Is Backpack Campsites Campground first-come first-served or reservation?

Backpack Campsites Campground accepts online reservations. We recommend booking in advance, especially during peak season (typically summer weekends). Use campsite alerts to get notified when spots become available.

Are there showers at Backpack Campsites Campground?

Backpack Campsites Campground does not have shower facilities. Plan accordingly—nearby alternatives may include day-use areas or towns.

Can I have a campfire at Backpack Campsites Campground?

Fire policies at Backpack Campsites Campground: Pack-in, pack-out. Use local or approved firewood to prevent spread of pests. Follow state park fire rules (light fires only within fire rings and charcoal grills where provided) and Leave No Trace principles.. Always check current fire restrictions before your trip, as conditions change seasonally.

Are dogs allowed at Backpack Campsites Campground?

Pets are not allowed at Backpack Campsites Campground. This policy helps protect local wildlife and other campers. Consider nearby pet-friendly campgrounds if traveling with animals.

What activities can I do at Backpack Campsites Campground?

Popular activities at Backpack Campsites Campground include Hiking, Fishing, Boating, Wildlife Viewing. The surrounding area offers plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities for all skill levels.

Backpack Campsites Campground

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c/o Tettegouche State Park, 5702 Highway 61, Silver Bay, MN 55614

Top 5% in MNSummer

Scenic ViewsPeace & QuietGreat HikingSummer Destination

Featured in:Fishing Camping Minnesota

Real-Time Availability

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Quick Facts

1,024 ft

Price

Varies

Booking

Reservable

Sites

Varies

Season

Year-round

Cell

No Service

Pets

No Pets

Book on Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - State Parks (Minnesota State Parks)Official Website

Get Directions

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

1,024 ft

Price

Varies

Booking

Reservable

Sites

Varies

Season

Year-round

Cell

No Service

Pets

No Pets

Book on Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - State Parks (Minnesota State Parks)Official Website

Get Directions

Backpack Campsites Campground

No fees available

Campsite Fees

Reservations are required for all campsites. A non-refundable reservation fee is charged for each advance reservation ($10 by phone / $8 online)....

No paid fee categories listed.

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Minnesota State Parks

Provider

218-353-8800; additional contacts listed: 888-646-6367, 651-296-6157; reservations: 866-857-2757

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Campground Map

c/o Tettegouche State Park, 5702 Highway 61, Silver Bay, MN 55614

Backpack Campsites Campground

c/o Tettegouche State Park, 5702 Highway 61, Silver Bay, MN 55614

Weather at Backpack Campsites Campground

Best Time to Camp at Backpack Campsites Campground

Summer offers the most reliable access, with daytime temperatures typically between 55–75°F and long daylight for navigating the deep canyon trails and fishing the trout pools. Waterfalls run at comfortable flows, trails are snow-free, and wildlife viewing. Moose, deer, Canada jays, sharp-shinned hawks. Is excellent, though weekends and mid-July through August see increased use. Insect protection and bear-aware food storage are essential. Fall transforms the hardwoods into vivid color, and spring before the leaves pop offers solitude and dramatic water flow. Winter turns the park into snowshoe country; roads may not be plowed, requiring you to access Benson Lake or Manitou River trails on foot through deep snow. Whichever season you choose, the remote terrain demands respect and proper planning.

Best

Summer(Jun-Aug)

5.0 / 5

Top 5% in MN

Summer noted as most reliable access with comfortable daytime temps and long daylight for canyon trails.

Planning Tips

About Backpack Campsites Campground

These primitive backpack-only sites sit deep in Minnesota's volcanic north country, accessible only on foot through 24 miles of steep, rocky trails. The campground offers no vehicle access, no amenities, and genuine wilderness. Waterfalls crashing through the Manitou River canyon, old-growth forest, and the real possibility of encountering moose or wolves. Sites scatter along Benson Lake and the river at 1,024 feet elevation.

Backpacker-only, backcountry campsites—secluded sites intended for pack-in/pack-out backpack camping.

Historical Significance

The park is named after George H. Crosby. The adjacent Upper Manitou Forest Preserve was acquired from polar explorer Will Steger, protecting centuries-old white spruce, cedar, sugar maple, and yellow birch that anchor the wilderness character visitors come for today.

Weather and SeasonsSummer offers the most reliable access, with daytime temperatures typically between 55–75°F and long daylight for navigating the deep canyon trails and fishing the trout pools. Waterfalls run at comfortable flows, trails are snow-free, and wildlife viewing. Moose, deer, Canada jays, sharp-shinned hawks. Is excellent, though weekends and mid-July through August see increased use. Insect protection and bear-aware food storage are essential. Fall transforms the hardwoods into vivid color, and spring before the leaves pop offers solitude and dramatic water flow. Winter turns the park into snowshoe country; roads may not be plowed, requiring you to access Benson Lake or Manitou River trails on foot through deep snow. Whichever season you choose, the remote terrain demands respect and proper planning.

