Minnesota is gearing up to fire the starting gun on its first state park campground built specifically for off-highway vehicle users when Pyrite Campground at Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park opens on June 12, 2026. Set on roughly 400 acres across U.S. Highway 169, the new area is tailored to campers towing ATVs, side-by-sides, and other OHVs. Anyone can book a site, but with the layout designed around long rigs and motorized toys, visitors should expect more trailers and a livelier soundtrack than at a typical state park campground.
Designed for trailers and wash stations
In a news release from the Minnesota DNR, officials confirmed the June 12 opening date and detailed what riders can expect on arrival. Pyrite will offer 24 electrical, pull-through campsites that are longer and wider than standard park sites, along with showers and an ATV wash station to help prevent the spread of invasive species. The electric hookups and pull-through design are meant to make life easier for visitors hauling multiple machines and trailers, so they can maneuver and park without clogging up the campground road.
Reservations and trail access
Reservations for Pyrite went live on March 25, and riders quickly began snapping up spots, according to the Star Tribune. Once the gates open, campers will be able to roll straight from their sites onto the Prospectors Trail network, a system of more than 300 miles of routes that link Ely, Tower, Soudan, and other Northland communities. Officials also expect a separate connector trail into the community of Soudan to open later in 2026, giving riders another direct line between town and campground.
A bump for Northland towns
Supporters say the campground is arriving in a region where riders already bring serious cash. A University of Minnesota Extension analysis found that about 219,000 riders visited the tri-county area in 2023, generating an estimated $36.1 million in economic activity, as reported by the Duluth News Tribune. Local leaders hope Pyrite helps keep more of those visitors close to gas stations, restaurants, and lodging in nearby Ely, Tower, and Soudan instead of having them day-trip in and then head right back out.
Rules, reclassification, and what to expect
According to the Minnesota DNR, OHV use will be allowed only within the Lake Vermilion State Recreation Area south of Highway 169 and will remain off-limits in state park areas north of the highway. Separate reporting notes that legislation passed in 2020 cleared the way for this reclassification, according to the Star Tribune. Campers headed for Pyrite are advised to plan for heavier vehicle traffic and more engine noise than in traditional state park campgrounds and to check current trail conditions and park notices before they travel.
When the campground opens on June 12, it will offer a real-time test of how Minnesota balances motorized recreation with long-term park stewardship. Local businesses will be watching closely to see whether more riders choose to stay and spend in nearby towns this season. Anyone eyeing a trip north is urged to reserve early and review the latest trail and park information before hitching up the trailer.
