Deer Lake

Deer Lake Campground is located on the west shore of Cut Foot Sioux Lake, next to Lake Winnibigoshish, and is split into two loops: North Deer Lake has 17 sites, South Deer Lake has 31. Visitors come for boating, walleye, northern, sunfish and crappie fishing, and beautiful scenery. The Chippewa National Forest and the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe work together to co-steward resources, making the forest a great place to recreate as well as a special place where cultural and traditional resources are protected and the Band's treaty rights are respected. Boating, swimming and fishing are popular on Cut Foot Sioux Lake. A boat ramp centrally located between the two loops provides lake access via Biauswah Creek, and boats may be moored offshore. A large swimming beach is at the North Deer Loop and a smaller one at South Deer Loop. Miles of trails in the area provide hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking and birding; the 26-mile Cut Foot Sioux National Recreation Trail runs through the campground and connects with the Simpson Creek Trail. Off-highway vehicles, including ATVs and UTVs, may be brought to the campground, but must be trailered to roads legal for riding outside it; OHV use is not permitted on Eagle Nest Road. Lake Winnibigoshish, accessible from Cut Foot Sioux, is one of Minnesota's premier fisheries, with excellent walleye, northern, panfish and muskie fishing along with boating and water skiing. The campground offers several single-unit campsites, each equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring. Vault toilets and handpumps for drinking water are provided. There are no electric hookups, and firewood is available from local vendors. North Deer Loop is covered by a hardwood forest of maple and oak with some mature pine scattered throughout, and has a sandy swimming beach; South Deer Loop is forested with mature red and white pines. The Cut Foot Sioux area is home to a variety of waterfowl and birds of prey, including loons, osprey and bald eagles. Down the road, East Seelye Bay offers a large picnic area, a boat landing with dock and a swimming beach.