Natural Features and SceneryThe Manitou River carves through ancient volcanic rock in a series of cascades. Upper, Middle, and Lower Falls. That empty into clear pools surrounded by moss-covered boulders. Old-growth white spruce, cedar, sugar maple, and yellow birch form a cathedral canopy overhead, remnants of the boreal forest that once blanketed the region. Benson Lake offers calm water for contrast, stocked with brown, rainbow, and brook trout plus splake. Highland overlooks include Manitou Overlook with views down the river valley and Cedar Ridge Overlook with sight lines toward Lake Superior. The terrain is legitimately rugged: steep ravines, wetlands, rocky gorges, and the kind of untouched northern hardwood and conifer mix that feels genuinely remote.

Geological RegionVolcanic canyon (Manitou River canyon) surrounded by fir, cedar, spruce and northern hardwood forest

Scenic ViewsHighland and river-valley overlooks provide scenic views of the Manitou River canyon; photo points on the park page include Cedar Ridge Overlook and Cascades of the Manitou River.

Best Campsites

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Reserving a campsite

Tents

Tents are not allowed

RV vehicles

RV vehicles are not allowed

Primitive

Primitive camping is allowed

Reservable

Reservations are allowed

Reservation PlatformsMinnesota state parks reservation system (UseDirect). Call 866-857-2757; online reservations available up to 120 days in advance.

Cancellation PolicyA non-refundable reservation fee is charged for advance reservations; additional cancellation details are not specified on the park page.

Best CampsitesSecluded sites along Benson Lake and sections of the Manitou River let you fall asleep to the sound of rushing water. One visitor mentioned campsite 16 as being at the end of a line and extremely private. Specific site recommendations are limited in available data, but solitude is the common thread. These are true backcountry spots reached only after serious hiking.

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Minnesota State Parks Guide

Booking tips & windows

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Amenities available

Secluded backpacking campsites with minimal services; pack-in, pack-out required. Benson Lake boardwalk and a picnic area are on-site; non-motorized canoe/kayak access to Benson Lake is available. Reservations are required for campsites.

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Activities you can enjoy

Backcountry-focused park offering rugged, steep hiking, secluded backpack camping, waterfall viewing, wildlife viewing, and low-impact boating on Benson Lake.

Hiking

Fishing

Boating

Wildlife viewing

Planning your trip?Check out our camping packing checklist

Policies & Safety

Hazards & AlertsTrails are described as steep, rocky and challenging for hikers and backpackers. Wildlife hazards include moose, deer, bear and wolves. Campsites are backcountry in character and visitors must pack out all garbage and follow Leave No Trace practices.

No Potable WaterThis campground does not have potable water on-site. Bring all the water you need for drinking, cooking, and cleaning.

No Cell ServiceCell phone service is not available at this campground. Plan accordingly for emergencies and download offline maps before arriving.

No Flush ToiletsFlush toilets are not available at this campground. Expect vault or pit toilets only.

No Electric HookupsElectric hookups are not available at this campground. RV campers should arrive with a full battery and plan for off-grid power (generator hours/quiet rules permitting).

No Water HookupsSite-level water hookups are not available. RV campers should fill freshwater tanks before arrival; check the No Potable Water note above if applicable for drinking water.

No Dump StationThere is no dump station at this campground. Plan to use a dump station along your route or at a nearby facility before or after your stay.

Trip Planning Tools

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Questions & answers

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Reviews

From Booking Sources

0.0

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Limited Reviews

Backpack Campsites Campground has limited reviews, placing it in the bottom % of campgrounds based on reviews

Visitors report a remote, quiet backcountry experience with scenic waterfalls, challenging rugged trails, and secluded backpack sites along Benson Lake and the Manitou River. Few amenities are available, so most visitors treat trips as primitive backpacking outings.

Review Summaries

What Campers Love

Secluded backpack sites, dramatic waterfalls and overlooks, quality trout fishing, abundant wildlife and old-growth forest, excellent for experienced backpackers seeking solitude.

Outdoorithm Community

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Go if

Experienced backpackers who want genuine North Shore solitude: old-growth forest, three waterfalls, moose and wolf country, and trout fishing on Benson Lake with a license and trout stamp.

Skip if

Campers expecting any amenity at the site, no water, no toilets, no fire rings, no bear lockers. Carry everything in and out, or this trip goes sideways fast.

Nearby Campgrounds

c/o Tettegouche State Park, 5702 Highway 61, Silver Bay, MN 55614

Escape into true backcountry solitude at George H. Crosby Manitou State Park, where thundering waterfalls carve through ancient volcanic canyon walls draped in old-growth forest. This is Minnesota's wilderness camping at its finest—no drive-up sites, no shortcuts—just you, your pack, and miles of challenging trails leading to secluded campsites tucked deep in the North Woods.