Open
— Open year-round on a first-come, first-served basis with no fees. All rustic campgrounds in the Superior National Forest go into 'No Services' mode beginning October 1, with limited or no maintenance during winter months.
About
Big Rice Lake Campground is a small rustic campground located on the shores of Big Rice Lake in the Superior National Forest's Laurentian Ranger District. The campground features three drive-in campsites suitable for tents or small RVs, each equipped with a fire ring and picnic table. The lake itself is a large, shallow body of water covering 1,870 acres with a maximum depth of only 5 feet, and has been a traditional wild rice harvesting site for over 2,000 years, with harvesting continuing today.
The remote location provides excellent opportunities for waterfowl viewing, duck hunting, and fishing for walleye and perch. A boat launch accommodates small boats and watercraft. The campground operates on a first-come, first-served basis with no fees charged. As a rustic site, amenities are basic but functional, including vault toilets, fire rings, and picnic tables. Campers must bring their own water and pack out all trash. The campground is accessible via a series of county roads and forest roads, with the final approach on one-lane gravel roads through the national forest.
Directions
From Virginia, take Highway 53 north for 8 miles to County Road 131. Turn right on County Road 131 for 1 mile. Turn left on County Road 68 for 0.3 mile. Go straight on Pelton Road County 405 (County 405 becomes UT8116) for 2 miles. Turn right on FR 256, a one-lane gravel road, and continue for 6 miles. Turn right on FR 247 for 1 mile to Big Rice Lake.
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