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In Central Minnesota's popular lakes area, the Cross Lake Recreation Area is best known for
its picturesque sunsets, beautiful beaches and well-maintained campsites. The campground provides a full menu of activities for camping enthusiasts, while being located just minutes from shopping and paved bike trails.
The recreation area provides plenty of water based entertainment like boating, canoeing, kayaking, water skiing and fishing. Two onsite beaches are convenient for swimming and sunbathing. Two accessible fishing piers provide angling opportunities on both Cross Lake and the Pine River.
The sizable campground has 122 campsites including 97 with electric hookups. Additional amenities include two accessible hot shower facilities, two boat ramps, several playground areas, boat beaching, 2 picnic shelters, dump stations and accessible fishing piers.
Cross Lake Recreation Area is nestled among tall pines on the eastern banks of Cross Lake on the Whitefish Chain of Lakes. The area has tremendous appeal, with access to 13 natural lakes, 13,660 acres of water and 119 miles of scenic shoreline. The collection of lakes help form the Headwaters of the Mississippi River.
The Recreation Area is located adjacent to the city of Crosslake and is just a short walk from shopping and a paved bike trail. It's also near the Crow Wing State Park where visitors can view the Mississippi River from the historic "Chippewa Lookout."
Reservations must check in within 24 hours of their scheduled arrival or risk their reservation being cancelled.
From Brainerd, Minnesota on Highway 25, turn right on County Road 3 and travel north to Crosslake, Minn. The campground entrance is to the left, at the intersection of County Roads 3 and 66.
Beautiful place to camp with convenient access to the Whitefish chain. The only drawback is that it's not a tent friendly campground - thus the 1 star.
For some unknown reason they don't allow you to set up a tent on the grass, which in most spots is a combination of dirt and weeds. Nobody was around when we arrived and so we setup camp and a little later the ranger stopped by and told us we needed to pitch out tents on the gravel pad and that nothing could be on the grass. I've never been to a campground before where you had to stay off the grass. When I asked the ranger why we couldn't pitch on the grass, he basically said that's the rules. Even the "tent only" sites have gravel pads. Too bad because it's a really nice campground.
Beautiful campsite location with clean amenities. Booking a site is very difficult for certain times of the summer which is a big bummer!
What a beautiful place! Google wants to know what the rooms and service are like, so hope you aren't expecting a hotel! It's a rec area and a campground. They used to have a playground in the rec area but they moved it into the campground. That's a bummer for non campers. Other wise everything is soooo nice. The site I was at was awesome! Couple minute's walk everywhere! Beach was raked daily, staff is amazing and friendly. There are designated areas for everything so you know where to go no matter what you want to do. We can't wait to go back
This is a beautiful campground/recreation area on Cross Lake which is part of the Whitefish Chain of lakes. I spent many fun hours here when I was a child. The playground (which is updated now with modern equipment) was always enjoyable; there is plenty of space, nice restrooms/showers, boat ramps, swimming beaches -- and it's all right in downtown Crosslake within walking/biking distance from many businesses.
