George H. Crosby Manitou State Park Photo: Justin Meissen / CC BY-SA 2.0
United States › Minnesota

George H. Crosby Manitou State Park

ByWilderness Experts

Fast facts

  • Established: 1955, from land donated by George H. Crosby
  • Character: Minnesota’s first backpacking-only park, with 21 hike-in campsites
  • Trail link: the Superior Hiking Trail
  • Gateway: Finland and Silver Bay
  • Managed by: the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

The landscape

The Manitou River cuts a steep canyon through volcanic rock on its way to Lake Superior, dropping in cascades and waterfalls through forest of fir, cedar, spruce and northern hardwoods. Benson Lake sits in the uplands. Moose, black bears, wolves and many birds live here.

Best time to go

Summer and fall are the main seasons, with colour peaking in late September and early October. Winter brings snowshoeing and winter camping for the well prepared.

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Getting there and around

The park is reached from Finland on County Highway 7. There is no office, only a registration kiosk. Trails lead from the parking area down into the river canyon and to the backpack campsites along the river and Benson Lake.

Things to do

Backpacking is the whole point: short hikes to reserved sites along the Manitou, or longer trips on the Superior Hiking Trail, which passes through the park. Day hikers explore the river trail and waterfalls.

Staying safe

Trails in the canyon are steep and rocky, and slippery when wet. Keep back from the river and falls. Store food properly in bear country. Winter is cold and remote; carry winter gear and leave a trip plan.

Know before you go

All campsites must be reserved. This page is a general overview, not a live conditions report, so confirm conditions and reservations with the Minnesota DNR before you go.

Navigation
Coordinates
47.4774, -91.0974
Magnetic declination
2.1° W (2026)

Set this declination on your compass, then align it to the map's north lines; it is the angle between true north and magnetic north, refreshed each year.

How declination works, and how to navigate with a map and compass

3 places in George H. Crosby Manitou State Park

A spread of the park’s main places shows straight away, and the rest appear as you zoom in. You can also search above, or pick any place from the lists below, and the map will go to it. Places in bold, marked , have a short description.

On the trail 2

Routes

Sights 1

Waterfall

Map data comes from third-party sources and may be incomplete or out of date, so carry a current official map (terms).

Trip types
Day hikeWeekend backpackingBackcountryWinter trip

Looking for one of these closer to home?Destinations near me by trip type →

Terrain
ForestRiversLakes
Key hazards
Steeprocky canyon trailsFast river water and waterfallsBlack bearsWinter cold
Best seasons
Summer, Fall (foliage), Winter
Difficulty
Moderate to strenuous
Access / trailheads
County Highway 7 from Finland, off Highway 1 near Lake Superior's North Shore. There is no office; register at the kiosk.
Water
River and lake; filter or treat all water.
Cell / satellite coverage
Little to none in the park.
Nearest ranger / SAR / emergency
Emergencies: 911. Minnesota DNR information: 888-646-6367.
Permits & regulations
A Minnesota state park vehicle permit is required. All 21 campsites are backpack-only and are reserved online.
Leave No Trace
Camp only at your reserved backpack site, store food from bears, and pack out all waste.
Conditions by month

October This month

Average high51°F(11°C)11°C(51°F)
Average low34°F(1°C)1°C(34°F)
Rainfall3.4 in(85 mm)85 mm(3.4 in)
Daylight, mid-month10 h 56 minSunrise 7:21 a.m., sunset 6:18 p.m.

What to bring depends on your trip: how long you’re out, where you sleep, and how far you go from the road. The planner builds the list for yours.

Plan a trip here →

Averages for 1991–2020 from NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, measured at the Wolf Ridge Elc station, 8 miles (13 km)13 km (8 miles) away at 1,439 feet (439 m)439 m (1,439 feet). Higher trails run colder, by about 3.5°F for every 1,000 ft (2°C per 300 m)2°C for every 300 m (3.5°F per 1,000 ft) of climb. Daylight runs from sunrise to sunset on the 15th, on the park’s own clock, for a level horizon. Valleys and slopes facing away from the sun are in shade earlier.

Before you go Conditions, permits, fire bans and closures change constantly — we summarise and link out, but always confirm with the managing agency first.
Official park website → Last verified 2026-09-21

Nearby parks

Straight-line distance between park centres. Road distance is usually longer.

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