Is Elk Lake Group Camp first-come first-served or reservation?

Elk Lake Group Camp 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.

What is the best time to visit Elk Lake Group Camp?

Elk Lake Group Camp is open Seasonal — opening and closing dates vary by campground and are weather dependent; check ParkFinder for specific dates.. The best time to visit depends on your preferences—summer offers the warmest weather and most activities, while spring and fall provide fewer crowds and milder temperatures. Check current conditions before your trip.

Are there showers at Elk Lake Group Camp?

Yes, Elk Lake Group Camp has shower facilities available for campers. Check the amenities section for details on hours and any fees.

Can I have a campfire at Elk Lake Group Camp?

Fire policies at Elk Lake Group Camp: Light fires only within fire rings and charcoal grills. Do not leave fires unattended. Extinguish all fires before leaving. Do not burn trash. Use approved or local firewood to prevent spread of pests.. Always check current fire restrictions before your trip, as conditions change seasonally.

Are dogs allowed at Elk Lake Group Camp?

Pets are not allowed at Elk Lake Group Camp. This policy helps protect local wildlife and other campers. Consider nearby pet-friendly campgrounds if traveling with animals.

What amenities are available at Elk Lake Group Camp?

Elk Lake Group Camp offers: Restrooms, Showers, Potable Water. See our detailed campground page for the full list of facilities and features.

What activities can I do at Elk Lake Group Camp?

Popular activities at Elk Lake Group Camp include Hiking, Fishing, Swimming, Boating. The surrounding area offers plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities for all skill levels.

Elk Lake Group Camp

4 reviews

Laporte, MN (no street address found)

Top 25% in MNFall

Featured in:Spring Camping Minnesota

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

Price

Varies

Booking

Reservable

Sites

Varies

Season

Seasonal — opening a...

Cell

No Service

Pets

No Pets

Showers

Book on Minnesota Department of Natural Resources — Minnesota State Parks Official Website

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

Price

Varies

Booking

Reservable

Sites

Varies

Season

Seasonal — opening a...

Cell

No Service

Pets

No Pets

Showers

Book on Minnesota Department of Natural Resources — Minnesota State Parks Official Website

Elk Lake Group Camp

No fees available

Campsite Fees

Reservations are required for all campsites. A non‑refundable reservation fee is charged for each advance reservation ($10 by call center, $8...

No paid fee categories listed.

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Minnesota State Parks

Provider

Reservations: 866-857-2757; General contact: 888-646-6367, 651-296-6157

I manage this campground

Plan a trip to Elk Lake Group Camp

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Campground Map

Laporte, MN (no street address found)

No map location available

Weather at Elk Lake Group Camp

Best Time to Camp at Elk Lake Group Camp

Minnesota's seasons paint Elk Lake in ever-changing colors, from spring's vibrant greens to autumn's fiery golds. Opening and closing dates shift with the weather's whims, so check ParkFinder before you plan your adventure to ensure the camp is ready to welcome your group.

Best

Fall(Sep-Nov)

4.5 / 5

Top 25% in MN

Seasonal info: 'Fall brings the best camping window' with peak color and cool days.

Planning Tips

Operating Season: Seasonal — opening and closing dates vary by campground and are weather dependent; check ParkFinder for specific dates.

About Elk Lake Group Camp

Gather your group beneath towering pines at Elk Lake Group Camp, where Itasca State Park's pristine wilderness becomes your shared backyard. By day, join naturalist-led adventures through ancient forests; by night, let crackling campfires and moonlit lake walks create memories that bind your group together in Minnesota's legendary north woods.

This site is identified as a group campground (Elk Lake Group Camp).

Historical Significance

Landscape shaped by glacial activity; Elk Lake is one of the glacially formed lakes characteristic of the park.

Weather and SeasonsMinnesota's seasons paint Elk Lake in ever-changing colors, from spring's vibrant greens to autumn's fiery golds. Opening and closing dates shift with the weather's whims, so check ParkFinder before you plan your adventure to ensure the camp is ready to welcome your group.

