Jeanette Lake

Summary

Jeanette Lake Campground is a small, picturesque campground located in the Superior National Forest. Visitors can explore the lake in a canoe or kayak, go fishing, hike the Astrid Lake Trail, and take day trips to nearby attractions such as Voyageurs National Park. The campground provides access to various outdoor recreation opportunities.

Overview

Jeanette Lake Campground is a small, single-loop campground on a peninsula reaching out onto the glacier-carved Lake Jeanette in Superior National Forest. Originally built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, this sweet, picturesque campground is well worth the drive.

The facility provides sites that are usually accessible to RVs and tent trailers along with tent-only and hike-in sites.

Superior National Forest, located in northeastern Minnesota's arrowhead region, is comprised of three million acres. The forest spans 150 miles along the United States-Canada border. Visitors can find recreation opportunities year-round, including travel in the famous Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

Recreation

The winding shoreline and islands make the 638-acre Lake Jeanette a great place to explore in a canoe or kayak. Fishing opportunities include walleye, northern pike and perch. The campground provides access to the Astrid Lake Hiking Trail for those who want to stretch their legs.

The surrounding national forest offers a wide variety of recreational opportunities, including hiking in secluded woodlands and canoeing in pristine lakes and rivers.

View recreation guides and maps of hiking trails and canoe routes in the national forest.

Facilities

There are 12 sites total with six reservable standard sites, 4 First Come First Serve standard sites, and two First Come First Serve tent-only sites.
Most sites have a view of the lake and some are located on the lakeshore. The campsites are close together providing fair privacy, except for walk-in sites which enjoy excellent privacy.   

The walk-in tent sites have an additional backcountry latrine nearby (campers may want to bring toilet paper).

Lake Jeanette also has six dispersed backcountry sites that are first-come, first-served and accessible only by boat.

Natural Features

Lake Jeanette is not the largest or most isolated lake in the national forest, but it feels like it is both. Created long ago by a massive glacier, this lake is considered by many to be a special location.

The campground is wooded with a pleasant mix of hardwoods, pine and spruce providing shade for most sites. The understory of fern, wildflowers and grass is kept under control by mowing, giving the campground a manicured appearance.

Glacial "erratics" (massive boulders) left behind by the receding glacier give the campground character and a place for moss to grow.

Nearby Attractions

Possible day trips from the campground include Voyageurs National Park, Crane Lake and Vermillion Falls.

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 and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

Additional sites of interest