George H. Crosby Manitou State Park

George H. Crosby Manitou State Park is a wilderness reserve in Minnesota featuring dense forest and water features including the Manitou River and Benson Lake. The landscape includes steep ravines and rock formations carved by glaciers, with campsites accessible only by hiking trails.

The park was established in 1955 to preserve Minnesota's natural landscape from development. Its creation reflected a broader effort to protect wilderness areas for future generations.

The park offers tent sites far from roads and buildings, where visitors stay without electric lights or modern amenities. This attracts people who choose to disconnect from convenience and spend nights immersed in wild surroundings.

Visitors should expect hikes ranging from less than a quarter mile to several miles to reach tent sites from parking areas. Drinking water must be filtered or boiled on site, so appropriate gear for water treatment is essential to bring along.

The park is known for splake, a hybrid fish species between lake trout and brook trout, thriving in Benson Lake. This unusual fish type makes the lake a curious destination for those interested in local wildlife.

Location: Lake County

Inception: 1955

Website: https://dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/park.html?id=spk00163

GPS coordinates: 47.47890,-91.11190

Latest update: December 12, 2025 09:01