Are you the owner for this storage? Make it a featured listing and be seen in the top search results!
Savanna Portage
Overview
Savanna Portage State Park offers a deep dive into Minnesota's wilderness history. Located near McGregor, this expansive park spans over 15,000 acres of forests, lakes, and marshes. It is famous for the historic Savanna Portage Trail, a challenging route used by explorers and fur traders to connect the Mississippi River and Lake Superior watersheds. For RVers, the park provides a quiet, secluded retreat surrounded by the natural beauty of the north woods.
Location & Surroundings
The park is situated in a remote area of Aitkin County, approximately 15 miles northeast of McGregor. The landscape is dominated by dense hardwood forests and several serene bodies of water, including Wolf Lake and Shumway Lake. The terrain is characterized by rolling hills and the Continental Divide, which dictates the flow of water across the region. Travelers will find themselves immersed in a landscape that feels largely untouched by modern development.
Amenities & Park Features
While the experience is rustic, the park provides essential comforts for RV travelers. The campground offers 61 drive-in sites, with 18 of these providing electrical hookups to power your rig. Two sites are specifically designated as pull-through sites for easier maneuvering. Facilities include seasonal showers and flush toilets, though vault toilets are available year-round. The wooded sites offer significant privacy, making it easy to enjoy the sounds of the forest right outside your camper door.
Nearby Attractions & Things to Do
Outdoor recreation is the primary draw here, with over 25 miles of hiking trails and 10 miles of mountain bike trails. Visitors often explore the Continental Divide Trail or spend a peaceful afternoon fishing for northern pike and panfish on Shumway Lake. Just a short drive away, the Rice Lake National Wildlife Refuge provides excellent birdwatching opportunities. In the winter, the park transforms into a hub for snowmobiling and cross-country skiing across groomed trails.
Who This Park Is Best For
This park is ideal for nature enthusiasts and history buffs who prefer a quiet, wooded setting over a busy resort atmosphere. Because many sites are shaded and private, it is a perfect match for those seeking solitude. While the park accommodates rigs up to 60 feet, the winding roads and wooded sites are best suited for mid-sized RVs and van lifers who enjoy a traditional state park experience focused on hiking and historical exploration.
Amenities
- Recreational Facilities
- Policies
- Other Amenities & Services
- Recreation Nearby (within 10 miles)
- Facility
- On-Site Rentals
- Sites
User Reviews
Amanda Whitten
This state park was wonderful and the Continental Divide trail was amazing. Leaf color change was about 75% 10/3 and I learned a lot about portages that used to be done thru this park.
Kamran Ayub
Had a fun weekend camping here to visit Duluth during the day. Turns out the state park has plenty to explore on its own, including its namesake, a historic portage trail used by the voyageurs. The family checked out Loon Lake and we did the interpretive bog walk on Lake Shumway as well. The park was quiet and great for family camping. Fantastic fall colors on display. Will definitely camp here again to explore some more!
MEKEO Holte
Beautiful area with lots of trail to hike. Wildlife all over too...deer, raccoons, mice, snakes, fish, and bever.
Jeff Berg
Savanna Portage State Park is a gem! Site 45 offers a fantastic view of the lake, making it a perfect spot for a peaceful getaway. The park boasts numerous well-maintained trails that are great for hiking and exploring nature. Loon Lake is a highlight with its beautiful beach, ideal for swimming. A nice fishing pier can be found on Lake Shumway as well, just steps from Site 45. They also have some great backpacking sites, that include a shelter and sometimes come with a cache of wood. Highly recommend for anyone looking to enjoy the great outdoors!
Wyatt W. Penke
Nice mix of tall conifers, hardwoods, and wetlands. The park has the boundary waters feal to it. It's quiet and scenic. All kinds of wildlife, even saw a bear at the boat launch. The highlight of the park is the scenic day use area. It has a nice beach and picnic area. Good trails and lots of quiet lakes. Campground has some nice sites and views of the lake. The park seams a little dated and maybe a little neglected. I know it's off the beaten path, would be 5 stars with a little TLC from the state. Everything is spread out and is a quiet little gem.
Scott Pawlowski
Spent a great September weekend in #21. The facilities were clean. Well pump was clean for drinking! Never felt too busy. Mosquitos were a 3/10. Loon lake was picturesque and quiet on a perfect Saturday even. Very small beach for swimming, water level might be higher than normal. The front office seems like it had construction going on and road work as well. Continental divide trail is a nice walk in the woods. One overlook, couple different forest types which was cool! No cell service! Great to get away from it all!
John and Jody Vossen
This was a moderate hike due to the two inches of crispy snow and sporadic tree roots popping up. It's a very cool place to visit. It's unbelievably quiet when there are no birds singing and no crowds of people. The only noise comes from two hikers enjoying the day...and an occasional partridge.
Mardee Sherman
This was one of the prettiest state parks I’ve been in. Gorgeous, autumn, colors, pretty lakes, and some wonderful, hiking opportunities. It’s in the middle of nowhere, which means it doesn’t get crowded. The day we were here, there was no one else around.I will definitely come back here.
Erica Campbell
Hands down one of our favorite state parks in MN. We have been to over 40 of the state parks so far and we keep coming back to this one. The trails are great. The little lakes have good fishing and water activities. The campsites are nice. The fall colors are beautiful as well!!
Tyler Day
This will most likely be one of my favorite MN State Parks forever. I tent camped for a week back in August of 2017. I did a lot of hiking and sightseeing and I enjoyed the feeling of solitude amongst all the trees. Although the campground had other people camping it was very quiet and everyone was very nice. The bathrooms and showers we're pretty decent too! I definitely recommend this State Park and campground!!