A S TAT E WAT E R T R A I L G U I D E TO T H E CROW W I N G R I V E R Paul Bunyan State Forest 50 120 34 Route Description of the Crow W ing River 105 64 Chippewa National Forest 25 NOTE: (R) and (L) represent right and left banks of the river when facing downstream. No rth Count ry 11th. 23 National Potato Lake Dam portage Scenic Trail RIVER MILE: 85 right 25 yards AKLEY 86 119.0 11th Crow Wing Lake is divided by Hwy. 64. Mostly lake paddling to the Big Sand Lake southTrail end of 5th Crow Wing Lake. 2 10th. 5 Akeley City Park Akeley City Park trailer access, campground, drinking water and rest area. River channel narrows, may be l 118.0 i

overgrown with vegetation a 40 Trail 9th. 115 r The lake can also be accessed at the Akeley City Park.

T

18 117.2 (L) Dam, portage left 25 yards around a small dam where the lake joins the e

49 t 71 34 12 4 a CrowWing River. River channel is narrow, may be overgrown with t Mann 64 L 71 S vegetation between lakes.Baby 18 82 Foot Tenmile 5 NEVIS n 117.0 FootWebb Bridge Portage. The river flows under the Heartland State Trail Heartland State 18 Lake a L Fish Hook Dam portage 8th. y trestle, then through a culvert under Hwy. 34 into a marshy area. Lake 6 n

DORSET right 75 yards u Trailer access on 10th Crow Wing Lake. B 115.8 33 13 Hills l Trailer access between 8th and 9th Crow Wing Lakes.

226 L u 114.1 119 Woman

a 5 River channel narrows, may be 111.9 (R) Dam, portage right 75 yards over Hubbard County Road 33 (use caution 7th. I N G L A K E S P 34 Belle Taine 110 overgrown with vegetation State Birch Lake Lake 5 crossing the road). River channel is narrow in this next stretch and may be 80 HACKENSACK 20 5th. overgrown with vegetation after June. It1 1may be impassable, or contain 45 34 6th. heavy46 vegetation. Scout before paddling. PARK C R O W W Forest 40 Hubbard County Road 13 River paddling along this stretch. Carry-in 105 Lake 109.5 RAPIDS Dam portage 41 right 75 yards Forest access located on river left at Hubbard County Road 13. CHAMBERLAIN Mule L 119 107.6 Trailer access Bigon Deep south L shore of 6th Crow Wing Lake. 6 13 Carry-in Access 11 Cr 105.1 Dam, portage right 75 yards over Nevis Township Road84 28 (use caution Lake 100 Island Lake rd 64 Trailer Access crossing the road). Primarily lake paddling to this point. Please respect 17 fo 45 46 ng 47 20 lli private property at this point. Wa Rest Area Badoura 105.0 “Wilderness” Section. River paddling downstream from the dam. The next 5 4th. Watercraft Campsite miles of river paddling are in a beautiful wilderness setting, with only a few riverfront cabins. 119 117 Hay L Long 13 State 100.6 (L) Hubbard County Road 13. 87 87 Campground 3rd. 22 98.2 Public accesses located on the west bank of 3rd and east bank of the 4th Private Campground Crow Wing Lakes, off Hubbard County Road 13. 71 ak 95.6 Big PPaddleL 87 under bridge at Hwy. 87. Intermittent49 river and lake, paddling to 87 2nd. Crow Wing Chain River Mile 371 next portage. 49

HUBBARD 95 CASS CO. 89.7 (L) Trailer access in Crow Wing W.M.A. at County Road 109, under bridge, 109 Forest Rapids

