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Guest List/Andrew Slade's Top 5 North Shore campgrounds

Guest list.

Andrew Slade of Duluth has camped in 27 states and five provinces and is the author of the new "Camping the North Shore'' (There and Back Books, $14.95). His book includes descriptions of campsites on inland lakes and rivers as well as Lake Superior and suggestions on what to do while there: swim the Baptism River, hike the "Lake District,'' paddle Crescent Lake. If you'd like to try something new on the North Shore, this is the book to have.

"Camping is the best way to experience the North Shore," Slade says. Here are his top five campsites for North Shore adventures:

Split Rock Lighthouse State Park. Cart-in sites are an adventure on their own, but the trails and beaches in the park are great for exploring.

Baker Lake. It's a tiny, free campground literally on the edge of the BWCA, with a fun day trip for the beginning wilderness paddler.

Cascade River State Park. Hiking trails go in every direction, including long and challenging routes on the Superior Hiking Trail.

Trails End. This Forest Service campground at the very end of the Gunflint Trail  survived the Ham Lake fire and still gives you canoe access to big Seagull and Saganaga lakes.

Tettegouche State Park. The upper drive-in campground is more civilized than the shoreline cart-in campground, but it gives you direct access to major hiking trails.

Many of the sites Slade recommends are first-come, first-served, but state-park sites can be reserved 90 days in advance. Split Rock, which doesn't have many sites, is the hardest-to-get reservation. Starting June 2, Minnesota state parks will allow campsite reservations up to a year in advance. Last updated on March 25, 2008