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Price
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Cell
No Service
Pets
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Select a month, then check for open campsites
Price
Varies
Booking
Reservable
Sites
Varies
Season
Year-round
Cell
No Service
Pets
No Pets
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Learn more about alerts →Group - Tents Only, No Campers/Rv's Allowed Campground
9301 Bear Head State Park Road, Ely, MN 55731
Groups of tent campers who want a genuine northwoods wilderness experience: paddle Bear Head Lake, fish for walleye from the pier, hike to the Taconite State Trail connection, and fall asleep to loons. Summer and early September are the sweet spot.
Anyone expecting showers, flush toilets, or reliable cell signal will be disappointed. This site has none of those, pets aren't allowed, and the mosquitoes and black flies in peak summer are serious enough that light bug spray won't cut it.
Context for the broader area surrounding Group - Tents Only, No Campers/Rv's Allowed Campground, sourced from the federal Recreation.gov rec-area record.
<A HREF="http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Facility.jsp?fac_Name=Nambe+Falls+Dam">Nambe Falls Dam</a> and Reservoir are on the Rio Nambe 25 miles north of Santa Fe, NM are features of the <A HREF="http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Project.jsp?proj_Name=San Juan-Chama Project">San Juan - Chama Project</a>. Recreation at Nambe Falls is managed by the Nambe Pueblo under agreement with the Bureau of Reclamation. The Pueblo can be reached at (505) 455-2036. Usually closed mid-November to mid-March. Fee area. Roads good to fair in recreation area. Goods and services at ranger station. No lodging. Available species include rainbow and cutthroat trout, and salmon. Nambe Pueblo fishing permit. Motorized boating; electric motors only. No stream fishing downstream from dam.
Located 18 miles north of Santa Fe via U.S. 84-285, State 503, and Nambe Rt. 1 to entrance at ranger station.
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Summer is the window for warm, lake-centered recreation. Daytime highs run mid-60s to upper-70s, nights cool into the 40s and 50s. Water temperatures are comfortable for swimming and paddling, and longer daylight stretches support extended hikes along the shore. Walleye and bass are active. Weekends fill up with groups and day users, so reserve early or plan a weekday visit. Heavy mosquitoes and black flies are the tradeoff for summer warmth. Bring robust insect protection. Early fall is also strong: September through early October brings fall color, fewer bugs, and cooler but comfortable temperatures. The park is open year-round, but tent camping outside summer and early fall is only for cold-weather groups with proper gear.
Summer is the prime window: warm days, comfortable water temps, peak paddling and swimming.
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Park amenities referenced on the official page include a swimming beach and a picnic shelter/shelter building, paddleboard and canoe rentals and a fishing pier, and firewood available for purchase at the park office. Reservations and vehicle permits are handled through the state parks system and the park office; guesthouses and camper cabins are available elsewhere in the park.
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