Bear Island
- 3.3 mi
- round trip
- 154 ft
- climb
- 1,499 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Jul–Sep
- best months
Is Bear Island open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Superior National Forest. It doesn't name Bear Island, 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.
Bear Island is a 3.25-mile hike in the Kawishiwi Ranger District of Superior National Forest in northern Minnesota. The trail is an out-and-back with a flat profile, rising about 41 feet from the start to a high point of 1,499 feet before returning. The climb is gentle, with the steepest stretch at about 0.94 miles, and the total round-trip gain is 154 feet. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the nearby Babbitt weather station show July highs around 77°F with lows near 53°F, while winter highs stay in the teens and 20s. Bikes are allowed on the natural-surface trail. The Bear Island Spur Loop starts just 0.1 mile away, and Bear Island Lake is about 0.6 mile off. Birch Lake Plantation - Spur B and Birch Lake Campground are both within about 7 miles.
Local outfitters
- Lodge of Whispering Pines / Echo Trail Outfitters16 mi away
- Snowbank Lodge and Outfitters26 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
- BEAR ISLAND SPUR LOOPHiking0.1 mi
- Bear Island LakeLake fishing0.6 mi
- Birch Lake Plantation- Spur DHiking3.7 mi
- Birch Lake Plantation - Spur BHiking3.7 mi
- Birch LakeLake fishing3.7 mi
- Birch PlantationHiking4 mi
- LITTLE LAKEHiking5.9 mi
Birch Lake CampgroundCampingPhoto: Recreation.gov (RIDB) / public domain7.3 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
BASS LAKE TRAILHiking · ~22 min drivePhoto: USDAgov, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)
Bass LakeHiking · ~23 min drivePhoto: USDAgov, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)
Dry LakeHiking · ~22 min drivePhoto: Abnormally Weird, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
HoboHiking · ~22 min drivePhoto: USDAgov, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)- ProspectorHiking · ~17 min drive
- BIRCH LAKEHiking · ~17 min drive
DENLEY LAKE SPUR IHiking · ~22 min drivePhoto: Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)- Hidden Valley Birch HighlandsHiking · ~19 min drive
- BEAR ISLAND SPUR LOOPHiking · Next door
- SOUTH FARM LAKEHiking · ~23 min drive
Best time to visit Bear Island
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, 4.1 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