Rock Dam Blender Creek HUBBARD CO. 90 1st. Rock dam/portage. ExperiencedLake paddlers may scout first, then pass portage left Ada 109 Dam Pine Bac kus through. Others should portage left 65 yards over Hubbard County Road 65 yards 110 64 Lind L 111 108 Mountain 109 (use caution crossing the road). 1 mile downstream from the 1st Crow Lake 48 13 41 Fishing Pier Wing Lake. 87 North HUBBARD C O. 42 43 Duck L W.M.A. OSHAWA 88.2 (R) Confluence of the from the west. Drinking Water Lizzie Twin WADENA C O. 86.8 Hubbard and Wadena County line. South Tree Farm Landing 84 Lake Lakes 25 85.0 (L) Tree Farm Landing, carry-in access, rest area, primitive56 campsites, drinking River Outfitter Huntersville (N) Paul water, camping (fee), Wadena Co. administered.* Shell City 85 Shell Campground Hazard Area 82.6 (L) Wadena County Road 18 bridge, Huntersville (N) carry-in access, town of 21 Huntersville Huntersville. Forest 18 18 State Designated Public Lands25 81.1 (R) Huntersville #2 carry-in access. 56 Huntersville 79.8 (R) Big Bend42 watercraft campsites. Bull 150 Big Huntersville 64 W.M.A. = Wildlife Management Area 78.7 (R) Casey’s Landing trailer access. Bend Huntersville Moose Bunyan 43 27 W.M.A. 19 #2 S.N.A.W.M.A. = Scientific and Natural Area 77.7 (R) Huntersville #4 carry-in access, drinking water, rest area, watercraft 80 112 87 MENAHGA Casey’s Landing campsite. State 15 Chickamaw 75.3 (R) Mary Brown Rest Beach Area, carry-in access, County Road 15 bridge. 148 Huntersville Forest 71.0 Walkin's Rapids, Class I, may go to Class II at high river levels. Forest #4 15 145 371 70.8 (R) Anderson'sNorway Crossing, L carry-in access, primitive campsites, water, camping 150 154 84 State(fee),Wadena Co. administered.* Mary Forest Cr State 1 Brown 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 Miles 68.3 Burrows Rapids, Class I. 15 Pine Menagha Burgen Lake 2 2 67.4 (L) Big Swamp Creek enters 2from east; outfitter.1 W.M.A. 75 River Yaeger Lake Prairie W.M.A. 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 Kilometers 67.3 Westra Rapids Class I, may go to . Class II at high river levels, outfitter. O W.M.A. 111 26 44 . 15 I-II Wakin’s Rapids 65.5 MN Hwy.1 227 bridge, painted O river gauge on bridge pier. Red Eye 13 W.M.A. State 65.5 (R) 171Stigman’s Mound County Park, rest area and carry-in access, Town of 71 Swamp 70 Nimrod, Cat River enters fromASS C west. T WING C C 145 NORTH rail

14 CASS C O. 171 64.4 (L) Frame’s Landing County Park, carry-in access, primitive campsites,

Cr ake Anderson’s 15 Upper WhitefishL 23 27 CWADENA O. drinking water, camping (fee), Wadena Co. administered.* Kitten Creek Crossing Big W.M.A. CROW Burrows Rapids 59.3 (R) Little White Dog County Park, #9 carry-in access, rest area, primitive I-II Swamp campsites, water,camping fee,Wadena Co. administered.*Lower Hills Hay 147 57.0 Town of Oylen, Wadena County Road 9 bridge. 14 I-II Westra Rapids 115 Lake 143 53.0 (R) Knob Hill County Park, #10 carry-in15 access, rest area, primitive campsites, Stigman’sMound 64 County Park (#7) Little Creek water, 1camping (fee), Wadena Co. administered.* 145 16 49.5 Wadena County Road 7 bridge. river level 12 20 Foot 115 Upper gauge 49.4 (R) Cottingham County Park, #11 carry-in access, Hayrest area, primitive Frame’s Landing Jenkins Lake SEBEKA County Park campsites, water, camping (fee),Wadena371 Co. administered.* 227 65 28 48.8 (L) Farnham Creek enters from east. 16 NIMROD 42.8 (R) Bullard Bluff County Park, #12 carry-in access, rest area, primitive Beaver campsites, drinking water, camping (fee), Wadena Co. administered.* 138 139 39.7 (R) enters114 from west. 112 26 38.9 (R) Old Wadena County Park, #13 17carry-in access, rest area, primitive CROW 1 10 Strike W.M.A. campsites, drinking water, camping (fee), Wadena Co. admin.*, Partridge North 140 17 11 Germany River enters from west. Pequot 135 60 23 W.M.A. 37.2 (R) McGivern County Park, #15 trailer access, rest Laarea,kes primitive campsites, 30 Little White Dog #9 23 25 drinking water, camping (fee),Wadena Co. administered.* 35.6 Wadena County Road 30 bridge. Sebeka W.M.A. OYLEN GRAFF 34.1 (R) Orville’s Landing trailer access. 9 9 24 107 30.8 (L) Peter Card watercraft campsite. 71 64 Marsh’s Landing # 16 trailer access. akes WING 129.5 (R) L 55 29.1 (R) Alice B. Marsh watercraft campsite. Dry Sand Knob Hill Landing #10 28.0 Wadena County Road 34 bridge. 107 Lyons Lake Creek BLUE GRASS W.M.A. 26.4 (R) Green Oak Landing trailer access. 8 29 25.2 (L) Spud Oak watercraft campsite. Cullen Nisswa State 21.6 (R) Truck Station Landing trailer access. MN Hwy. 210 bridge, painted river LEADER Tower 103 gauge on bridge pier. 30 29 29 371 18 Forest am 20.9 Railroad trestle. rnh Fa ELLIS 19.2 (R) enters from south. 50 156 15.4 (R) Al-Vah’s Landing trailer access. Start of Lake Placid Reservoir. 109 118 138 7 14.8 (L) Watercraft campsite, no78 fee, Power Administered. La ke 77 7 30 11.8 (L) Lake Placid Reservoir Landing77 #3 trailer access. 26 11.7 Pillager Dam, Shoreportage right - 125 yards, Minnesota Power administered. 30 103 Cottingham County 11.7 Fishing pier below dam. LEAF RIVER Park #11 Meadow Brook W.M.A. 10.9 Morrison County Road 1 bridge. Leaf 31 23 45 ESTERDAY 9.4-0.0 (R) Camp Ripley Military Reservation (south) bank. 7.0 (L) Wilder Landing #2 trailer access and fishing pier. Start of Sylvan River Reservoir. 71 107 64 ook 5.2 (L) Fisherman'sBr Bridge Landing #4 trailer access and fishingRound pier. L Gull River 119 5 1 enters from north. 4.0 Sylvan Dam, portage left, 200 yardsake, Minnesota Power admin. WADENA Bullard Bluff Home 77 L CENTRAL County Park #12 3.9 (L) Fisherman's Bank Landing trailer access and fishing pier. 4 15 123 Old Wadena 0.0 enters at .

