West Forty RV Park and Campground
Schedule of Events
Thursday/Friday
- Registration and check-in from 3 - 9 p.m. both nights.
- Friday early evening (estimated 5-8 p.m. timeframe) - Iron Pride is working with one of the local attractions to present an evening activity for all-ages. Details will be released early this summer - stay tuned!
- Friday night from 9 p.m. until midnight - group social and campfire at the pavilion (site G5). Paul and Chuck are providing the campfire and s'mores for everyone! Wristbands for the CampOUT CookOUT will be distributed at the social. Bring a camping chair and your favorite beverages.
Saturday
- Range Iron Pride! This year's Iron Pride festival has been changed to Saturday and from 10 - 4 p.m.
- Exploring the area on your own! This is your change to go off-roading, hiking, biking, or visit local tourist attractions from 9 a.m. until 5/6 p.m. If you willing to lead one of the suggested activities below, please email West40RV@gmail.com directly. We need volunteers - Thank You in advance for helping!
- Off-roading - Iron Range Off-Highway Vehicle State Recreation Area (bring your own ATV/OHV)
- Kayaking at Lake-Ore-Be Gone - rentals available at Sherwood Forest campground/Lake-Ore-Be-Gone
- Gym/Workout Time (locally gay-owned fitness center)
- Hiking - Laurentian Divide and Lookout Mountain
- Scenic Chairlift Rides - Giant's Ridge
- Biking - Mesabi Trail (bring your own bike)
- Biking - Redhead Mountain Bike Park (bring your own bike)
- Sightseeing - Museums and points of interest - see office for information
- Sightseeing - Mini-golf courses in Virginia or Tower
- Area events and activities include:
Saturday Night
- We are coordinating a cookout hosted by campground owners, Paul and Chuck. During the registration process for the weekend, each reservation will require one $10 charge per person for a wristband to attend the CampOUT CookOUT and entertainment at the pavilion. The charge is intended to pay for additional costs incurred for the evening.
- CampOUT CookOUT and potluck at the pavilion starting at 7 p.m.Paul and Chuck will provide hamburgers, hot dogs, buns and all the fixings plus a selection of Coke products and water for everyone with a wristband. CampOUT participants are encouraged to bring their own side dish to share with others in the group. If hamburgers and hot dogs aren't your thing, you are welcome to use our grill to cook your own food as well.
- CampOUT social. Join us for a campfire, music, s'mores, games and more. Bring a chair and a favorite beverage and we'll hang out for some fun conversations with the group until midnight.
Sunday
- Departures on your own - checkout is 12 p.m. Late check-out may be available - check with campground staff if you'd like to extend your stay for more time to explore!
Campground and Special Event Cancellation Policy
- All reservations require the equivalent of one night campsite rental deposit at the time of booking, plus any charges for additional people above site occupancy limits, non-refundable reservation fee, campground booking fee, lock fee (if selected), credit card processing fee and payment for any additional items selected as add-ons.
- The balance due for all daily/weekly reservations will be processed automatically by our system at 9 a.m. Central time on the morning after the scheduled check-in date.
- Cancellations made 14 days (or more) prior to the booked arrival date, will be refunded minus a $25 cancelation fee on tent/camper/RV sites or $50 for tent-cabins, non-refundable reservation fee, and campground booking fee. If special event meal add-ons were selected with the reservation, the charge for those items cannot be refunded. All other add-on items like firewood or site lock purchased in advance will be fully refunded.
- Cancellations within 14 days of the booked arrival date will not be refunded. The balance of the original amount due at check-in will be voided.
The cleaning and damage deposit for tent-cabin rentals is fully refundable regardless of when a reservation is cancelled.
- CampOUT event add-on items (Saturday meal tickets/wristbands, etc.) are non-refundable. Unfortunately, we will be charged for these items regardless if you attend or cancel once you select them, so we cannot provide refunds on add-ons.
- Refunds will not be issued after the guest has checked in.
- Any campsite not occupied by 10 p.m. on the scheduled day of arrival will be considered a no call/no show and will be reopened to our bookable inventory at 10 a.m. the next morning.
- Reservations not cancelled prior to the arrival date will be charged the full balance due to the card on file automatically by our system at 9 a.m. Central time on the day of your scheduled arrival. Refunds will not be granted for reservations which not cancelled in advance.
Weekend Camping Options
We have a variety of campsite styles and types to choose from when making your reservation. They include:
- Group tent sites for 3-4 tents, rustic
- Tent sites, rustic or electric only
- Small camper or tent site, with electric and/or water
- Standard drive-through, full hookup sites
- Premium full hookup sites
- Glamping tent-cabins
- Group tent site
- Pavilion, group camper site
Real-time pricing is displayed when you check availability online. If you are having difficulty booking the type of site you prefer, please call the campground office at 218-248-7362.
Please use Group Hold CampOUT2025 when making your reservations to access the campsites set aside for this event.
Welcome to the Northern Minnesota CampOUT weekend registration! CampOUT weekend is August 7 - 10, 2025. We've designed the weekend along with the organizers of or local Iron Pride events. Range Iron Pride will be held on Saturday, August 9. In addition to Pride weekend events, participants of our CampOUT weekend will also get the opportunity to enjoy a variety of area attractions on their own as well as our usual CampOUT CookOUT hosted by owners Paul and Chuck!
The goal of our CampOUT weekend is to provide members of the LGBTQ-community throughout Minnesota and surrounding states with a safe space to gather and enjoy the great outdoors of Minnesota's Iron Range! A group hold has been issued for this event to help group people together. Please use Group Hold CampOUT2025 when making your online reservations to access the campsites set aside for this event.
For those who are able, we invite you to arrive on Thursday to get extra time to setup or explore the area and take full advantage of Iron Pride events.
- West Forty RV Park and Campground is located in Gilbert, MN - about 3 hours by car from the Twin Cities or 4+ hours when towing a camper. Driving directions and check-in details will be emailed to you after you register!
- The campground does not allow public nudity of any kind. This is strictly a PG-13 event. Please be aware that our monthly/seasonal renters will also be on property during this weekend. We've put site blocks on the rest of the campground until just a few weeks before the CampOUT weekends so we have a majority of the campground dedicated to CampOUT participants.
- Participation is open to ALL members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer community. Respectful allies are welcome. All ages are welcome, but campsites must be registered to an individual 18 years old or older with a credit card in their name. Rainbow families are welcome. We encourage use of and respect for every individual's pronouns at all times.