A white Tacoma with a camper shell parked on a rise above a broad, empty basin under building cloud.

Forest Service campground

North Star

Forest Service campground in Chippewa National Forest, Itasca County, Minnesota. 1,392 feet. 13.1 miles from Bigfork.

Managed by
Forest Service Chippewa National Forest
Elevation
1,392 ft USGS elevation model, at the mapped point
Sites
38 38 standard non-electric
Longest rig
80 ft The longest vehicle any site is listed for
Hookups
None listed
Reservations
Recreation.gov
County
Itasca County

Overview

North Star Campground is located 4 miles south of Marcell and 25 miles north of Grand Rapids on MN State Highway 38. There are 38 campsites located within easy walking distance of the sandy swimming beach. The lake has many sheltered bays and inlets to provide quiet water for ideal fishing.

The description, directions and fees are the Forest Service’s own words, from its record on Recreation.gov.

What people do here

  • berry picking
  • biking
  • birding
  • boating
  • camping
  • canoeing
  • fishing
  • hiking
  • hunting
  • kayaking
  • mushroom picking
  • non-motorized boating
  • paddle boating
  • paddling
  • photography
  • scenic drive
  • star gazing
  • swimming
  • swimming site
  • water access
  • water activities
  • water sports
  • wildlife viewing

The land around North Star

The ringed pin is this campground; the others are its nearest neighbours. Switch on forest roads or BLM routes to see the way in.

Interactive map. Drag to pan, scroll or pinch to zoom, and select any point to see which agency manages the land. Arrow keys pan and the plus and minus keys zoom when the map has focus. A list of every state with its share of federal land is on the Explore page.

Map layers

Layers
Base map
Legend

Federal land, by managing agency

  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
  • US Forest Service (USFS)
  • National Park Service (NPS)
  • US Fish and Wildlife (USFW)
  • Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)
  • Department Of Defense (DOD)
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
  • Other Federal
  • State
  • Local
  • Alaska Native Lands (Patented or Interim Conveyed)
  • Alaska Native Allotment

Federal campgrounds, by agency

  • Forest Service
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • National Park Service
  • Army Corps of Engineers
  • Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife and others

State and local land (USGS PAD-US)

  • State land
  • County and city land
  • Regional agency or district
  • Land trust or conservancy

Gaps with no tint inside public land are private parcels, often old mining claims and homesteads. They are not open to the public.

Dashed clay lines on the base map are unpaved tracks from OpenStreetMap. They show what exists on the ground, not what is legal to drive.

Select any point to see who manages the land.

Boundaries are approximate and land status changes. This map is a planning aid, not a survey or a statement of access. Confirm routes, closures and camping rules with the managing office.

Source: Recreation Information Database (Recreation.gov), record updated February 25, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.