Mississippi River Headwaters - Cross Lake is an ideal place for camping adventures of all kinds. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in. Experience some of the most stunning views that Minnesota camping has to offer. Ready to plan your adventure? Check out our campgrounds near Mississippi River Headwaters - Cross Lake and user-submitted reviews.
"Cabins are basic but clean with comfortable beds, a table and ac! Right on the lake and direct access to the trails"
"I've stayed in both the cabins and the camping area. The cabins are my favorite because of the lake views, proximity to the bathhouse, and heat/AC units."
"There are 10 tent sites and many cabins. We stayed in tents. The sites are rustic but have fire rings and some have charcoal grills in them."
"Stayed at RV site 4 which is bordered by trees on one side which was nice for privacy."
"No tent sites available on the lake as those are reserved for rv, but the tent area is nice and wooded."
"Rode our bikes on the Paul Bunyan Trail to Nisswa and had some ice cream at The Chocolate Ox. Did a little shopping and got a beer at the brewery. Great location for lots of activities."
"Lots of amenities in the surrounding area. Good golfing. Good times"
"We stayed in the lodge cabins in August 2021 fir a family reunion. Great facility with many types if cabins. Beautiful spot with lakes all around."
"This resort and campground only has a few reservable campsites and a couple of cabins (at least one is more like a Park model)."
$21 / night
"Although they have lots of sites, it is a State Park. That means that they are close together. We canoed into the park on the Mississippi and had to carry a canoe to our site."
"Water fill and firewood available at the registration building. The water was high in iron. Canoe and kayak rentals available. Lots of trails for hiking and biking."
$52 / night
"Clean and detailed bathroom and showers. Laundry available. 30, 50 amp hookups. Back in trailer sites. Nice cabins, very reasonable rates. Everything REALLY CLEAN. beautiful swimming pool."
"Kids loved the heated pool and tether ball! We all had a great time riding 4 wheelers on the Spider Lake trails a few miles away. Great sites, great time!"
"Family camping RV sites have playground right there. Paddle Boats available and swimming beach. Right on the lake so kids spent a lot of time in the lake and on the lake fishing."
GuidePerfect little camper cabin and site. Fabulous park staff that even turned the heater on for us before we arrived. The cabin has electricity, heat, no plumbing. No cooking inside, wonderful fire ring for cooking, which we used at night.
LegendWe love Minnesota, almost more than we love Wisconsin - only because the natural beauty and the numerous, non-ending lakes to explore. Instead of “ruffing it” we decided to treat ourselves with a cabin rental and don’t regret the splurge. Adorable cabins, with nice layout, on Pine Mountain Lake, which is one of many is of Minnesota's hidden treasured lakes. I don’t fish but it was fun watching others. This stay was quiet, relaxing and we left feeling rejuvenated. Excellent amenities and folks. Ya know, MN nice is a thing!
LegendIf you like boats and boating and the water, this would be a good place to be, but if you are looking for peace and quiet, I doubt it'll be all that. This is mainly an RV camping park for those that have boats. It has a waterway in the campground with slips that you can rent for your boats. There are, however, a few tent sites that are kinda cool!
Most of the RV camping is pretty cramped. But I suppose if you have a boat, you'll probably be on it most of the time. That said, it would do the job. Maybe most people stay on their boats at night? There is also firewood for sale, which is convenient, but I don't know how much it cost. They seemed to be pretty well closed for the season. They did have electric hookup and sewage drains too. And for those that were feeling a little less outdoors-y, they had a few cabins for rent on the water.
There are only a few tent sites, and they are in an obscure spot, but it'd actually be a pretty cool place to drop a tent if you wanted something unique. The tent site(s) are on a little point near the water. It's actually on the opposite side from the RV camping, and they are separated by a little waterway that is the inlet/outlet for the area where the boat slips are. So boats would be passing in and out all the time. If you are the private type, this might not be ideal. But if you were looking for something different, it might be fun. However, there is no bathroom nearby that I could find. There is a fire ring and picnic table. And the coolest part...there is a small lighthouse type structure that is simply a screened in building with a table and chairs. It's screened in and the windows can be closed. So, essentially a bug free zone in the summer. Love it! Right next to the tent area. Although it's not clear if these sites are for rent for the general public, or just for friends and family of the boat/RV people. I see conflicting information about this.
