Get Away From It All At This Remote And Beautiful Campground In Minnesota

The Land of 10,000 Lakes is home to many amazing campgrounds in state parks, regional and county parks, and even private facilities. Most of what are typically considered the best campgrounds in the state, however, are not all that remote. Often, when folks think of remote camping in Minnesota, the Boundary Waters or a dispersed site in a state or national forest is the first thing that springs to mind. But a BWCA trek is a little more involved than simply packing up the car and heading to a site. Fortunately, for those of us who enjoy a combination of solitude and a developed campsite, there are options for remote car camping. One of my favorites is a small campground in Minnesota that's located in the heart of the Chippewa National Forest: Clubhouse Lake Campground.

Located about 20 miles east of the Chippewa National Forest outpost of Marcell, Clubhouse Lake Campground is remote.

Most of the route to the campground consists of gravel forest roads through dense woods.

But you can drive there, and all of the gorgeous, wooded sites are accessible by vehicle.

Although several sites can accommodate an RV, all of 39 sites are non electric. This is a rustic campground with no electricity and hand-pumped water.

But what you come here for is the peace and silence.

There is a pier that extends out into serene Clubhouse Lake, where I was treated to calling loons every morning (usually just after the barred owls had stopped chatting with each other at night).

On warm days, the small swimming beach and canoe launch is a great place to cool off.

About half an hour from the Clubhouse Lake Campground, you'll find the famous Lost 40.

A joint preservation project between the Minnesota DNR and Chippewa National Forest, ​​the Lost 40 is a stand of massive old-growth red and white pines that were spared from being logged thanks to a surveying error. Hike the short loop trail through the grove to experience what its like to hike among trees that were growing here before the United States was a country.

Clubhouse Lake is also close to Scenic State Park.

​​This park is a fantastic place to find lady's slippers and other wildflowers. Plus, the Chase Point Trail is one of my favorite short hikes in Minnesota.

Clubhouse Lake Campground in Minnesota is a perfect base camp for exploring all the nearby trails - including a couple accessible from the campground - lakes, and sites in the Chippewa National Forest, as well as surrounding state parks. You'll definitely want to bring the GCI Outdoor Kickback Rocker Chair from REI along with you, so you can kick back at your campsite and enjoy lake views and starry nights. Several of the sites can be reserved in advance on Recreation.gov, others are available on a first-come, first-served basis if you happen to be in the area and want to try your luck.

Have you stayed at Clubhouse Lake Campground? Let us know in the comments, and be sure to tell us about your favorite remote places to camp in the North Star State.