Wooden Frog Campground and Day Use Area — Hotel in Fort Frances

Our family gives Woodenfrog 5 stars for rustic lakeside camping. We enjoy visiting for the hiking trails along the lake and boat access to the National Park waters.

Woodenfrog State Forest campground offers private, rustic forested campsites with a sandy beach and playground on Lake Kabetogama . With central access to Voyageurs National Park that has stunning beauty similar to the BWCA. There are only a few sites right on the lake, but all the sites have easy access (1-2 blocks) to Lake Kabetogama (one of the chain of lakes that comprises the Natl. Park). There are also several docks, if you bring a canoe or kayak. If you don’t own a boat, checkout one of the local resorts to rent a boat. We have our own canoe, but also found a great Pontoon boat rental from Northern Lights Resort & Outfitters nearby fully equipped with GPS! They also rent canoes, kayaks and fishing boats, if you don’t own a boat it’s the best way to explore VNP. Unlike the BWCA this is a mixed-use lake (but no jet skis). There is a fairly protected bay that the campground resides on. We have had no concerns from motor boats while paddling, however the waves can really kick-up. On a windy-wavy day, it's a nice day to go rent a motor boat or go on a hike! If you own your own motor boat, you will see there is a public launch near to the campground. Note- you may not have space to store your boat trailer at your campsite but there always seems to be sufficient space to keep your trailer parked in the lot of the public boat launch.

The setting for the campsites in general are very private and mostly wooded: There are a few areas that are more open with several sites close together that may be more ideal for multiple tents and larger groups.

There is no electricity or flush toilets, you can find a hot shower for a few bucks over at Arrowhead Resort and they make a great meal too (just call ahead and reserve a spot). If someone in your group has a small bladder or you think may have "to go" during the night you might want to scout out the biffy's in advance of pitching your tent (to ensure a bathroom is nearby).

Tip: bring all your own groceries if you don’t want to eat out at a local restaurant, since there is only a small convenience mart at the gas station and it’s a 45-minute drive to a full grocery in International Falls.

Tip: As with most wilderness destinations, keep your food and garbage in the car because creatures will forage at night. The campground is mostly a dense forest but can be very buggy at night. However, that’s not uncommon for most of northeastern Minnesota. If you can camp at one of the lakeside spots, the breeze from the lake definitely helps ward off the bugs as does a campfire at night.

Woodenfrog seems most ideal for tent camping and is first come, first serve! But don’t worry they’ve never yet turned someone away! If you are pulling a small to mid-size camper okay, but I would not recommend for larger RVs like 5th wheels (plus their trucks would find it a snug fit in most sites). However, this also adds to the overall quiet and tranquil setting since you won’t hear much traffic, generators or other guests.

If your bucket list is to hear a loon or see the Aurora Borealis this is an ideal spot near the...

My wonderful experiences at this campground were decades ago but were pretty much timeless considering the place is rustic and we were mostly interacting with things that don't change much.

My ex's family used to do a camping trip every year, rotating choices among the family members. One year, my ex's sister and brother-in-law chose Wooden Frog. Some of us were apprehensive of a place with no flush toilets, but I think it became everyone's favorite. For me, it was mostly because of the hiking trails along the bank: paved at the top, a trail halfway down, and, further down, a rustic path where you sometimes had to grab trees and vines and such to stay upright. The rustic path was my favorite.

We had to be vigilant about bears. We had a kitchen tent but took all the food out of it at night. Some family members stayed later and had a bear that ripped its way into the tent and found a forgotten dish that was used to put bacon grease in. The bear enjoyed its treat and was on its way. We also saw bears by the place where they put garbage (no idea if that's still the same). We stayed in our cars and watched, but some teenagers were getting close to some cubs, and my father-in-law warned them that if their mother saw this, they could be in big trouble, and they backed off. Safety first!

The lake was gorgeous, whether you were in it, on it or near it. Some of us went out in boats and kayaks, some of us took photos, and some enjoyed the swimming beach. We had 11 kids in the group, so there were lots of trips to the beach.

The next Christmas, my sister-in-law, who knew how much I had loved the camping experience at Wooden Frog, put together a gift of a framed photo of Lake Kabetogama and a few mementos of our trip there. It was one of my favorite gifts ever, as it was geared toward something I loved. (If I run across my old film pictures of that trip in my scanning adventures, I will add some.)

I haven't gone back (I'd like to!), but it seems like it's still rustic with primitive sites, and I hope it hasn't changed too much. Some beautiful things are just fine they...

Our family enjoys camping here. The sites range from small and secluded to open and close together. We tent camp and aren’t disturbed by traffic, generators or other guests.

Woodenfrog is perfect if you’re tenting, or pulling a small to mid-size camper. The 5th wheel campers I’ve seen fit on their sites but look like tight fits with their pickups.

Cons: This is not a glampground. There are no electricity, showers or flush toilets. No septic disposal that I saw. They could use a few more pit toilets. Keep your food and garbage in the car because skunks and other creatures will forage at night. The campground is buggy, even when the weather has been dry. At night you can hear the bugs hum. However, that’s normal for most of northeastern Minnesota.

Pros: This is ideal Minnesota forest and lake camping. Absolutely gorgeous scenery of forest, rock and Lake Kabetogema. There are two public docks along the campground in addition to the main boat landing. I saw several boats beached overnight along the sandy shores. Our family kayaks and felt no pressure or safety concerns from the boaters. Fishing is good, swimming, too. You’ll hear loons in the summer and the deer don’t...