About Nels Lake
This is one of our Backcountry sites which is a near- wilderness single party site and is accessible only by foot or boat. These sites are first come, first served. There are 2 sites on this lake, each have a fire grate, a latrine and may have a picnic table. A few reminders: Hang food packs, put your fire out each time you leave your campsite, treat or boil all water, wash yourself and dishes at least 150ft from any body of water, pack out all garbage and Leave No Trace. This lake may be a part of or has portage or waterway access into the BWCAW. When portaging or paddling out of this lake and into another you’ll want to check to see if you’ll be entering into the BWCAW. Permits are always required while traveling in the BWCAW. If traveling for the day by paddle or foot you can use a self issued permit found at any Ranger District office or at the kiosk at the official entry point.…
- Managed by: USFS - Superior National Forest
- Where: 8 mi north of Ely, MN · 48.01969, -91.90528
Things to do:
Official page for this camp (fees, closures, booking)
Weather by month
Typical daily highs and lows (°F), 1991–2020 NOAA normals. Best months: Jun–Sep (comfortable days, mild nights, little rain). Nights below freezing: Oct–Apr.
Fly over it in 3D, check today's weather and fire news, plan the drive and print a trip plan.
Trails near camp
| Trail | Open to | From camp | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grassy Creek | ATV road | 0.6 mi | 4.2 mi |
| Grassy Creek Spur D | ATV road | 0.7 mi | 0.7 mi |
| North Junction-Center Loop | Hiking | 1.0 mi | 0.5 mi |
| North Junction-South Loop | Hiking | 1.1 mi | 0.9 mi |
| South Hegman-Parking Lot | Hiking | 1.2 mi | 0.3 mi |
| Nels-Picket | Hiking | 1.4 mi | 0.5 mi |
Straight-line distance from camp, from Forest Service, BLM, state and OpenStreetMap trail data.
Good to know
Verizon 4G · AT&T 4G
From the carriers' FCC coverage maps, which tend to be generous.The Milky Way casts shadows and the sky is crowded with stars.
Class 1 of 9, from NASA/NOAA night-light data.Dump station: 17.6 mi
Water fill-up: 17.6 mi
Propane: 8.6 mi