Northern Minnesota CampOut Weekend

People gathered around a campfire and pavilion at night with festive lights and flags.

CampOut weekend is August 6-9, 2026.

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.

Range Iron Pride will be held on Saturday, August 8. In addition to Pride weekend events, participants of our LGBTQ camping event will also get the opportunity to enjoy a variety of Minnesota outdoor activities on their own, as well as our usual CampOut CookOut hosted by owners Paul and Chuck!

For those who are able, we invite you to arrive on Thursday to get extra time to set up or explore the area and take full advantage of Iron Pride events.

American and rainbow flags flying on a pole in a green park.

Our Location

West Forty RV Park and Campground, located in Gilbert, MN, is about a 3-hour drive from the Twin Cities or over 4 hours if you're towing a camper. After you complete your campground reservations, driving directions and check-in details will be emailed to you!

Please note that the campground does not permit public nudity of any kind, as this is strictly a PG-13 event. Additionally, our monthly and seasonal renters will be present during this weekend. We have reserved most of the campground for the LGBTQ camping event until just a few weeks prior to the CampOut weekends, ensuring that the majority of the area is dedicated to CampOut participants.

Participation is open to all members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer community, and respectful allies are also welcome. All ages can join, but please remember that campsites must be registered to individuals who are 18 years old or older with a credit card in their name. Rainbow families are encouraged to participate, and we promote the use and respect of every individual's pronouns at all times. Enjoy Minnesota outdoor activities with us!

Detailed campground map showing site types, amenities, and trails.

Weekend Camping Options

We offer a variety of campsite styles and types to choose from when making your campground reservations for our upcoming LGBTQ camping event. The campsites marked with rainbow icons are those we have reserved for the weekend, which 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 encounter any difficulties booking your preferred type of site, please call the campground office at 218-248-7362.

To access the campsites reserved for the weekend, please remember to use the group code CampOut2026 when making your reservations. Enjoy your Minnesota outdoor activities!

Reserve Your Spot Now -- Use Group Code CampOut2026 When Booking

Schedule of Events

Thursday/Friday

Registration and check-in for the LGBTQ camping event will take place from 3 - 9 p.m. both nights. This year, we're excited to introduce a campsite decorating contest! Show us your GLBTQ flair and fabulousity, as we love to see your creativity. Prizes will be awarded for the top 3 decorated campsites, with judging occurring on Friday at dusk.

Join us on Friday early evening from 5-8 p.m. for fun campground activities (cornhole, ax toss, bocce) at the pavilion (site G3). Then, from 9 p.m. until midnight, we invite you to the group social and campfire at the pavilion (site G3). Paul and Chuck will be providing the campfire and s'mores for everyone! Wristbands for the CampOut CookOut will be distributed during the social. Don't forget to bring a camping chair and your favorite beverages to enjoy the Minnesota outdoor activities.

Saturday

This is your chance to explore the area on your own with exciting Minnesota outdoor activities like off-roading, hiking, biking, or visiting local tourist attractions from 9 a.m. until 5/6 p.m. If you're willing to lead one of the suggested activities below, please email west40RV@gmail.com directly. We need volunteers - Thank you in advance for helping!

Activity Options

Range Iron Pride Festival - this year's festival will be Saturday, August 9 from 10 - 4 p.m. in nearby Virginia.
Off-roading - Iron Range Off-Highway Vehicle State Recreation Area -- bring your own ATV/OHV or rent one from us!
Kayaking at Lake-Ore-Be Gone - rentals available at Sherwood Forest campground/Lake-Ore-Be-Gone. Don't forget to make your campground reservations in advance!
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. Join us for this LGBTQ camping event and enjoy everything the Iron Range has to offer!

Saturday Night

We are coordinating a cookout hosted by campground owners, Paul and Chuck, as part of our LGBTQ camping event. A few weeks before the event, we will email you with ticket information and pricing for the CampOut CookOut. Last year, we charged $12 per person, which covered the cost of food and entertainment. Each person attending will need to buy one ticket per person to attend the CampOut CookOut and enjoy the entertainment at the pavilion.

The CampOut CookOut and potluck at the pavilion will start 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 ticket.
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.

Join us for the CampOut social and Sing-A-Long starting at 8:30 p.m.

Enjoy a campfire, music, s'mores, games, and more as we gather for Minnesota outdoor activities. We're bringing in Ditty Wish to lead us in song with some campy favorites. Bring a chair and a favorite beverage, and let's hang out for fun conversations with the group until midnight.

About our Sing-A-Long performer: Ditty Wish is a singer/songwriter based in northern Minnesota. She has been playing and writing ever since her start in Rochester, MN in 2019. With influences ranging from pop to folk, Ditty Wish combines music from different genres into a smooth and eclectic sound with a little something for everyone!

Sunday

We are considering adding a CampOut departure breakfast this year -- stay tuned for details and cost. For those making campground reservations, departures on your own will be at 12 p.m. Late check-out may be available, so check with campground staff if you'd like to extend your stay for more time to explore Minnesota outdoor activities during our LGBTQ camping event!

Campground and Special Event Cancellation Policy

If You Need To Cancel...

All campground reservations require the equivalent of one night campsite rental deposit at the time of booking, along with any charges for additional people exceeding site occupancy limits, a 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 cancellation fee for tent/camper/RV sites or $50 for tent-cabins or rental campers, as well as the non-refundable reservation fee and campground booking fee.
If special event meal add-ons related to our LGBTQ camping event were added to the reservation, charges for those items cannot be refunded. All other add-on items will be fully refunded.
Cancellations within 14 days of the booked arrival date will not be refunded, and the balance of the original amount due at check-in will be voided.
Renting our tent-cabins or rental campers requires a $100 cleaning and damage deposit charged at the time of booking, which is fully refundable regardless of when a reservation is canceled.
CampOut event add-on items (such as Saturday meal tickets/wristbands) are non-refundable. Unfortunately, we will incur charges for these items whether you attend or cancel once selected, 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 arrival day 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 canceled 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, and refunds will not be granted for reservations that are not canceled in advance.