Fenske Lake Campground
Photo: Recreation.gov (RIDB) / public domain- Aug–Sep
- best months
Is Fenske Lake Campground open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Superior National Forest. It doesn't name Fenske Lake Campground, so check the source for the area it covers.
Post Wildfire Closures, Effective October 1, 2026
Agency closure covering Superior National Forest · Order 09-09-00-26-11 · USFS · Superior National Forest
Forest Road Improvement Projects
Agency alert covering Superior National Forest · USFS · Superior National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Superior National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Overview Fenske Lake Campground offers visitors an escape to a small, remote campground with large, majestic pine trees and easy access to water. It is a popular base camp for exploring, fishing, hiking, sightseeing and backcountry canoeing in Superior National Forest and the nearby Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The campground lies approximately 10 miles outside of Ely, Minnesota. Recreation Because of its proximity to access points into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and its status as a Superior National Forest canoe circle route, Fenske Lake is very popular for canoeing and kayaking. Families and children enjoy exploring the short, 1-mile nature trail in the campground, as well as swimming at the grassy beach or waiting for a catch on the accessible fishing pier. Anglers can make use of the boat ramp and try their luck for bass, northern pike, crappie and sunfish.View recreation guides and maps of hiking trails and canoe routes in the national forest. Facilities The campground is tent-friendly; most sites do not accommodate large RVs. Sites are spaced widely apart along a large loop. All sites have partial to full shade, and some overlook the lake. A group campsite for 10 to 25 people is situated on a separate parking spur away from the main campground. The site is perched high on a rock ledge overlooking the lake, offering a spectacular view. Families and groups of friends will enjoy the facility's small picnic area. An open log shelter is available for use during inclement weather.Natural Features The facility overlooks 130-acre Fenske Lake, a small and scenic body of water surrounded by dense hardwood and pine forests in the northwoods of Minnesota. Birds and wildlife are abundant in the area. Superior National Forest, located in northeastern Minnesota's Arrowhead Region, is comprised of 3-million acres. The forest spans 150 miles along the United States-Canada border. Nearby Attractions Numerous outdoor recreation opportunities lie within Superior National Forest's 77 lake accesses, 13 fishing piers, 10 swimming beaches and 22 picnic areas. The forest is also home to three scenic byways. Campers can also explore the nearby Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Over 1-million acres in size, the Boundary Waters extends nearly 150 miles along the United States-Canada border and contains over 1,200 miles of canoe routes, 12 hiking trails and over 2,000 designated campsites. Additional sites of interest Contact Info For facility specific information, please call (218) 365-2963.
Local outfitters
- Lodge of Whispering Pines / Echo Trail Outfittersunder a mile away
- Piragis Northwoods Company7 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Fenske CampgroundHikingPhoto: Tony Webster, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)0.1 mi
Everett-FenskiHikingPhoto: Joe Passe, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)0.2 mi- North Junction-South LoopCross-country skiing0.8 mi
- Moose LoopCross-country skiing0.9 mi
NORTH JUNCTION-CENTER LOOPHikingPhoto: Tony Webster, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)1 mi- Circle RouteCanoeing2.1 mi
- Science BoulderRock climbing7.9 mi
Fall LakeCampingPhoto: Recreation.gov (RIDB) / public domain9.6 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
- Fenske Lake Fishing PierPier fishing · Next door
- Neewin LakeLake fishing · ~15 min drive
- Vermilion RiverRiver fishing · ~39 min drive
- Pfeiffer Lake Fishing PierPier fishing · ~53 min drive
- Kangas LakeLake fishing · ~28 min drive
- Birch LakeLake fishing · ~29 min drive
- Crooked LakeLake fishing · ~29 min drive
- Oyster LakeLake fishing · ~31 min drive
- Bass LakeLake fishing · ~32 min drive
- Low LakeLake fishing · ~35 min drive
Best time to visit Fenske Lake Campground
Best months: August–September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
15° / -7°
11 wet
Feb
23° / -5°
9 wet
Mar
36° / 10°
9 wet
Apr
51° / 25°
10 wet
May
65° / 38°
13 wet
Jun
75° / 49°
14 wet
Jul
79° / 53°
13 wet
Aug
78° / 52°
12 wet
Sep
68° / 44°
12 wet
Oct
52° / 32°
14 wet
Nov
34° / 19°
11 wet
Dec
21° / 3°
11 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Ely, MN, 5.6 mi away at 1,382 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Closures we've recorded since August 2026
Forest-wide Fire Restrictions
Superior National Forest · Order dated July 12, 2026; seen Aug 23, 2026 → lifted Aug 25, 2026 · Forest Service




