Crow Wing State Park is a Minnesota state park near Brainerd, covering 3,291 acres. Hours: Daily from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m. It offers camping or lodging. Entry needs a state park vehicle permit, $7 for a day, as the DNR fees page said on October 19, 2026.
- 3,291acres
- Brainerdmailing town
- Yesovernight stays
- $7day vehicle permit
- Camping
- Fishing
- Scenic hiking trails
- Historic sites
- Canoeing/Mississippi River
- Great wildlife watching
Plan It In Three Lines
- Hours: Daily from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m.
- Cost: a $7 one-day vehicle permit or a $35 year-round permit, per the DNR fees page of October 19, 2026; confirm before you go.
- Pets: leashed (six feet or shorter) outside buildings, lodging and beaches, per the DNR rules page; park-specific limits are listed below.
About The Park
The DNR describes it: This is a nature lover's delight. Explore prairie, pine, and hardwood forests. View the Mississippi River from historic and picturesque "Chippewa Lookout." Novice canoeists can paddle the calm waters of the Crow Wing and Mississippi Rivers. Crow Wing is a park rich in cultural history. In this area, a frontier town emerged to serve the needs of travelers and traders.
Wildlife. Park visitors enjoy seeing white-tailed deer browsing at the forest edge; beaver, muskrat, and waterfowl in the wetlands and waterways; and eagles and hawks flying along the riverway.
History. A 1957 archeological investigation uncovered many of the old town site foundations. This spurred a push to preserve the site, and Crow Wing State Park was officially established in 1959.
Geology. Crow Wing is located in the far northwestern corner of the Anoka Sand Plains region. This region was formed by the drainage of the glacial Lake Grantsburg.
Visit Facts
- Address3124 State Park Road Brainerd, MN 56401
- Phone218-825-3075
- Park hoursDaily from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m.
- Park office hoursMonday through Thursday: normally 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. unless otherwise posted Friday and Saturday: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. or otherwise posted.
- Emailcrowwing.statepark@state.mn.us
- Park GPS point46.26415, -94.31897 (DNR printed coordinates)
- Official pageDNR page for Crow Wing State Park
Trails
| Season | Trail type | Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Accessible | 1/3 mile | — |
| Summer | Self-Guided | One-half mile, near park office | — |
| Summer | Hiking | 18 miles | Scenic trails wind through the old Crow Wing town site, along the Mississippi River, and through the woods. |
| Summer | Paved Bike | Six and one-half miles | The park's trail is part of the southern end of thePaul Bunyan State Trail, and connects to an additional 115 trail miles. |
| Summer | Boardwalk | Accessible, 300 feet | Located at the old Crow Wing town site. |
| Winter | Snowmobile | — | The Paul Bunyan State Trail travels through the state park and is open to snowmobiles in the winter. |
| Winter | Snowshoe | Anywhere in the park | — |
Camping And Lodging
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Drive-in Sites | 59 wooded sites with good shade | Note: you must be able to back into sites. |
| Electric Sites | 12 sites | — |
| RV Length Limit | 45 feet | Length is measured from front of tow vehicle to rear of vehicle being towed. |
| Accessible Lodging | 1 accessible camper cabin | — |
| Camper Cabins | One accessible cabin, available seasonally | No pets. More information on camper cabins. |
Reservations go through the DNR system; start from the park page.
On The Water
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Water Source | River | — |
| Fishing | — | — |
| Boat Access | Drive-in and carry-in | — |
| Boat Docks | — | — |
Other Recreation
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Picnic Area | Two accessible picnic areas | Shaded, located near the river. |
| Picnic Shelter | Accessible enclosed shelter | Has electricity and an indoor toilet. Call the park to reserve. |
Amenities
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ranger Station | — | — |
| Interpretive Exhibit | In the park office | — |
| Historic Site | Beaulieu House and boardwalk | Interpretive signs at the Beaulieu House. Interpretive signs and displays along the boardwalk describe the history of the old Crow Wing town site. Kiosk near the picnic shelter describes early Crow Wing and the Red River Ox Cart Trail. |
| Gift Shop | In the park office | — |
| Rentals | — | Boat and canoe rentals are available seasonally at the ranger station. Snowshoe rentals are available in the winter. Birding kits and kids discovery kits (activities and stories for ages 5-12) are free to check out from the ranger station. |
| Firewood | Available year-round at the park office | — |
| Ice Sales | — | — |
Pets And Permits
Statewide, the DNR rules page says pets are welcome in state parks on a leash six feet or shorter, attended at all times; only service animals are allowed in buildings, lodging, tours and beach areas. A vehicle permit costs $7 a day or $35 a year (DNR fees page, read October 19, 2026). See the parks passport page for the full price list.
Park-specific: No pets.
Directions
From Brainerd go 9 miles south on U.S. Highway 371. Then west at County Road 27 for one mile to the park office.
Map © OpenStreetMap contributors. Directions.
Nearby Places
- Charles A. Lindbergh State ParkState Park, about 21 miles away in a straight line
- Cuyuna Country State Recreation AreaState Recreation Area, about 22 miles away in a straight line
- Mille Lacs Kathio State ParkState Park, about 30 miles away in a straight line
- Father Hennepin State ParkState Park, about 41 miles away in a straight line
- Lake Carlos State ParkState Park, about 52 miles away in a straight line
What We Could Not Verify
- Current alerts, closures, trail and campground conditions: they change daily. Read the DNR park page before you go.
- County: the DNR page does not state it, so we do not print one.
- Fees for lodging and group sites, and day-by-day availability: set by the DNR reservation system.
- Permit prices were read on October 19, 2026 and the DNR page shows no effective date.
- The map point is the park’s printed coordinate, not a verified entrance.
More In Central Lakes & St. Cloud
- Mille Lacs Lake
- Charles A. Lindbergh State Park
- Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area
- Father Hennepin State Park
- Glacial Lakes State Park
- Glendalough State Park
- Lake Carlos State Park
- Lake Maria State Park
- Maplewood State Park
- Mille Lacs Kathio State Park
- Events in Central Lakes & St. Cloud
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Crow Wing State Park?
It is near Brainerd, Minnesota. The DNR address is 3124 State Park Road Brainerd, MN 56401.
How much does it cost to visit Crow Wing State Park?
A one-day vehicle permit is $7 and a year-round permit is $35 on the DNR fees page we read on October 19, 2026. Check the fees page before you go.
Are dogs allowed at Crow Wing State Park?
Pets are welcome on a leash six feet or shorter outside buildings, lodging, tours and beach areas, per the DNR rules page. This park’s page adds limits listed in Pets And Permits above.
Sources
- Crow Wing State Park (DNR Recreation Compass data) (read November 1, 2026).
- Minnesota state park fees (DNR) (read November 1, 2026).
- Minnesota state park rules (DNR) (read November 1, 2026).
- Minnesota State Parks Passport, all places, park fees and rules.