George H. Crosby Manitou State Park Backpack Campsites
Open — Open year-round for backpack camping. Winter access requires hiking or snowshoeing from County Road 7, as the main parking area is not plowed.
Cold Weather Advisory issued January 19 at 1:11AM CST until January 20 at 12:00PM CST by NWS Duluth MN
* WHAT...For the Cold Weather Advisory, very cold wind chills as low as 40 below zero. For the Wind Advisory, northwest winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 45 mph expected. * WHERE...Southern Cook and Southern Lake Counties. This includes the Tribal Lands of the Grand Portage Reservation. * WHEN...For the Cold Weather Advisory, until noon CST Tuesday. For the Wind Advisory, until 6 AM CST early this morning. * IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result. The dangerously cold wind chills as low as 40 below zero could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes.
Wind Advisory issued January 19 at 1:11AM CST until January 19 at 6:00AM CST by NWS Duluth MN
* WHAT...For the Cold Weather Advisory, very cold wind chills as low as 40 below zero. For the Wind Advisory, northwest winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 45 mph expected. * WHERE...Southern Cook and Southern Lake Counties. This includes the Tribal Lands of the Grand Portage Reservation. * WHEN...For the Cold Weather Advisory, until noon CST Tuesday. For the Wind Advisory, until 6 AM CST early this morning. * IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result. The dangerously cold wind chills as low as 40 below zero could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes.
About
George H. Crosby Manitou State Park is a true wilderness experience on Minnesota's North Shore, featuring 21 primitive backpack-in campsites along the cascading Manitou River and near Benson Lake. This remote park preserves a rugged volcanic canyon landscape covered with old-growth yellow birch, fir, cedar, spruce, and northern hardwoods. The campsites are distributed along 24 miles of challenging hiking trails, with distances ranging from 0.5 to 4.5 miles from the trailhead. This is low-impact camping at its finest. Each campsite includes tent pads, a bear pole for hanging food, and access to field latrines. Water must be filtered from the Manitou River or Benson Lake. Camp stoves are encouraged over campfires to minimize environmental impact. The park has no visitor center, showers, or flush toilets, making it ideal for experienced backpackers seeking solitude. Vault toilets are available at the trailhead. The steep trails and remote campsites reward visitors with waterfalls, river gorges, and glimpses of Lake Superior through the forest canopy.
Directions
From Silver Bay, take Highway 61 northeast. Turn left onto Highway 1 and continue to Finland. In Finland, turn right onto Cramer Road/County Road 7. After approximately 7.5 miles, turn right onto Benson Lake Road to reach the park entrance.
Nearby Campgrounds
- Ninemile Lake Campground 7.0mi
- Illgen Falls Cabin 9.9mi
- Hogback Lake Rustic Campground 12mi
- Baptism River Campground 11mi
- Lake Superior Cart-in Campground 11mi
- Tettegouche State Park Group Campground 11mi
- Harriet Lake Rustic Campground 12mi
- Wilson Lake Rustic Campground 13mi
- Divide Lake Campground 12mi
Location
Amenities
| Water | No |
| Fires Allowed | Yes |
| Toilets | Yes |
| Dump Station | No |
| Wifi | No |
| Pets Allowed | — |
| Showers | No |
| Electric Hookups | — |
| Water Hookups | — |
| Sewer Hookups | — |
| Camp Store | No |
| Price | $20 |
Vehicle
| Max RV Length | — |
| Max Trailer Length | — |
| Big Rig Friendly | No |
| Pull Through Sites | No |
Cell Service
| AT&T | None |
| Verizon | None |
| T-Mobile | None |
Availability
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