Department of Natural Resources by State of Minnesota, © 11/2008 •M • • •F VISITOR FAVORITES • 5 camper cabins • •P • •M • • • •P • • • •4 • FEATURES F PARK STATE LAKE BEAR HEAD sporting and map stores. r the DNR gift shop, from available for purchase Information Maps (PRIM) are Public Recreation r showing federal, state and county lands with their of the state The DNR has mapped separate areas egional offices, Minnesota state parks and major egional offices, facilities. ecreational L ACILITIES AND with the Taconite State Trail with the Taconite Snowmobile trails that link Beautiful sand swimming beach Head Lake Guest house Dump station Boat and canoe rentals walleyes, and panfish trout, fishing— Lake and stream swimming beach with a sandy picnic area Large sanitation units hand-pump and pit-type Lake #3 Boat access on Eagles Nest Boat access on Bear Head Lake One boat-accessible campsite sanitation building with electricity) a modern 73 semi-modern campsites (26 OOKING FOR MORE INFORMATION OOKING FOR MORE INFORMATION backpack sites ishing and boating on Bear icnic shelter camp with a ioneer group iles of hiking trails iles of good hiking trails Check it out - you'll be glad you did. ? Park Big Island Entrance ELY 15 miles Ruth's Island NITE STATE TRAIL TACO 128 Portage Trail BEAR ISLAND STATE FOREST Cub 1.0 k Lake 1.0 k GH1 SOUDAN UNDER- GROUND MINE STATE PARK - 8 miles 2.0 k .4 k 4.5 k G1 1.0 k Picnic BP5 Shelter Becky Lake PACK1 PACK3 4.5 k PACK2 Underlined site numbers PACK4 are RESERVABLE W6 BEAR ISLAND Portage Trail STATE FOREST 0.1.2.3.4.5 1 Miles 0.1.2.3.4.5 1 NORTH Kilometers TRAILS FACILITIES Camper Cabins State Trail (multi-use) Information/Office Primitive Group Camp Snowmobile Picnic Area Watercraft Campsite Hiking/Skiing Swimming Backpack Camping easy Boat Ramp Watercraft/Backpack Camping more difficult Rental House Trailer Sanitation Station Because lands exist within the boundaries of this park most difficult Fishing Pier Private Property that are not under the jurisdiction of the D.N.R., check Public Use Prohibited with the park manager if you plan to use facilities such Hiking Only Camping (Except on designated trails) as trails and roads other than those shown. holds three other fishing lakes. Visitors enjoy lake, but what the owners did or where they boating, swimming, hiking, and fishing in were from isn’t known. GH this remote northern park. park entrance road In 1961 the Minnesota legislature created BEAR HEAD LAKE STATE PARK WILDLIFE: The northern forest that the park. service area surrounds 674 acre Bear Head Lake is home Duluth• to a variety of wildlife. Hiking along trails SO EVERYONE CAN ENJOY THE PARK... and roads gives visitors an opportunity to • The park belongs to all Minnesotans. Red Pine discover white-tailed deer, black bear, Treat it with respect and consideration. Aspen Minneapolis/ moose, red squirrel, chipmunk, and • Hunting in the park is prohibited. St. Paul • snowshoe hare. • Pets must be on a leash no longer than Birch six feet. GEOLOGY: Volcanoes and ancient seas • Motorized vehicles may not use park produced the bedrock of the Bear Head trails. sites Cedar 1—24 Lake area. The bedrock—of ely greenstone • Enjoy the animals, but do not approach White BEAR HEAD and giants range granite—was scoured and or feed them. electrical Pine gouged by glaciers. Today, the area is • Leave rocks and plants where they are. sites BEAR HEAD LAKE 25—50 covered with glacial debris—rock and dirt They make up much of the park’s beauty. STATE PARK LAKE CAMPGROUND STATE PARK transported by glaciers from many other Do not collect them. 1 places. • Park only in designated areas. 