Bear Head Lake State Park is a Minnesota state park near Ely, covering 5,685 acres. Hours: Daily from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m. It offers camping or lodging. Entry needs a state park vehicle permit, $7 for a day, as the DNR fees page said on October 19, 2026.
- 5,685acres
- Elymailing town
- Yesovernight stays
- $7day vehicle permit
- Camping
- Fishing
- Great hiking trails
- Wilderness atmosphere
- Wildlife
- 23 miles of lakeshore
Plan It in Three Lines
- Hours: Daily from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m.
- Cost: a $7 one-day vehicle permit or a $35 year-round permit, per the DNR fees page of October 19, 2026; confirm before you go.
- Pets: leashed (six feet or shorter) outside buildings, lodging and beaches, per the DNR rules page; park-specific limits are listed below.
About The Park
The DNR describes it: Secluded in the Northwoods, this park contains pristine lakes and is home to black bears, nesting eagles, wolves and moose. Stands of white and red pine trees tower over the birch, aspen and fir trees. Located just south of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, the park shares a similar wilderness quality. Explore miles of shoreline by canoe.
Wildlife. The northern forest that surrounds 674-acre Bear Head Lake is home to a variety of wildlife. Hiking along trails and roads gives visitors an opportunity to discover white-tailed deer, black bear, moose, wolves, red squirrels, chipmunks and.
History. Bear Head Lake State Park was established in 1961 and saw rapid development, with a new road and campground created within six months of the park's establishment.
Geology. Volcanoes and ancient seas produced the bedrock of the Bear Head Lake area. The bedrock of Ely greenstone and giants-range granite was scoured and gouged by glaciers.
Visit Facts
- Address9301 Bear Head State Park Road Ely, MN 55731
- Phone218-235-2520
- Park hoursDaily from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m.
- Park office hoursDaily intermittently.
- Emailbearhead.statepark@state.mn.us
- Park GPS point47.81964, -92.04771 (DNR printed coordinates)
- Official pageDNR page for Bear Head Lake State Park
Trails
| Season | Trail type | Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Hiking | 14 miles | Connects with the Taconite State Trail. |
| Winter | Groomed Cross-Country Skiing Classic | 4.9 miles | A Great Minnesota Ski Pass is required to use groomed ski trails. |
| Winter | Snowmobile | 4.5 miles | A 1 mile spur connects users to Taconite State Trail, giving trail users access to 165 miles of groomed snowmobile trails. |
| Winter | Snowshoe | Anywhere in park | Snowshoeing is allowed anywhere in the park, except on trails groomed for skiing or snowmobiling. Snowshoes are available to rent from the ranger station. |
Camping and Lodging
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Drive-in Sites | 73 semi-modern sites | Fairly secluded, wooded sites located in one campground. Some sites remain open for winter camping. |
| Electric Sites | 45 sites | Two electric loops, in the same wooded campground as the non-electric sites. Fairly secluded. Some sites remain open for winter camping. |
| RV Length Limit | 60 feet | Length measures from front of tow vehicle to rear of vehicle being towed. |
| Accessible Sites | 2 | The campground has two accessible drive-in campsites. One accessible site has electric hookup. |
| Backpack Sites | 4 sites | All sites are between 0.75 miles and 1.4 miles over uneven hilly terrain from parking. #BP1 is on Becky Lake and is a 0.7 mile hike. #BP2 is on Blueberry Lake and a 1.1 mile hike. #BP3 is on Blueberry Lake and a 1.2 mile hike. #BP4 is on Blueberry Lake and a 1.4 mile hike. #BP5 is on Bear Head Lake and is a 1.3 mile hike or a 0.85 mile paddle across the lake. |
| Canoe-in Sites | Two sites | One campsite only accessible from the water. It is located on Bear Head Lake and a 1.3 mile paddle from the lake's boat access. Backpack site #BP5 is also accessible by water via a 0.85 mile paddle from the Bear Head Lake boat access. |
| Group Camp | Accommodates up to 50 people | The seasonal group camp is located on the east bay of Bear Head Lake and accommodates tents only. Hand pump for water. Vault toilet and bear-proof food lockers on site. Open through the end of September. |
| Accessible Lodging | 2 accessible camper cabins | — |
| Camper Cabins | Five year-round cabins, two are accessible | Two accessible camper cabins sleep five, the other three cabins sleep six. All are located in the campground. No pets. Additional camping units not allowed. More about camper cabins. |
| Guest House | — | See guest house details reserve now. –> |
Reservations go through the DNR system; start from the park page.