Natural Features and SceneryYour camp sits cradled in the same glacial landscape that shaped Minnesota's headwaters region thousands of years ago. Elk Lake sparkles through stands of red and white pine, while paper birch groves give way to quiet wetlands where moose and waterfowl thrive. The gently rolling terrain—ancient glacial moraine—creates a patchwork of wooded lakeshores and hidden pockets of marsh, each ecosystem teeming with the wildlife and wildflowers that make Itasca legendary.

Geological RegionMoraine landscape of glacially formed lakes (rolling terrain left by retreating glaciers).

Scenic ViewsForested lakeshore and lake views from lower sites and shoreline areas.

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 not allowed

Reservable

Reservations are allowed

Reservation PlatformsOnline reservation system (Make a reservation) and call center (866-857-2757). Online reservations can be made up to 120 days in advance; call center hours vary by season.

Cancellation PolicyAdvance reservations carry a non‑refundable reservation fee ($10 call center / $8 web).

Need help booking Elk Lake Group Camp?

Reservation tips, booking windows, and free cancellation alerts.

Minnesota State Parks Guide

Booking tips & windows

When to Book

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Cancellation Alerts

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Amenities available

Secondary sources report flushing toilets and vault toilets/porta-potties, drinking water, and showers (showers have been noted as sometimes closed). No other site-specific amenities (dump station, hookups, wifi, etc.) are documented in the available sources.

Showers

Potable water

Flush toilets

Vault toilets

Group Sites

I manage this campground

Activities you can enjoy

Reported activities include hiking, swimming/wading at a small beach, kayaking/boating on Elk Lake, and fishing.

Hiking

Fishing

Swimming

Boating

Planning your trip?Check out our camping packing checklist

Policies & Safety

Hazards & AlertsUse only approved or local firewood to prevent spread of forest pests. Follow fire safety rules: light fires only in rings or designated grills, do not leave fires unattended, extinguish fires before leaving, and do not burn trash.

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

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

Set an AlertGet notified when sites open up Check WeatherHistorical weather data Gear for This TripMatched gear recommendations Packing ListCustomizable checklist

Questions & answers

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Tips from campers

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Reviews

From Booking Sources

0.0

4 reviews

Limited Reviews

Elk Lake Group Camp has limited reviews, placing it in the bottom % of campgrounds based on reviews

Online reports describe a peaceful, scenic area with well-maintained sites and good hiking and paddling opportunities. Facilities mentioned include flushing toilets, vault toilets/porta-potties, occasional showers, and nearby cabin options in the park system.

Review Summaries

Based on 4 reviews

What Campers Love

Gorgeous lake views (especially from lower sites), clean restrooms where noted, family-friendly setting, strong hiking and kayaking opportunities.

Based on 4 reviews

Outdoorithm Community

Be the first to review this campground

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Go if

Groups who want a base for paddling, swimming at the small clear beach, and hiking Itasca's trails will find this setup hard to beat in late summer or fall. Lower sites have direct lake views.

Skip if

Families expecting reliable showers should call ahead, reviewers flag them as sometimes closed. No hookups, no cell service, and heavy mosquitoes near the water make this a poor fit for anyone who didn't come prepared.

Campgrounds

Itasca State Park

Elk Lake Group Camp

About Lake Minatare State Recreation Area

Context for the broader area surrounding Elk Lake Group Camp, sourced from the federal Recreation.gov rec-area record.

Lake Minatare is a feature of the <A HREF="https://www.usbr.gov/projects/index.php?id=363">North Platte Project</a>. Managed as a State recreation area by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Lake Minatare, with a surface area of 2,158 acres and about 12 miles of shoreline is a part of the North Platte National Wildlife Refuge. Available species include channel catfish, crappie, small mouth bass, white bass, walleye (15 inch minimum), wipers, and yellow perch. Walleye, channel catfish, and gizzard shad are stocked in the reservoir annually. Motorized boats are permitted. The area is open to the public from Jan. 15 to Sept. 30. A number of Civilian Conservation Corps structures dating to the 1930's exist at Lake Minatare. Included among them is a stone picnic shelter designed to look like a lighthouse. Minatare Dam, constructed between 1912-1915, is a historic structure determined eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.

Directions

North from Scottsbluff, Nebraska off State Hwy. 71.