Bear Head Lake State Park - Minnesota
Bear Head Lake State Park is located in the Boundary Waters region in Minnesota. It boasts scenery similar to the nearby Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, with the added conveniences of road access, modern facilities, and motorboating. The most popular visitor activities are boating, fishing, swimming, and hiking.
The park entirely surrounds 670-acre (270 ha) Bear Head Lake and three other fishing lakes.
maps Bear Head Lake - Visitor Map Visitor Map of Bear Head Lake State Park (SP) in Minnesota. Published by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR).
Superior - Birding West Map of Birding Zone West in the Kawishiwi, LaCroix, and Laurentian Ranger Districts (RD) of Superior National Forest (NF) in Minnesota. Published by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS).
Minnesota Recreation - Ely Recreation Basemap of Ely in Minnesota. Published by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR).
brochures Bear Head Lake - Map and Guide Visitor Map and Guide of Bear Head Lake State Park (SP) in Minnesota. Published by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR).
Bear Head Lake - Campground Campground Map of Bear Head Lake State Park (SP) in Minnesota. Published by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR).
Bear Head Lake SP
https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/park.html?id=spk00109#homepage
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bear_Head_Lake_State_Park
Bear Head Lake State Park is located in the Boundary Waters region in Minnesota. It boasts scenery similar to the nearby Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, with the added conveniences of road access, modern facilities, and motorboating. The most popular visitor activities are boating, fishing, swimming, and hiking.
The park entirely surrounds 670-acre (270 ha) Bear Head Lake and three other fishing lakes.
© 2018, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
MAP AND GUIDE:
BEAR HEAD LAKE
STATE PARK
9301 BEAR HEAD STATE PARK ROAD
ELY, MN 55731
218-235-2520 • ST. LOUIS COUNTY
BEARHEAD.STATEPARK@STATE.MN.US
VISITOR TIPS
• While enjoying the trails, keep an
eye out for rocks, roots, poison
ivy and ticks.
• Keep our lakes pristine. Check
your watercraft for invasives
before and after launching.
• Appreciate wildlife from a safe
distance. Do not feed wildlife,
even chipmunks and squirrels.
• In an emergency call 911.
• Non-emergency sheriff’s
number: 218-742-9825.
ONLY HAVE AN HOUR?
• Rent a paddleboard from the
park office and hit the water.
• Check out a fishing rod and wet
a line at the fishing pier.
• Pack a picnic lunch to enjoy at
the beach or trail center.
• Hike the Beach Trail.
SO EVERYONE CAN
ENJOY THE PARK...
ABOUT THE PARK
Experience an “Up North, Boundary Waters feel”
as you hike, camp, fish and recreate in the park’s
more than 4,000 acres. The lakes, hills and rocky
landscape you’ll explore were shaped by glaciers.
Walk beneath large pines that avoided heavy
logging as early as 1895, a time when they were
too small to be cut. Glimpse a variety of wildlife
including black bears, grey wolves, white-tailed
deer, pine marten, otters and moose. Visit in
winter to ski, snowshoe, snowmobile or cozy up in
one of the reservable cabins or guesthouse. The
park was created in 1961 as a place for visitors to
enjoy year-round. In 2010, it won the America’s
Favorite Park contest.
A FULL SET OF STATE PARK RULES AND
REGULATIONS IS AVAILABLE AT MNDNR.GOV.
PARK OPEN
8 a.m.–10 p.m. daily.
VEHICLE PERMITS
Permits required; purchase at park office.
PETS WELCOME
Scenic lake views await you at the park.
Keep on 6-foot or less leash; pick up after;
attend at all times; not allowed in buildings
or at beach.
FIREWOOD
Purchase only from park office or approved
vendor; no gathering firewood in the park.
TRAIL HIGHLIGHTS
Beach Trail
0.25 miles one-way
Rock/packed dirt • Uneven terrain
This short trail parallels the shores of Bear Head Lake and is a great place to view birds. Small docks along
the trail allow you to experience the lake.
Norberg Lake Trail (Hiking Club Trail)
3.5-mile loop
Rugged • Steep hills • Rocky • Packed dirt
The most popular hike in the park, this trail offers you large white and Norway pines, the quiet beauty of
Norberg Lake, and a view of the East Bay of Bear Head Lake.
Becky and Blueberry Lake Trails
3.5 or 6-mile loop
Rugged • Steep hills • Rocky • Packed dirt
Come discover the remote backcountry areas of the park on these trails. You will have a good chance of
glimpsing wildlife and animal signs.
Cub Lake Trail Spur
1 mile one-way (spur length)
Packed dirt • Uneven terrain
View overlooks of Cub Lake and rolling wooded hillsides. This spur trail will connect mountain bike and
snowmobile users to the Taconite State Trail.
QUIET HOURS
− CAMPGROUND
10 p.m.– 8 a.m.; only registered campers may
be in campground during quiet hours.
CUB AND NORBERG LAKES ARE
DESIGNATED TROUT LAKES AND REQUIRE
A TROUT STAMP AND FISHING LICENSE.
LEARN MORE AT MNDNR.GOV/FISHMN
MORE INFORMATION
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Information Center
500 Lafayette Rd. , St. Paul, MN 55155-4040
888-646-6367 or mndnr.gov/parks
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
LOOKING FOR MORE TO EXPLORE?
VISIT MNDNR.GOV/BEARHEAD
This information may be available in alternative format upon request.
MORE TO EXPLORE AT THE PARK
• Borrow GPS units, fishing poles or birding equipment.
• Rent a canoe, kayak, stand-up paddleboard or rowboat.
• Look for a geocache.
• Rent snowshoes in the winter.
FACILITIES
Dumpster
Fish Cleaning Shelter
Primitive Toilet