On The Water
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fishing Pier | Accessible | — |
| Swimming Beach | — | — |
| Boat Access | Drive-in | — |
| Boat Docks | — | — |
| Canoe Access | — | — |
Other Recreation
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Picnic Area | Near beach | Picnic area has fire rings and a picnic shelter. |
| Picnic Shelter | Accessible | Open shelter building with a great view. Call the park to reserve. |
| Warming House | — | The Trail Center serves as a warming house for the state park and offers a wood-burning fireplace. |
Amenities
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ranger Station | At entrance | — |
| Rentals | — | Boat, motor, canoe, kayak and paddleboard rentals are available to rent seasonally from the ranger station. Snowshoes are available to rent in the winter. Fishing kits (rod, reel, stocked tackle box), birding kits, GPS units, and kids discovery kits (activities and stories designed for age 5-12) are available to check out for free at the ranger station. |
| Firewood | Available year-round at the ranger station | — |
| Ice Sales | Available seasonally at the ranger station | — |
| Other | Trail Center | — |
| Electric Vehicle Charging Station | — | One free charging station in the trail center parking lot. Map of all Minnesota state parks with EV charging stations. |
Pets and Permits
Statewide, the DNR rules page says pets are welcome in state parks on a leash six feet or shorter, attended at all times; only service animals are allowed in buildings, lodging, tours and beach areas. A vehicle permit costs $7 a day or $35 a year (DNR fees page, read October 19, 2026). See the parks passport page for the full price list.
Park-specific: No pets.
Directions
Take MN Highway 169 to County Highway 128. Follow this road south 7 miles to the park.
Map © OpenStreetMap contributors. Directions.
Nearby Places
- Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State ParkState Park, about 9 miles away in a straight line
- McCarthy Beach State ParkState Park, about 47 miles away in a straight line
- George H. Crosby Manitou State ParkState Park, about 49 miles away in a straight line
- Tettegouche State ParkState Park, about 52 miles away in a straight line
- Split Rock Lighthouse State ParkState Park, about 53 miles away in a straight line
- Gooseberry Falls State ParkState Park, about 54 miles away in a straight line
What We Could Not Verify
- Current alerts, closures, trail and campground conditions: they change daily. Read the DNR park page before you go.
- County: the DNR page does not state it, so we do not print one.
- Fees for lodging and group sites, and day-by-day availability: set by the DNR reservation system.
- Permit prices were read on October 19, 2026 and the DNR page shows no effective date.
- The map point is the park’s printed coordinate, not a verified entrance.
More in Iron Range & Voyageurs
- Lake Vermilion
- Voyageurs National Park
- Franz Jevne State Park
- Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park
- McCarthy Beach State Park
- Scenic State Park
- Schoolcraft State Park
- Events in Iron Range & Voyageurs
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Bear Head Lake State Park?
It is near Ely, Minnesota. The DNR address is 9301 Bear Head State Park Road Ely, MN 55731.
How much does it cost to visit Bear Head Lake State Park?
A one-day vehicle permit is $7 and a year-round permit is $35 on the DNR fees page we read on October 19, 2026. Check the fees page before you go.
Are dogs allowed at Bear Head Lake State Park?
Pets are welcome on a leash six feet or shorter outside buildings, lodging, tours and beach areas, per the DNR rules page. This park’s page adds limits listed in Pets And Permits above.
Sources
- Bear Head Lake State Park (DNR Recreation Compass data) (read November 1, 2026).
- Minnesota state park fees (DNR) (read November 1, 2026).
- Minnesota state park rules (DNR) (read November 1, 2026).
- Minnesota State Parks Passport, all places, park fees and rules.