When storms ripped through northern Minnesota in the early morning hours of July 21, it wreaked havoc in beloved vacation spots.

At Burntside Lodge in Ely, a cabin was knocked off its foundation. At nearby Camp Van Vac, hundreds of trees crashed down. Itasca State Park closed temporarily. Portages in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness became unpassable. On the Canadian side of Basswood Lake there, where two campers died, an apocalyptic scene unfolded.

The area is recovering fast.

In the BWCA, the U.S. Forest Service has been clearing portages and welcoming campers.

Hotels are open and busy in Ely, said Cherie Sonsalla, director of the Ely Chamber of Commerce. People are flocking there for the annual Blueberry/Art Festival, held Aug. 29-31. Shortly after the storm, crews went to work cleaning up White­side Park, where the event is being held.

At Itasca State Park, three-legged races, musical performances and picnics are changing the mood in a storm-lashed area. The park is celebrating its 125th with a birthday bash Aug. 31.

At Burntside, where three cabins were damaged, normalcy is returning as guests take day trips to Listening Point, go fishing and dine in the restaurant. Lonnie LaMontagne, who owns the resort with her husband, Lou, said that the morning after the storm, "guests rallied to help. It was such a heartwarming experience in the face of devastation."

Still, all is not normal. Be prepared for downed trees in the area — and crews working to clear them. The Forest Service warns campers that saturated soils make otherwise stable trees prone to falling over; see storm damage updates at www.fs.usda.gov/superior. Visitors should log onto state park websites before visiting; all have up-to-date visitor alerts. Itasca's alert notes that trails are being cleared and lists those that are open, for instance.

Send your questions or tips to Travel Editor Kerri Westenberg at travel@startribune.com, and follow her on Twitter: @kerriwestenberg.