George H Crosby Manitou State Park

About George H Crosby Manitou State Park

The path through the park is cut out to the north and you will come to a waterfall that plunges down a volcanic gorge surrounded by majestic forests.

The path is steep and challenging for hikers and backpackers, but offers spectacular views.

The remote campsite is only suitable for backpackers and can only be reached by car or bike.

This beautiful old stock is under nature protection, so watch out for elk, deer, bears and wolves. The park is a great opportunity to explore the natural history of the area and the history and culture of the residents of Benson Lake.

The volcano spewed fiery lava, which cooled and heaped up a thick layer along the coast.

Later, as the glacier moved north, it scraped and dissolved the rocks and as it retreated, we were left with mountains of rock and earth that changed the shape of the park. The waterfalls of Benson Lake are imbued with the memories of visitors who came to the park to escape the crowds.

The last glacier left a large meltwater lake on the shore, which flows into Lake Superior and then into the Gulf of Mexico.

The drainage route is now the Manitou River, and today the rough and stormy waters of the river still change the course of its river through the gorge through which it flows.

This is a rugged wildlife park where bears, wolves, elks and deer share a path with hikers.

The park is home to sharp-sighted falcons, owls, coyotes, moose and many other animal species. Among the capercaillies and spruces there are a multitude of trees that hikers often see eaten by the roadside.

The park was donated by George H. Crosby, a mining magnate who helped develop the Mesabi Cuyuna iron mine. From the beginning, it was decided to limit the development of the park, but the state accepted it readily and officially established it as a state park in 1955.

George Crosby Manitou State Park is the first park in the system to be designed primarily for backpackers and remains only a backpacker park. Instead of the usual campground, there is a primitive campground, which is only accessible on foot, and a 7 km drive to the main park entrance.