from the outfitter for our Boundary Waters Day Trip.
The only bathroom facilities were pit toilets, which were decent enough.
We stayed in site 31, which had no view. We walked around the campground and took note of the best sites. Many of the sites were occupied, so it was difficult to determine the viewpoint.
Larger RVs are not recommended for this campground. Our motorhome is 25 feet long, allowing us to fit on most trailer sites in the park.

Best Campsites at Trail’s End
Tents are allowed on all sites, but campers or trailers only fit on some.
Sites with the Best View
Trailer Sites 8, 10, 13
Tent Only Sites 22, 33*
*Site 33 involves a climb up a steep rock, with parking below the rock.

As we paddled near the campground, we saw some other tent sites overlooking the lake but could not determine which camping spots those were.
This campground is tranquil. The area has black bears and moose, so a tidy camp is necessary. The dumpers have bars to prevent bears from getting in.
We did not see any bears or moose when we were there. We did look for moose in the marshes near Chik-Wak Nature Center, but none were out when we went by.
The biting flies and mosquitoes are plentiful. Strong repellant or mosquito suits are a must!
All in all, we enjoyed our stay at Trails End Campground. If we visit again, we will get one of the lake view sites and be better prepared for the insects.
Trails End Gunflint Trail, Grand Marais, MN 55604
More Minnesota Camping
- Split Rock Lighthouse State Park
- Cascade River State Park
- Jay Cooke State Park
- Circle Lake Superior Itinerary
