Minnesota DNR Announces New Type Of Campground Will Open In Northern Minnesota This Summer

A brand new type of campground will be opened by the Minnesota DNR at a Northern Minnesota state park this summer.

The new type of camping experience will be specifically geared toward a certain type of visitor to the park and the surrounding area.

Where is this new state park campground opening in Minnesota?

The Minnesota DNR announced this week that the new style of campground will be opening at Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park.

The new campground, called the Pyrite OHV Campground, will be in a separate area of the state park, away from the existing campground near Lake Vermilion.

READ MORE: Tours Of Soudan Underground Mine Resume After Nearly A Half-Decade Of Closures

The location of this new campground is on the southern edge of the state property, in the state recreation area across Highway 169 to the south of the rest of the state park, just east of Soudan. OHVs are not allowed in the rest of the park, north of Highway 169.

The campground connects riders to the Prospectors Trail, giving riders easy access to trails from the campground. In addition, a new trail connection to Soudan is being worked on, expected to open in the fall of 2026, to give easy access to the nearby town.

This will be the first campground designed and operated by the Minnesota DNR specifically with OHV riders in mind. While it is designed with features OHV riders can appreciate, you don't need to be an OHV rider to stay in this new campground. That said, campers should anticipate extra noise due to the off-road vehicle activity in and around the campground.

What are the amenities of this new OHV campground?

The new Pyrite OHV Campground will include 24 pull-through campsites to accommodate visitors pulling trailers to bring their OHVs/ATVs with them to the area.

Each of the 24 campsites will include electric hookups, with the campsites spread among three different driveway loops.

Each loop will have drinking water and a toilet at the end of the loop for easy access. There will be one centralized restroom/shower building and a centralized dumpster/recycling station, as well as a centralized OHV washing station for use during your stay.

When does this new campground open?

The new campground is scheduled to open on Friday, June 12, 2026. Reservations can be made now to plan a stay this summer at the new campground.

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Reservations can be made via the Minnesota DNR reservations website or by calling 866-857-2757.