Crow Wing State Forest

About Crow Wing State Forest

The joy of nature lovers could not be more evident than in the wilderness of the Crow Wing State Forest in South Dakota.

The Crow's Wing is a park full of cultural history and a great place for a paddle or kayak adventure for beginners.

A border town was founded in the area to meet the needs of travellers and traders, but the town died out when the railway decided to cross the river to Brainerd. The park still has the famous Woods Trail, which used oxcarts to transport supplies to the St. Paul settlement on the Red River. You can walk along the trail to get a sense of the history, as well as hike through the park and kayak.

The landscape of the region is characterized by coniferous forests and wet prairies, and the original vegetation included oak forests and carts interspersed with pine meadows. Today, visitors experience a mixture of wildflowers, grasses, shrubs, trees and meadows, as well as a variety of other species.

The crow's wing is located in the plain and was created by the reclamation of a glacial lake near Grantsburg. As the lake drained, a series of condensing temperatures formed wherever the ice was exposed to the deeper ground.

This created a huge area of sand, which also absorbed water from the diverted Mississippi, and a small lake was formed on the outside of Lake Grantsburg.

Park visitors enjoy seeing eagles and falcons fly over the river, and attentive observers can spot coyotes and foxes, while the ubiquitous songbirds add something special to family outings.

Most agree that the city, county, and state parks live up to the river's name, but there are disagreements over the origin of its name, "crow whisperer."

Some claim the river takes its name from the island, which sits prominently at the confluence of the Mississippi and Crows Wing, which is shaped like a crow's wing. Others claim the name is a nod to the feathers of birds of prey. Still others say she is from Ojibwe, whose region was inhabited by the Dakota. According to historian William Warren, there was a "crow whisperer" on the shores of Lake Huron, the largest lake in the United States, in 1768.

A branch of the Red River Trail brought oxcarts to the area, and traders soon erected posts along the river. The era of the fur trade brought here travelers from the Northwest American fur companies and the leaders of the territorial states.

In 1847 Clement H. Beaulieu took over the house and built a stately mansion on the outskirts of the village. The post office was founded in 1848 on the site of a former post office, now the Red River Post Office.

This structure, a Greek rebirth, has survived the centuries and has recently been restored to its original location. It is currently being restored by the Red River Post Office and the New York State Department of Natural Resources.

The cemetery is a reminder of a once thriving community, and missionaries came to teach the Indians and build their church, as well as to organize weddings, funerals and other events.

One of the best ways to learn more about the Crow Wing State Park is to visit the visitor center for a map and information about the park. There you can become part of a Junior Park Naturalist and participate in various programs so that your child can learn more about nature in a different way than at home. Even if your park does not have a naturalist in its team, activities for children and adults can be offered.

The Junior Park Naturalist Program is for children aged 7-14 years and is a free program that observes plants and animals and learns about the people and history of the region.

The Park Explorer Series guides children through the steps of Junior Park Naturalist activities. Park Explorers complete other in-depth activities with a brochure that covers the nature, history and geology of Minnesota in three easy-to-use brochures. To receive a brochure, visit the office or visitor center in the National Park.

Children earn points for their official Explorer patch, and Park Explorer activities and books are sold through the National Park Service's Junior Park Naturalist Program.

From Brainerd, 9 miles south of US Highway 371, take US-35 south to the entrance to the Crow Wing State Forest, just east of the National Park Service parking lot.