CASS CO. 35 115 County Park #13 WADENA CO. CASINO ake 40 L Long Creek 67 Lake 10 *Wadena CountyAdmin.Gull sites = $10.00/night/site/camping fee McGivern Creek 105 125 County Park #15 35

114 Swan River 30 371 VERNDALE EAST Partridge 32 34 Pillsbury 29 31 State GULL 2 Orville’s Landing Peter Card Forest LAKE 30 BRIDGEMAN 1 Alice B. Marsh 77 77 ALDRICH Seven WADENA CO. River 10 3 Marsh’s 33 TODD CO. Gull Landing #16 Spud Oak Mosquito STAPLES 64 102 11 river 23 level BAXTER gauge 18 25 35 Staples State Mile 1 Wilder 10 210 Landing #2 210 Water fo wl Green Oak CROW Refu g e Truck Station Landing Creek PILLAGER HEWETT Landing Lake Placid 9 7 MOTLEY Reservoir #3 Sylvan SYLVAN Reservoir #3 210 210 20 101 10 MORRISON CO. Lawrence WING CASS CO.

W.M.A. WING CO. 77 Moran 28 Lake Placid Mississippi River 28 36

Pillager Dam CRO W 71 - portage 125 yds 5 BARROWS 21 65 28 Fisherman ’s Bank #4 15 30 72 Brook Staples Camp Ripley

W.M.A. TODD CO. 371 Prairie Al Vah ’s Crow Wing

MORRISON CO. Milita ry Sylvan Dam State Park PHILBROOK Reservation - portage 200 yds 24 2 7 Philbrook 1 & W.M.A. State Game BERTHA Long 10 24 66 W.M.A. Refu g e and TrailsRegionalUnit Minnesota StateParks 1601 MinnesotaDrive Crow WingRiver Brainerd, MN56401 publications of facilities and services aswellanswersquestions publications offacilitiesandservices pertaining toDNRrecreational opportunitiesinMinnesota. 218-828-2619 The DNR’s Information Center isavailabletoprovide free Online watertrailinformationand DNR Information Center This informationisavailableinalternative STATE WATER TRAILMAP The MinnesotaDepartmentofNaturalResources mndnr.gov/watertrails maps canbefoundat © 2016MinnesotaDepartmentof Bemidji is anEqualOpportunityEmployer. 71 500 LafayetteRoad omtuo request. format upon

71 mndnr.gov 1-888-646-6367 MN Toll-Free 651-296-6157 Metro St. Paul, MN55155-4040

Photos -MNDNR Natural Resources

Crow Wing Crow 71

Lake Cass River 94

Mississippi Wadena, MN56482 2 Parks Department 415 JeffersonSt.S Wadena County Area 218-631-7604 St. Cloud Leech Lake

