Openings · last 7 days
0
01 · Detected Opening History · the openings record · file CS-240957
When McDougal Lake Campground reopens
McDougal Lake Campground's openings record: every site-date Campsite Sniper detected turning available, logged and time-stamped. Refreshed hourly.
Openings · last 30 days
5
Openings · last 90 days
5
Only 5 openings in the last 90 days: not enough recent activity for a reliable pattern. A free Campsite Sniper alert watches around the clock instead, and pings you the moment one opens.
02 · Availability Outlook · Sep 18 – Sep 30, 2026 · of 21 monitored sites
Of the 273 tracked site-nights (Sep 18 – Sep 30, 2026): 41 open for online reservation · 18 reserved · 214 on sites not offered for online reservation (first-come, first-served or administrative). Of the facility's 21 monitored sites, 8 can be reserved online and 13 are first-come, first-served.
Where the open windows are
85% of tracked site-nights are not currently open for online reservation. 41 of 273 remain open; here is where they are.
Load status
Sep 18 – Sep 30, 2026Not open online85%
Open site-nights41 / 273
Reserved (of online inventory)18 / 59
Weekday openings24
Weekend openings17
Of the open site-nights on mapped sites, 24 fall on weekdays and 17 on weekends (Fri–Sun).
Open dates by month
Sep 2026 – Sep 2026September holds the most room. 41 of 273 site-nights are still open there.
Holiday windows
Sites open per night · of 21 sites| Window | Night | Sites open | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labor Day | SAT Sep 5 | 0 | None open |
| SUN Sep 6 | 0 | None open | |
| MON Sep 7 | 0 | None open |
Labor Day: no online availability on any tracked night.
Best-availability sites
Most open site-nights · tracked window| Site | Open site-nights |
|---|---|
| 1 | 6 |
| 3 | 6 |
| 7 | 6 |
| 8 | 6 |
| 16 | 5 |
The 5 sites with the most open site-nights in the current snapshot. Pair a bookable date with a free alert to cover everything else.
Next windows
As of Sep 18, 2026 snapshotNext open dateFri · Sep 25
Next open weekendFri · Sep 25
The next bookable night is Sep 25; the first open weekend starts Sep 25. Campsite Sniper can watch later dates for you.
Stays and site detail
41 open site-nights across 8 sites at McDougal Lake Campground, from the same hourly snapshot as everything above.
Multi-night stays. 8 2-night, 8 3-night openings where a single site is free for every night, per Campsite Sniper's current snapshot — soonest Sep 25 at site 1.
RV length. Longest recorded site here is 45 ft. 15 sites take 25 ft, 3 sites take 35 ft, 1 site takes 40 ft.
All 8 sites with current availability
| Site | Max RV | Hookups | Open site-nights | Longest run | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 45 ft | None | 6 | 6 nights | Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
| 3 | 35 ft | None | 6 | 6 nights | Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
| 7 | 30 ft | None | 6 | 6 nights | Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
| 8 | 20 ft | None | 6 | 6 nights | Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
| 16 | 20 ft | None | 5 | 4 nights | Sep 25, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
| 11 | 30 ft | None | 4 | 4 nights | Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
| 12 | 20 ft | None | 4 | 4 nights | Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
| 4 | 25 ft | None | 4 | 4 nights | Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
About McDougal Lake Campground
Overview
McDougal Lake Campground provides easy access to a wide variety of recreational activities including hiking, boating, fishing, picnicking and swimming within the central part of Superior National Forest.
Superior National Forest, located in northeastern Minnesota's arrowhead region, is comprised of three million acres. The forest spans 150 miles along the United States-Canada border. Visitors can find recreation opportunities year-round, including travel in the famous Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
The one-mile hiking trail and campsites 17 and 19 were closed in 2021 due to impacts from the Greenwood Fire and will be closed until further notice.
Recreation
Kids will love the sandy swimming beach within the facility. A boat ramp and shoreline access provide anglers the opportunity for a leisurely afternoon of fishing for walleye and northern pike.