25e 50e Underlined site numbers 2 3 FOR MORE INFORMATION • The park is closed from 10:00 P.M. until 26e 4 are RESERVABLE sites 27 48e 73 28e 49e Bear Head Lake State Park Both Eagles Nest and Bear Head Lakes, 8:00 A.M. except in campgrounds. Loud 51—73 23 5 9301 Bear Head Lake State Park Road along with the park’s rolling hills, were noises or other disturbances are 72 29e 30e 6 47e 46 24 71 31e 21 Ely, MN 55731 formed from glacial action. At road cuts and prohibited after 10:00 P.M. 22 7 70 69 45e 8 (218) 365-7229 along the lakes, visitors can see many • Park permits are required for every 51 32e 44e 43e 19 ♦ 52 68 66 20 different shapes and sizes of rock left by the vehicle. Purchase them at park 33e 34e 42 Department of Natural Resources glaciers. headquarters. Daily or annual permits 53 67 35e 36 41e 9 54 40e Information Center may be purchased. 65 63 37e 38 500 Lafayette Road HISTORY: Starting in 1895, logging was the • 10 mph speed limit for boats on Bear 64 61 39e 10 11 17 St. Paul, MN 55155-4040 major activity around Bear Head Lake. In Head Lake. 62 59 18 55 (651) 296-6157 (Metro Area) 1907, the Allen and Whittenburg Company • Information on the use of sanitary 60 12 56 13 1-888-646-6367 (MN Toll Free) built a sawmill on the south side of the lake. facilities, boating, navigation, and water 57 58 NORTH The company logged the area for two safety is available from park managers. 15 16 14 TDD (Telecommunications seasons, then sold out. Next, the Tower beach trail Device for Deaf) Lumber Company purchased the mill. After ♦ (651) 296-5484 (Metro Area) two years, the company discontinued 1-800-657-3929 (MN Toll Free) This information is available in operations, dismantled the mill, and shipped alternative format upon request. DNR Web Site: www.dnr.state.mn.us it back to Tower. Information / Office Dock State Parks page: www.mnstateparks.info Parking Between 1911 and 1913 several fires swept “Equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from Boat Ramp programs of the Minnesota Department of Natural the area. These fires consumed the forest Resources is available to all individuals regardless of race, Restrooms Picnic Area BEAR HEAD LAKE STATE PARK is color, creed or religion, national origin, sex, marital status, inside the park boundary. Today, many old, Restrooms/Showers Minnesota located 18 miles east of Tower. Take U.S. status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, Beach charred pine stumps can still be seen along age or disability. Discrimination inquires should be sent to Highway 169 east to St. Louis County Trailer Dump Station Water the park’s hiking trails. the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, 500 Highway 128. Take 128 south six miles to Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155-4031; or the Equal Fish Cleaning House Toilets DEPARTMENT OF the park. Highway map index: M-7. Opportunity Office, Department of the Interior, Washington, NATURAL RESOURCES DNR Maps After the loggers left, little was recorded D.C. 20240.” Rental House Hiking Trail about the region’s history. At one time a © 11/2008 by State of Minnesota, Bear Head Lake State Park’s 4,000-plus acres few backwoods cabins were built on the Camper Cabin e Electrical Sites Department of Natural Resources surround Bear Head Lake. The park also Information / Office Dock Parking Boat Ramp Restrooms Picnic Area Restrooms/Showers Beach GH Trailer Dump Station Water park entrance road Fish Cleaning House Toilets service area Rental House Hiking Trail Camper Cabin e Electrical Sites Red Pine Aspen Birch Cedar White sites electrical Pine 1—24 sites BEAR HEAD LAKE 25—50 STATE PARK CAMPGROUND 1 25e 50e Underlined site numbers 2 3 26e 4 are RESERVABLE sites 27e 48e 73 28e 49e 51—73 23 5 6 72 29e 30e 47e 46e 24 71 31e 21 22 7 70 69 45e 8 51 32e 44e 43e 19 52 68 66 20 33e 34e 42e 53 67 41e 9 35e 36e 40e 54 65 63 37e 38e 39e 64 61 10 11 18 17 62 59 55 12 60 56 13 57 58 NORTH 15 16 14 beach trail © 2/2008 by State of Minnesota, Department of Natural Resources Note: This park may have RESERVABLE sites other than in the main campground. See the main park map for the locations of any additional camping or lodging sites..