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Tofte and Minnesota Highway 61

Welcome to the Tofte Ranger District.  The geography of this area runs from the rocky shores of Lake Superior to the miniature mountains of the Sawtooth Range.  There are plenty of lakes, lots of forest, and miles of wilderness.  The District office is located in the town of Tofte, right on scenic Minnesota Highway 61. 

Recreational opportunities abound with campgrounds of all sorts, trails for hiking, skiing, and motor use, and multiple entry points to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.  

Spend a day or two hiking the popular Superior Hiking Trail, a 300-mile trail with 94 campsites and 50 trailheads. Or use one of the several, far shorter, trails available for hiking or biking.

The Hogback Lake Area offers 5 miles of trial, backcountry camping and fishing between four different lakes.

Enjoy the 8-mile Island River Canoe Route, a river full of history with a Native American Pictograph site and a former Tomahawk Timber Company logging era town. Or spend a weekend on the Timber-Frear Canoe Route, 7 lakes, 7 portages and plenty of fishing.

Two scenic drives provide hours of relaxing car time. The North Shore Scenic Byway is a 154-mile weekend trip that will take you from Duluth to the Canadian border and back again. Or enjoy our planned just for you Sawtooth Mountain Fall Color Tour, where you will be able to stop at all the best spots to see the Arrowhead at its best.

Passes & Permits

Snowmobile Trails

Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness

  • A permit is always required to enter the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

Fishing

Hunting

Watercraft/Boating

  • Nonmotorized watercraft over 10 feet long and motorized watercraft need to be registered in Minnesota. Visit the state website for more information. Out of state watercraft do not need to register.

Recreation Sites

Showing: 11 - 20 of 44 results

Finger Lake Backcountry Campsite
Site Open
Outdoor Science and Learning Water Activities Hunting, Fishing and Shooting
Finger Lake is part of the Timber-Frear Canoe Route.  It has one backcountry site accessible from the lake which is accessed by paddling and portaging from the Whitefish Lake carry down access.

Fourmile Lake Rustic Campground & Backcountry Sites
Site Open
Hunting, Fishing and Shooting Water Activities
Fourmile Lake Rustic Campground offers four sites accessible by car.  On the shore of the lake are an additional two backcountry campsites accessible by boat.  At the campground is a boat ramp and…

Frear Lake Backcountry Campsites
Site Open
Hunting, Fishing and Shooting Water Activities Outdoor Science and Learning
Frear Lake is part of the Timber-Frear Canoe Route.  It has one backcountry site accessible from the lake which is accessed by paddling and portaging from the Whitefish Lake carry down access.

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…

Hogback Lake Rustic Campground & Backcountry Sites
Site Open
Water Activities Hiking Hunting, Fishing and Shooting
Hogback Lake is a 40 acre lake with a depth of 43 feet. It's a great place for a quiet weekend fishing and hiking. There is a boat launch on the northeast side of the lake, an accessible fishing…

Homer Lake
Site Open
Hunting, Fishing and Shooting Outdoor Science and Learning Water Activities
Homer Lake is a 433-acre lake with 12 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 22 feet. Access is by foot or boat, the boat access is on the east end of the lake.A portion of this lake is within…

Island River Canoe Route
Water Activities Hunting, Fishing and Shooting Hiking
This eight mile, narrow, twisting stream route brings wildlife on shore close to your canoe.  The current flows from east to west, so that is the preferred direction of travel.  If you travel 4 1/2…

Kawishiwi Lake Rustic Campground
Site Open
Water Activities Hunting, Fishing and Shooting Outdoor Science and Learning
Kawishiwi Lake is a lovely campground in a birch stand on the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.  It provides an excellent campsite for people entering or exiting the Boundary Waters…

Lichen Lake
Site Open
Water Activities Hunting, Fishing and Shooting Outdoor Science and Learning
There is one campsite at this 253 acre lake that can be accessed by boat or foot. The launch, located on the northwest side of the lake, is a carry down.

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…

Last updated July 23rd, 2025

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