Birch Lake
- Jul–Sep
- best months
Is Birch Lake open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Superior National Forest. It doesn't name Birch Lake, 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.
Birch Lake is a backcountry fishing site in the Kawishiwi Ranger District of Superior National Forest in northern Minnesota, managed by the Forest Service. It is a single-party site, accessible only by foot or boat, and is set up for first-come, first-served stays. The site has a fire grate, a latrine and may have a picnic table. Summer is the most comfortable time to visit. Typical averages from the nearby Babbitt weather station run to highs around 77°F in July and 75°F in August, with lows in the low 50s. The site is a backcountry campsite, so plan around the basics. Hang food packs, put out fires before leaving, treat or boil water, and pack out all trash. The Forest Service also asks campers to wash themselves and dishes at least 150 feet from any body of water. Nearby, Little Lake is about 2.3 miles away, and Birch Plantation and Bear Island Spur Loop are each about 3.6 miles off. Birch Lake Campground sits about 3.7 miles away.
Local outfitters
- Piragis Northwoods Company10 mi away
- Spirit of the Wilderness10 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
- LITTLE LAKEHiking2.3 mi
- Birch PlantationHiking3.6 mi
- BEAR ISLAND SPUR LOOPHiking3.6 mi
Birch Lake CampgroundCampingPhoto: Recreation.gov (RIDB) / public domain3.7 mi- Birch Lake Plantation - Spur BHiking3.7 mi
- Bear IslandHiking3.7 mi
- Bear Island LakeLake fishing4.2 mi
- South Kawishiwi RiverCamping7.5 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
- Fenske Lake CampgroundPier fishing · ~29 min drive
- Kangas LakeLake fishing · ~3 min drive
- Vermilion RiverRiver fishing · ~36 min drive
- Fenske Lake Fishing PierPier fishing · ~29 min drive
- Starling LakeLake fishing · ~21 min drive
- Pfeiffer Lake Fishing PierPier fishing · ~49 min drive
- McDougal LakeLake fishing · ~27 min drive
- Hogback Lake Fishing PierPier fishing · ~60 min drive
- Uranus LakeLake fishing · ~30 min drive
- Dumbbell Lake Fishing PierPier fishing · ~50 min drive
Best time to visit Birch Lake
Best months: July–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
16° / -7°
9 wet
Feb
21° / -5°
8 wet
Mar
34° / 10°
8 wet
Apr
48° / 25°
9 wet
May
62° / 39°
13 wet
Jun
72° / 49°
13 wet
Jul
77° / 53°
12 wet
Aug
75° / 51°
10 wet
Sep
65° / 42°
10 wet
Oct
50° / 31°
11 wet
Nov
34° / 18°
9 wet
Dec
21° / 2°
9 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Babbitt, MN, 5.1 mi away at 1,481 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
