Skip to main content

Picnicking

Nothing is quite as good as a picnic on a summer day, and there are many good picnic spots for you to choose from.  Some picnic grounds are separate areas, but sometimes picnic grounds are incorporated into a "day use area" in a campground.  Many day use areas in campgrounds are located near boat landings, and may include fishing piers and drinking water as well.  Facilities at picnic areas are usually vault type outhouses without sinks, so you may want to pack hand sanitizer with your lunch.  Packing water is a good idea as well, some picnic areas outside of campgrounds may not have drinking water available.

Follow Leave No Trace principles by respecting wildlife and not feeding squirrels, chipmunks, and other creatures.  Make sure to use bear resistant garbage containers when available.  On some types, it may be necessary to relock the lid after use.  At other sites, there may be no garbage containers available so you will need to pack out any garbage you create.  Never dispose of garbage in vault toilets.

Picnicking - Single

Most picnic grounds are designed for individual families or small groups.  Picnic grounds are located at the areas and campgrounds listed below.  More information, including downloadable campground maps showing locations of picnic grounds, and availability of shelter structures, water, and garbage containers may be found by clicking on the site name.

Picnicking - Group

There are a limited number of areas available for large group picnicking, such as family reunions, company picnics, etc.  Click on areas listed below to see the amenities available at each site.

Search for Picnicking Opportunities

Showing: 1 - 10 of 19 results

Echo Lake Campground & Backcountry Sites

Site Open
Hunting, Fishing and Shooting Water Activities Picnicking Hiking
Echo Lake is located on the west end of the Echo Trail, a remote country road that traverses through the heart of the Western Superior National Forest. This quiet campground, where the sounds of…

Eighteen Lake Rustic Campground

Site Open
Hiking Picnicking Hunting, Fishing and Shooting Water Activities
Eighteen Lake Rustic Campground provides three campsites and a picnic area under red pines on the shore of Eighteen Lake.  A trail around the lake and a carry down boat access make this a wonderful…

Fall Lake Campground

Site Open
Water Activities Picnicking Hunting, Fishing and Shooting Outdoor Science and Learning Hiking
Fall Lake Campground is located on the shores of Fall Lake and provides direct access into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The campground opens in early May in time for walleye fishing…

Fenske Lake Campground

Site Open
Water Activities Hunting, Fishing and Shooting Picnicking Outdoor Science and Learning Hiking Biking
Fenske Lake Campground offers visitors an escape to a small, remote campground with large, majestic pine trees and easy access to water. It is a popular base camp for exploring, fishing, hiking,…

Harriet Lake Rustic Campground

Site Open
Hunting, Fishing and Shooting Water Activities Picnicking Outdoor Science and Learning
Harriet Lake Rustic Campground is located at the site of an abandoned farm.  The open land now hosts a variety of coneflowers and other plants not common in a boreal forest.  It also provides…

Kimball Lake Campground

Site Open
Hunting, Fishing and Shooting Picnicking Water Activities
Kimball Lake Campground is a small campground that is excellent for people who want to camp and fish.  Kimball Lake is a small state-managed trout lake stocked with rainbow trout.  Because of this…

Lake Leander Picnic Area

Site Open
Water Activities Picnicking
Lake Leander is a popular swimming area and picnic area for local residents as well as visitors. The picnic area and swimming beach is located on the southern shore of Lake Leander. Large red pines…

Lake Vermilion

Site Open
Water Activities Hunting, Fishing and Shooting Picnicking
Lake Vermilion is 40,000 acres, 76 feet at its deepest point, and has 365 islands.  It has the most shoreline of any lake in Minnesota and is known  for its walleye and muskie fishing. There…

Little Isabella River Campground

Site Open
Hunting, Fishing and Shooting Water Activities Outdoor Science and Learning Biking Other Off Highway Vehicles (OHV) Scenic Drives Picnicking
Little Isabella River Campground is a small, secluded campground in a grove of red and white pines in the central part of Superior National Forest, just 4.5 miles west of Isabella, Minnesota. This is…

McDougal Lake Campground

Site Open
Water Activities Hunting, Fishing and Shooting Hiking Outdoor Science and Learning Other Picnicking
McDougal Lake Campground provides easy access to a wide variety of recreational activities including hiking, boating, fishing, picnicking and swimming within the central part of Superior National…

Last updated March 12th, 2025