Campground

Leech Lake Rec Area

Mississippi River Headwaters - Leech Lake · FEDERAL DAM · Minnesota — managed by US Army Corps of Engineers

Sites open now — checked live on Recreation.gov
Leech Lake Rec Area campground
Photo: Recreation.gov · Shawn Weissenfluh

Weekend availability at Leech Lake Rec Area

Live from Recreation.gov · checked Sep 15, 8:35 AM PT
  • Fri, Sep 18
    Open
    43/77 sites
  • Fri, Sep 25
    Open
    25/77 sites
  • Fri, Oct 2
    Open
    37/77 sites
  • Fri, Oct 9
    Open
    59/77 sites

Friday + Saturday nights, sites bookable both nights. Counts come from a rotating sweep and can lag a cancellation by up to a day — alerts watch your exact dates within minutes.

How booked is Leech Lake Rec Area?

as of September 16

Sites are open right now — we found space out to Oct. That changes fast at a campground. We check Leech Lake Rec Area around the clock, so the moment your dates fill up and a cancellation reopens them, you'll be first to know. Weekdays still have room — for now.

Weekends (Saturday night)

Sep 19Open
Sep 26Open
Oct 3Open
Oct 10Open

Weekdays (Wednesday night)

Sep 23Open
Oct 7Open
Oct 14Open

Availability checked directly against the reservation system, out to 3 months ahead.

Campsites & amenities

Site-level details from Recreation.gov's official catalog.

Campsites
78
Electric sites
74
Water hookups
8
Sewer hookups
8
Pull-through
5
Group Shelter ElectricStandard ElectricWalk-In

About this campground

Overview Leech Lake Recreation Area is located in the heart of the Chippewa National Forest in Federal Dam, Minnesota on the Leech Lake River. The area is best known for its fishing and boat access to Portage Bay on Leech Lake, a famous perch, walleye and musky fishery.Recreation Boating, canoeing and fishing are very popular activities. Anglers will find walleye, perch, bass, northern pike and musky, where every cast has the potential to yield a trophy. Miles of scenic hiking trails meander around Leech Lake, including the Soo Line, Heartland and North Country National Scenic Trails.Facilities This campground offers 73 wooded sites with electric hookups, including eight sites with full hookups. Additionally, there are four primitive walk-to tent sites. A group day-use picnic shelter with electric is available, as well as two mini-picnic shelters. Amenities include flush toilets, showers, drinking water, laundry facilities, a dump station, boat ramps and overnight boat mooring. Campers enjoy the park's basketball, volleyball, badminton and shuffleboard courts, as well as the horseshoe pits. Younger campers love the playground areas. Natural Features Leech Lake has 316 miles of shoreline and encompasses 14 natural lakes. A mixed forest of elm, ash, maple, basswood, birch, aspen and pine covers the area. Wildlife is abundant around the lake, where campers commonly hear the tell-tale call of loons out on the water.Charges & Cancellations Customers may cancel their reservation prior to arrival both on-line and through the call center. A $10 service fee will be withheld from any refund for a cancellation. A customer who cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee (not to exceed the total paid for the original reservation). Cancellations for a one-night reservation will forfeit the entire amount paid and will not be subject to an additional service fee. If a customer wants to switch dates that are entirely outside of the original reservation dates, there is a $10 change fee.

Getting there

From Grand Rapids, Minnesota, take Highway 2 west for 33 miles to Bena. Turn south onto County Road 8 and proceed 8 miles to Federal Dam. From Bemidji, Minnesota, take Highway 2 east for 35 miles to Bena, Turn south onto County Road 8 and proceed 8 miles to Federal Dam. From Walker, Minnesota, take Highway 200 east for 20 miles to County Road 8. Turn north onto County Road 8 and proceed 14 miles to Federal Dam. LEECH LAKE REC AREA 01217 FEDERAL DAM DR. NE FEDERAL DAM  MN  56641

Elevation
1,296 ft
Contact
218-654-3145

Activities

  • VISITOR CENTER
  • FISHING
  • INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMS
  • CAMPING
  • BOATING
  • BADMINTON
  • SHUFFLE BOARD
  • RANGER STATION
  • PICNICKING
  • DAY USE AREA
  • WATER ACCESS
  • OTHER RECREATION CONCESSION SITE

Nearby federal campgrounds

Never miss an opening at Leech Lake Rec Area

Popular Minnesota campgrounds book out months ahead — but cancellations happen every day. We watch Leech Lake Rec Area around the clock and alert you the moment a sold-out site reopens for your dates, so you don't have to keep refreshing Recreation.gov.

Not ready to subscribe? Get a free weekend heads-up.

We'll email you if Leech Lake Rec Area opens up for a weekend you pick. No account needed.

Details from Recreation.gov's official RIDB catalog. Conditions change — confirm with the managing office or on Recreation.gov before you go. Not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.