Whitefish Lake Rustic Campgd & Timber-Frear Area
Whitefish Lake Rustic Campground and the Timber-Frear Area includes a 3 site rustic campground and 11 backcountry campsites scattered on 5 lakes. These lakes, along with four others, are interconnected with portages to form an excellent canoe route and camping experience outside of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. There is no boat launch for trailered boats at Whitefish Lake, carry down access only. Four additional rustic campgrounds, on Toohey, Fourmile, Wilson, and Windy Lakes are nearby.
More like this: first-come in Minnesota · free in Minnesota · tent only in Minnesota
Amenities & rules
| Equipment | Tents |
| Fees | There are no fees at rustic campgrounds or backcountry sites |
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Season | May 10 to October 1 |
| Forest | Superior National Forest |
| Fees | There are no fees at rustic campgrounds or backcountry sites |
| Rules | Maximum of nine people per site at both campground and backcountry sites. At the campground, there is space for one vehicle and one towed vehicle (such as a boat trailer). Additional vehicles on the site must park on the spur. No vehicles may park on the grass or where they impede traffic. |
Weather by month
Getting there
| Coordinates | 47.7188° N, 91.0450° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedSunfish Rx
45 mi from the campground · 775 acres
- PrescribedWest Twin Point Piles Rx
45 mi from the campground
- PrescribedTwin Shoreline Piles Rx
45 mi from the campground · 14 acres
- PrescribedTwin South Piles Rx
45 mi from the campground
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Sawtooth Outfitters ↗ | 13.9 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Trails nearby
- 0.9 miWhitefish Lake Spur E2.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, ATV and 2 more
- 1.2 miWhitefish Lake-Wigwam Lake0.08 mi trail · hiking
- 1.3 miLost Lake-Elbow Lake0.05 mi trail · hiking
- 1.5 miFrear Lake-Lost Lake0.4 mi trail · hiking
- 2 miWigwam Lk Rd-Cross R Lake0.05 mi trail · hiking, bike
- 2 miTimber-Frear ATV Loop ↗19.1 mi trail · hiking, bike, ATV, e-bike
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Superior National Forest.
- inSuperior National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 3,886,760 acres
- 6.5 miBoundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 816,244 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Schroeder Lumber Company BunkhouseBuilding · Schroeder · 14 mi
Guidebooks for Minnesota
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Whitefish Lake Rustic Campgd & Timber-Frear Area?
No. Whitefish Lake Rustic Campgd & Timber-Frear Area is first-come, first-served. Sites are taken on arrival and paid at the fee station.
Source: Forest Service
How much does it cost to camp at Whitefish Lake Rustic Campgd & Timber-Frear Area?
Nothing. Whitefish Lake Rustic Campgd & Timber-Frear Area is listed as free. There are no fees at rustic campgrounds or backcountry sites
Source: Forest Service
Is Whitefish Lake Rustic Campgd & Timber-Frear Area open right now?
Open as of Oct 26, 2026. Season May 10 to October 1.
Source: Forest Service status
Can I bring an RV to Whitefish Lake Rustic Campgd & Timber-Frear Area?
Whitefish Lake Rustic Campgd & Timber-Frear Area is listed for tents only.
Source: Forest Service
What if Whitefish Lake Rustic Campgd & Timber-Frear Area is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Fourmile Lk Rustic Campground & Backcountry Sites (4 mi, first-come), Cascade River Rustic Campground (4.1 mi, first-come), and Wilson Lake Rustic Campground & Backcountry Sites (4.1 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby