Open
Open for the 2026 season from May 8 through October 1. First-come, first-served with no reservations. No fees.
About
Cascade River Rustic Campground is a small, primitive camping area tucked into the Superior National Forest in Cook County, Minnesota. With only four campsites, it offers a quiet, remote experience for those looking to escape more developed campgrounds. The location is particularly popular with anglers fishing the Cascade River for trout, which requires a valid Minnesota DNR fishing license plus a trout stamp.
Facilities are minimal but functional: each site has a fire ring and tent pad, and a vault toilet serves the campground. There are no picnic tables at the sites, no potable water, and no garbage pickup, so campers must pack out all trash including fish remains. Sites are pull-in only and not designed for RVs, though one of the four sites exceeds 21 feet and may accommodate smaller units. Pets are allowed on leashes of six feet or shorter.
The campground operates on a first-come, first-served basis with no fees. Quiet hours are 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., and sites are limited to nine people with one vehicle plus one towed vehicle such as a boat trailer.
Directions
From Grand Marais, drive County Road 12 (Gunflint Trail) north to County Road 8, turn left on CR 8 and drive approximately 4.5 miles to a fork with County Road 57, bear left onto CR 57 and drive approximately 5 miles to a T intersection with Forest Road 158, turn right on FR 158 and the campground is on the left almost immediately.