Facilities
This comfortable facility provides 13 first come, first served and 8 reservable campsites that are either drive-in sites suitable for RVs and trailers or hike-in sites for tent campers. Campsites are private and separated by woods. The facilities include water from a solar powered pump station and vault toilets. Five of the first come, first served sites are available for long term rental by contacting the Tofte Ranger District Office at 218-663-8060.
The one-mile hiking trail was closed in 2021 due to impacts from the Greenwood Fire and will be closed until further notice.
Natural Features
The 323-acre McDougal Lake is surrounded by a thick forest of birch, maple and pine and sits at an elevation of 1,800 ft. The area is peaceful, rustic and begs for relaxation. One unique feature of the lake is the wild rice growing within it. Birds and wildlife frequent its shores.
Nearby Attractions
Numerous outdoor recreation opportunities lie within Superior National Forest's 77 lake access areas, 13 fishing piers, 10 swimming beaches and 22 picnic areas. The forest is also home to three scenic byways.
21 monitored sites13 FCFS sitesRVs up to 45 ftNo hookups8 shadedPets OKFire pitsMax party 9
Getting there
McDougal Lake Campground is located on Forest Road 106, 10 miles west of Isabella, Minnesota. From MN-61, turn onto MN-1 at Illgen City and follow to Isabella. Proceed 10 miles west of Isabella to Forest Road 106. Turn left and continue a half-mile to the campground entrance.
Po Box 2159, Tofte, MN 55615218-663-8063
Berry PickingBirdingBoatingCampingCanoeingDay Use AreaFishingHikingKayakingMotor BoatMushroom PickingNon-Motorized BoatingPaddlingPhotographyPicnickingStar GazingSwimmingWater AccessWater Activities
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
03 · Field Photos · roll CS-240957 · facility + sites
Photo gallery
Roll CS-240957 · McDougal Lake Campground · Tofte MN12 frames · facility + sites
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at McDougal Lake Campground?
Reservations for McDougal Lake Campground are made through Recreation.gov. 85% of tracked site-nights are not currently open for online reservation; 41 of 273 remain open. Campsite Sniper has also detected 5 site openings here in the last 90 days, so further dates may appear. Pick a site on the map to see its calendar, or set a free Campsite Sniper alert. You complete the reservation yourself on Recreation.gov.
Does Campsite Sniper book this campground for me?
No. Campsite Sniper sends alerts and direct Recreation.gov links. It never books, pays for, holds, hoards, or resells reservations.
How current is this availability data?
Campsite Sniper re-checks public Recreation.gov availability for this facility every hour and republishes whenever anything changes. This facility's data last changed at Sep 18, 2026 11:17 UTC; an older timestamp means nothing has changed since that time, not that checking stopped. Always confirm final availability on Recreation.gov when you book.
How often do new openings appear at McDougal Lake Campground?
Campsite Sniper detected 5 site-date openings here over the last 90 days, none in the last 7. A free alert watches around the clock and pings you the moment one appears.
Can I get a multi-night stay at McDougal Lake Campground?
8 three-night openings are showing, counting only runs where the SAME site is free for all three nights. The soonest starts Sep 25 at site 1. Confirm and book on Recreation.gov.
Which sites at McDougal Lake Campground fit a 35-foot RV?
3 of the 21 sites that support RV analysis have a recorded maximum of 35 ft or more; the longest recorded is 45 ft.
Which month has the most availability at McDougal Lake Campground?
September 2026, with 41 open site-nights in the current snapshot of 273.
When is the next open date at McDougal Lake Campground?
As of the Sep 18, 2026 snapshot: the next open date is Fri, Sep 25 and the next open weekend starts Fri, Sep 25. Detected openings can add earlier dates at any time; a free Campsite Sniper alert catches those the moment they appear.
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When a match opens, you get a push with a Recreation.gov link so you can review and book it yourself.
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