River Brainerd Winnibigoshish Lake 23 Grand Rapids

Mille 169 Rum Lake Lacs

169 River the earlyseasonhighleveland thelatesummerlow seasons. Typically,thedifferenceinelevationbetween maintain afairlyconstantwater levelthroughthe and low gradient along withthe sponge, a giant which actlike watershed, the sandy soilsof The deep are alsocanoeablestreamsathigherwaterlevels. itself. TheShellRiver,aswelltheLongPrairie River isactuallygreaterthantheflowofCrowWing Many timesoftheyear,outflowfromShell the CrowWingRiverfromwestnearHuntersville. One ofthelargesttributa trout intheirheadwaters. Farnham Creek,containresidualpopulationsofbrook Prairie rivers.Someofthesmallertributaries,suchas Examples oftheseincludetheLeaf,PartridgeandLong streams joiningthemainriverstemalongitscourse. drainage pattern,withnumeroussmallerriversand The CrowWingRiversystemexhibitsaclassicdendritic name translations byearlyEuropeanexplorersleadtothe be intheformofaraven’swing.Subsequentlanguage at itsmouth,whichearlyAmericanIndiansbelievedto JOHN VOELKER Over this90-milecourse,theriverdropsjustslightly River atCrowWingStateP approximately 90milesbeforejoiningtheMississippi County, theCrowWingRiverflowssoutheast towns ofNevisandAkeleyinsouthernHubbard Rising fromachainof11interconnectedlakesnearthe oriented canoeroutes. considered tobeoneofMinnesota’sbestfamily- numerous accesspoints,theCrowWingRiveris Because ofitslowgradient,clearwater,stableflowand numeroustributariesfeeding inallowtheriverto of “CrowWing.” The CrowWingRiver ries, theShellRiver,enters ark, justsouthofBrainerd. E AE TAL UD O H C THE TO GUIDE TRAIL WATER STATE A large island shape ofthe from the its name Wing derives The Crow mile. foot per one-half less than gradient of elevation; a 200 feetin more than

JOHN STE WARD

MARK DILLEY supports awidevarietyofwildlif The diversityofvegetationalongtheriverbanks becoming morecommon. civilized withagriculturalland,homes,androadbridges Along thelower30milesorso,riverbecomesmore cabins andpowerlinecrossingsarefairlyinfrequent. willow andash.Signsofhumanhabitation,suchas feature amixeddeciduousforestofbasswood,maple, Staples. Ontheseupperreaches,theshorelineis especially intheuppersectionsnorthofcity The majorityoftherivercorridorisquiteundeveloped, considered toberelativelyeasy. trails aremaintainedbyMinnesotaPowerand located ontheriver’srightorsouthbank.Theportage Generally, betterfishingisfoundinthereservoi pools. limited numbersofwalleyearepresentinthedeeper bass canbefoundalongweedyshorelinesections,while northern redhorse.Northernpikeandafewlargemouth predominant fishspeciespresentarewhitesuckersand bottom andaminimalnumberofdeeppools,the to astablefishpopulation.Becauseofthemostlysandy The consistentflowandgood canoeists willneedtobeonthelookoutforsandbars. Crow WingRiverusuallyremainscanoeable,though levels islessthanthreefeet.Eveninadrysummer,the 50 milesoftheCrowWing Riverareprovidedthrough Most oftheaccessesandcampsites foundintheupper fall migrationseasons. of songbirdsabound,especiallyd eagles andospreysmightbeobserved.Variousspecies and sandpipersarequitecommon.Onoccasion,bald also present.Wadingbirds,suchasgreatblueherons ducks andhoodedmergansers,withsomemallards black bear.Themostcommonwaterfowlarewood muskrat, beaver,otter,raccoonandperhapseven canoeists shouldbeabletoseewhite-taileddeer, approximately 125yardseach.Bothporta the SylvanandPillagerdamsrequireportagesof panfish, northernpikeandevenafewwalleyes.Both environments, whicharehometolargemouthbass, about threemileslongeach,createlake-like operated byMinnesotaPower.Theseimpoundments,of the riverisimpoundedbyhydroelectricstations above theSylvanandPillagerdams.Attheselocations, water qualitycontribute e. Observant uring thespringand shorelines elevated The le elevations. higher oak onthe pine and jack pine,red with forestsof heavily wooded, ges are ss rs Because ofitsmanycampsites andundevelopedshores, with theMississippiRiverat CrowWingStatePark. County andisabout115river milesfromitsconfluence Wing chainoflakeslocatedinsouthernHubbard The 11thCrowWingLake you. Respecttheriver. here beforeyouandthinkofthosewhowillcomeafter who havebeen remember those the campfire, canoe oraround whether inyour evening, calm summer serenity ofa As youenjoythe State Park. Crow Wing preserved at House, hasbeen Beaulieu Minnesota, the structures in wood-frame along theCrowWingRiver.Oneofoldest Wing StatePark,aswell of thisoldroadwaycanstillbefoundwithinCrow was establishedbythemilitaryin1850s.Portions early 1900s.TheCrowWingOtterTailoxcarttrail reservoir whentheSylvanDamwasconstructedin A largeportionofthissitewasinundatedbythe River; itwasinoperationuntil1869. Agency postwasestablishedatthemouthofGull Wing in1823.In1851, established histradingpostatthemouthofCrow Allen Morrison,forwhomMorrisonCountyisnamed, considerable overlandtradeintheareaby1800s. of thepresentdayOldWadenaCountyPark.Therewas Trading PostatthemouthofPartridgeRiver,site the NorthWestCompanyestablishedWadena Fur tradersenteredtheregionin1700s.In1792, today atCrowWingS struggle, intheformofancientriflepits,arestillvisible north oftheCrowWing.Signsthisintertribal control ofthelandswestMississippiRiverand 1700s. Bytheearly1800s,Ojibwehadgained peoplebeganmovingwestwardintheearly Indian controlledtheCrowWingregionuntil Before thearrivalofEuropeanexplorers,Dakota detail. system. RefertotheRouteDescriptionfor county-administered sitesthroughaself-registration river, nominalcampingfeesarechargedatthe no chargetouseanyofthepublicaccesssites the WadenaCountyParksDepartment.Whilethereis tate Park. theCrowWingChippewa asvariousotherlocations istheuppermostofCrow more