ScoutCabins are basic but clean with comfortable beds, a table and ac! Right on the lake and direct access to the trails
LegendWhile this seems to be mainly an "RV" campground, but there were a few cabins on the lake and two gorgeous tent sites that would be the envy of many other camps. They were ideal, especially for the family that wanted the "tent" experience without having to huff it through the woods with toddlers in tow.
Sleeping Fawn is very clearly marked from the road, and although they don't say "campground" on the sign, there are a few tent sites available. It's about a 3/4 mile drive off the main road, but signage is apparent the entire way, and it's super easy to find once you get there. There is an office for check in, cabins to rent and lots of RV sites available too. Even though RV's seem to dominate here, the roadway through the woods and past them is peaceful and serene. Pine needles cover the ground and create a softness to the scenery. The posts that mark each site are wooden, tall, and are clearly numbered. Close to the entrance is a "tent parking" area, a cart for hauling your things, and 2 tent pads, just across the drive and down a little path about 20 yards. Perfect!
The tent sites are far enough apart to be "separate", but close enough that if you had family or friends, they are close by. Garbage cans are at the split in the path between #1 and #2 and each site has a fire ring, picnic table, gorgeous, flat tent pad and a view of the lake. And again, if you needed something from the car, it's a 50 yard walk. Not a 3 mile trudge through the woods.
Camping in tents May 18 - Oct 1
Camping rates were a bit steep for my liking, but I like primitive sites in the woods. So if you were a family trying to introduce wee ones to camping, it would still be worth it. $28 for a site as of 2018. Or a weekly rate of $170. Showers and laundry available, as well as free coffee in the morning. They also have a beach, nature trail, small store and other amenities.
NOTE: Pets are not allowed at this resort
LegendThe quality of this campground is really a 4, however the location is a little bit out of the way for doing day trips, exploring and access to the Chippewa National Forest. It is not on Lake Winnie, so you have to drive to a boat landing to launch your watercraft, and there is swimming at a nearby beach but it is not on the premises. However, the grounds are meticulously maintained and the camping prices cant be beat--$20 a night for tent camping, and $35 a night for full RV campsite with hookups. There is a playground. laundry facilities, and full bathrooms. There are also many walking trails on the premises. The general store on the premises provides staples and treats. If you prefer, there are also vintage cabins you can stay in here. Best of all, staying here supports a local family business including their painstaking efforts to maintain an hisotric general store and vintage vacation spot that was established almost a century ago and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
GuideI've stayed in both the cabins and the camping area. The cabins are my favorite because of the lake views, proximity to the bathhouse, and heat/AC units. Cabin #5 has the best unobstructed views of the lake. Cabins have WiFi. The campground is nice but only has a primitive toilet adjacent to the campsites. There are no electric or sewer hookups, but there are a couple of tent sites than can accommodate small campers. I camped in site #18 and it either isn't very level or I just did a poor job of setting up my tent because we were slanted all night. Great stargazing at both the cabins and the tent sites.
Check-in information is shared via email (key codes for the bathhouse and the cabin locks). The emails are very informative and the owners have been prompt to reply when I had questions. They even offer up the option to have firewood delivered to your site (either cabin or tent site) before you arrive.
This is my favorite place to stay in Crosby because it's so close to both the Rally Center Trailhead and Crosby. My favorite places in town are Red Raven (great coffee shop with good breakfast and lunch food options), Crosby Pub (wide variety of food - burgers, salads, appetizers), Rafferty's Pizza (pizza and beer plus a couple of arcade games in the back), and Iron Range Eatery (a little fancier than Crosby Pub (but not by much) and offers great food as well). All of these restaurants offer outdoor seating.
ScoutWe have camped here a few times. Kathio is a big park with lots of trails. Camp sites are decent sized and most have trees in between them. some of the sites are bigger and more secluded. All sites except hike-ins have fire pit with grill grate and picnic table. mosquitos are extra brutal mid summer here so be prepared.
ScoutMyself and some friends spent the weekend here in July. There are 10 tent sites and many cabins. We stayed in tents. The sites are rustic but have fire rings and some have charcoal grills in them. The bathrooms are spotless and come with real flush toilets and sinks. There is even showers in both of them. Most people come here to ride the red dirt mtb trails of Cuyuna so the showers are a great amenity! Beautiful views of the lake (mine pit) and swimming off of the private dock. If you want to fish here you must have a trout stamp. We want to come back and rent a cabin next time. Overall 10/10 would recommend and will return!
Cabin camping near the Mississippi River Headwaters in Cross Lake, Minnesota, offers a perfect blend of nature and comfort, making it an ideal getaway for families and outdoor enthusiasts alike.
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