Crow Wing State Park

Indian battles, voyageurs and a ghost town provide a colorful historical backdrop for today’s explorers at Crow Wing State Park. Located at the confluence of the Crow Wing and Mississippi rivers, the park’s name derives from the wing-shaped island that seems to guard the junction of the two rivers. The Indian name for the Crow Wing River was ‘Ka-Gi-Wig-Wan’, which means ‘Raven’s Wing’.
Crow Wing State Park is located about 9 miles south of Brainerd on the Great River Road Scenic Byway in Minnesota’s Crow Wing County.

Trails

The 18 miles of hiking trails at Crow Wing State Park travel through a rich mixture of oak forests and prairie areas and are a joy to explore year-round. Hikers can retrace the early fur traders’ footsteps on the Woods Trail, which is part of the famous ox cart route used to transport goods in the days before the railroad.

The Woods Trail

Going for a spring hike on the Red River Trail

A boardwalk with interpretive signs through the town site of what was once the bustling village of Crow Wing takes you back in time to the early settlers. Another trail passes by the site of a famous 1768 battle between the Dakota and Ojibwe.

The Ojibwe Overlook

Scenic views of the Mississippi River

Crow Wing State Park is also the southern terminus of the 123-mile, paved Paul Bunyan State Trail which winds through Minnesota’s northern forests and ends at Lake Bemidji State Park.

Crow Wing State Park is the southern terminus of the Paul Bunyan State Trail

Camping/Lodging

Crow Wing’s campground has 59 units, some of which are on the Mississippi River. A group camp has room for 75 campers and offers canoe-in access. For a less rustic experience, rent the camper cabin, which is available April through October.