MARK DILLEY you shouldconsiderinplanningyourtrip: the shorelandsareprivatelyowned.Here’sachecklist behind youexceptfootprints.Rememberthatmuchof Protect thewaterandshorelandsleavenothing the DNRwebsite,orInformationCenter. from theregionalDNRParksandTrailsoffice,orcheck speed orslowyou:getinformationaboutwaterlevels a distancethatisc prepared bygettingacquaintedwithyourroute.Choose river tripissafe.Toenjoyasafejourney,youshouldbe Asuccessful Safe RiverTrip Planning A wildlife. with abundant thick forests flanked by much ofitis accessible, Wing iseasily deep enoughforcanoeing.AndalthoughtheCrow seldom morethanthreefeetdeep,itisnearlyalways rarely interruptedby The CrowWing’scrystalwaterscutagentlepath “wilderness” routesforfamilycanoeists. the CrowWingRiverisoneofstate’sbest • • • • • Rest AreasandCampingSites • • • • • • human wasteawayfromtheriver. Be sanitary!Usedesignatedtoiletfacilitiesorbury sites; muchoftheshorelandisprivateproperty. Respect privateproperty.Stoponlyatdesignated recommended, butifyoudoitmus number ofrestareas.Drinkingriverwaterisnot Bring drinkingwater.Itisonlyavailableatalimited available onafirst-come,first-servebasis. Camp onlyindesignatedcampsites,whichare rest, picnicandexplore. Public restareasareavailablealongtherouteto Leave onlyfootprints;takephotographs! You mustpackoutalltrash. overhanging anddeadtreesintheriver. matches. Bring afirstaidkitthatincludeswaterproof hour. Most peoplepaddletwotothreerivermilesper arrival times. of yourplansincludingplanneddepartureand with amapbeforeyoudepartandadvisesomeone Travel with Be cautiousofriverobstructions,suchas

O WN RIVER WING ROW acompanionorgroup.Planyourtrip omfortable foryou.Waterlevelscan rapids.Althoughtheriveris gentle path ra rely interrupted by rapids. interrupted rely gentle pathra The Crow Wing’s crystal waterscuta crystal Wing’s Crow The t betreated.

DNR bi attractive andprovideimportantshorelinehabitatfor diverse nativeshorelineplantcommunitiesare filtering outpollutantsandsediments.Healthy Natural shorelinebuffersimprovewaterqualityby watersheds. land usepracticesalongriversandthroughout resources bypromotingenvironmentallysensitive Communities workingtogethercanimprovewater withou recreation enablespeopletoenjoytheoutdoors attractive naturalenvironment.Sustainableoutdoor Outdoor recreationisdependentonahealthyand Sustainable Ecosystems • • • • Boating Information rds andwildlife. Minnesota oryourstateofresidence. canoes andkayaks,mustberegisteredin than 9feetinlength,includingnonmotorized Register yourwatercraft.Allwatercraftmore motor use. Not allportionsofthiswatertr Bring anextrapaddle. the craft. flotation devicethatstatelawrequiresbeonboard Wear aU.S.CoastGuardapprovedpersonal 40% 10% ru 10% Shor Natural 55% ru 55% Al ter e 0 30% t negativeimpactsontheenvironment. v aporation ed Shor no no elands ff ff evaporat elands ion ail aresuitablefor

JOHN STE WARD DNR