Wakemup Bay Campground
Kabetogama State Forest
Write a Review 2443 Wakely Rd Cook, MN 55723 218-235-2520 651-296-6157 Official WebsiteGPS: 47.9013, -92.5888
Overview of Wakemup Bay Campground
Sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Summer camping is limited to 14 days. Camping is limited to 21 days between the second Sunday in September and first Saturday in May.
Last Price Paid: $17
Reported by camper-871808 on 9/15/2023
Longest RV Reported: 20 feet (Travel Trailer)
Reported by chef.nick on 7/9/2020
Number of Sites 22
Open Seasonally Yes
Elevation 1,345 ft / 409 m
Tent Camping Yes
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To ask questions of the owner or manager please contact the campground directly. 218-235-2520
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Reviews of Wakemup Bay Campground 4 people have reviewed this location.
Cell Phone Coverage
Confirmed by 4 Users
Last reported 9/15/2023
Confirmed by 1 User
Last reported 6/20/2019
Confirmed by 1 User
Last reported 6/20/2019
“On the lake, nice setting”
Reviewed 9/15/2023
| Nightly rate: | $17 |
|---|---|
| Days stayed: | 2 |
| Site Number: | 8 |
Overall Rating
We arrived after Labor Day and found no one at the campground, including the camp host, whose rig was there but no vehicle or sign of life. No problem, though, as we were able to send in a check to MN DNR for our two-night stay ($17/night). An online option for paying is also available, but cell service was poor at best. Beautiful wate... more
We arrived after Labor Day and found no one at the campground, including the camp host, whose rig was there but no vehicle or sign of life. No problem, though, as we were able to send in a check to MN DNR for our two-night stay ($17/night). An online option for paying is also available, but cell service was poor at best. Beautiful water view from our spot. If you don't mind stepping in goose poop, this place is for you.
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Verizon 4G
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Nice sandy beach, plenty of trees but still sunshine galore”
Reviewed 8/28/2020
| Nightly rate: | $15 |
|---|---|
| Days stayed: | 1 |
Overall Rating
Firstly, for those of you rolling in from the East, especially Wisconsin State Forests and Parks, note than Minnesota–superior in every way to its Cheesehead neighbor–does not charge simply for the pleasure of accessing its state forests. What pushes this place from standard “National Forest” style campground to a four star stop, p... more
Firstly, for those of you rolling in from the East, especially Wisconsin State Forests and Parks, note than Minnesota–superior in every way to its Cheesehead neighbor–does not charge simply for the pleasure of accessing its state forests.
What pushes this place from standard “National Forest” style campground to a four star stop, possibly even a destination if you have your own watercraft of some sort, is the beach. Sandy, clean, with a dock and perfect for kiddos. No dogs allowed, whatever that means to you and the people you travel with. For me, bonus, no dog poop. I enjoyed this all the more as some old timers who were trying to burn all the gas in MN running their generator, even when they weren’t home, had a massive Great Dane held back by little more than a piece of clothesline, who would run full tilt at us every time we walked by and barked at every squirrel, all night long. But, they likely won’t be there when you arrive. Lucky you.
The camp hosts were exceptionally nice as well, eager to chat about the area and even stopped by to wish us goodnight (from an acceptable social distance.)
As the first reviewer mentioned, the sites up front were setup so that we’re you to place a domino in each, and then topple one over, they’d all fall. Those back in the forest are considerably better and increase in size as you go further back. Site 18 was at least a quarter acre and designed for long distance frisbee competitions no doubt. That’s how we used it anyway.
Harder to get level back there, though, and despite being large, I’m not sure a big rig could turn around at the end of the road. Feel free to prove me wrong!
I was able to work off the Verizon signal, despite being but 1 bar strong (from site 18 anyway, closer to the beach the signal fades.)
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Verizon 4G
Nathan @ Wand'rly would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“lots of open frame generator ”
Reviewed 7/9/2020
| Days stayed: | 2 |
|---|---|
| Site Number: | 8 |
| RV Length: | 20' (Travel Trailer) |
Overall Rating
close to lake vermilion it would be a nice stay if it was not so loud, about 30% of the RVs had open frame generator running most of the night and most of the nights the pads are mostly level... the small town of cook is close and the shop moosebirds has amazing ice cream and shop the human touch has some cool trinkets and pottery from... more
close to lake vermilion it would be a nice stay if it was not so loud, about 30% of the RVs had open frame generator running most of the night and most of the nights the pads are mostly level... the small town of cook is close and the shop moosebirds has amazing ice cream and shop the human touch has some cool trinkets and pottery from the local area... the roads in are paved and in good shape with boat ramp on site ... date of stay 7.6.2020
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Verizon 4G
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Primitive camping near Lake Vermilion”
Reviewed 6/20/2019
| Nightly rate: | $14 |
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| Days stayed: | 1 |
Overall Rating
I stayed here one night in June 2019. This is a state forest campground with 22 primitive sites, no reservations. There's no electricity and no running water, though there are at least four outhouses scattered around the campground, with toilet paper and hand sanitizer. None of the campsites are actually on Wakemup (also spelled Wak-Em... more
I stayed here one night in June 2019. This is a state forest campground with 22 primitive sites, no reservations. There's no electricity and no running water, though there are at least four outhouses scattered around the campground, with toilet paper and hand sanitizer. None of the campsites are actually on Wakemup (also spelled Wak-Em-Up) Bay of Lake Vermilion, though the day use/beach area is a short walk directly next to the campground.
When you enter the campground, there's a handful of sites that are "in the open" without any privacy or shade, clearly optimized for RVs. There's another section behind those which are also open, but a bit more shaded. As you keep driving, there are sites that have some shade or complete shade in a more heavily wooded area, and the campground road turns and goes uphill a bit, and there's another section of sites in a bit more open of an area. Finally, the end of the campground has a turn-around road with two hike-in campsites with parking spots. One of them specifically seemed pretty awesome, as it's secluded and up at the highest point over the bay, with total shade. You can barely make out the bay through the trees, though. Campsites have a picnic table, fire ring, and a metal stand with a hook to hang food from.
Sites are $14 per night, and the payment envelope has a spot to write a credit card number.
Cell service as of June 2019 wasn't great. AT&T was the best, at 74ms ping, 2.2mbps down, 340kbps up (that's quite slow). Hardly anything worked on T-Mobile, and Verizon wouldn't load my email, though I would sometimes receive notifications. Verizon worked just fine for phone calls.
There's a road behind the campground and you hear every vehicle go by, though there's not much traffic late at night. If road noise bothers you, go closer to the end of the campground near the turn-around at the top of the hill—however, you might hear more noise from the day use area; specifically, screaming kids.
The campground has a hiking trail, but I was able to find no information about it. I started to walk down it, but it appeared unmaintained and overgrown so I gave up.
What could make this campground better? More of a selection of sites with privacy, and a shower building perhaps.
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AT&T 4G
Verizon 4G
T-Mobile 4G
webster would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
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Amenities
Hookups
- dry camping
Recreation
- picnic area
- recreation trail
- swimming beach
- water access
Site Amenities
- fire ring
- picnic table
Facilities
- ADA Accessible
- restrooms: vault
- trash
- water available
Pets
- pets
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