Cuyuna Lakes Chamber of Commerce 

About

Our reclaimed mineland area, 5,000 beautiful acres of lakes, woods and trees, is waiting for you! Wet your paddle. Trout fish the clear water. Scuba dive in the deep mineland lakes.The challenging Cuyuna Mountain Bike Trails and paved biking trails are fun for all ages. Camping is available in the beautiful Crosby City park and right in the state rec area in several locations.

Crosby is the official Antique Capital of the Lakes area with antique stores in the many Main Street historical buildings. Gift and novelty shopping too!

Bird and wildlife watching at several wildlife management areas close by.

Enjoy the small town atmosphere with an old-fashioned 4th of July celebration, fireworks, and fun family events.

Area Attractions:

Memorial Park Preserves Memory of Miners:

Milford Mine was the site of one of the worst mining disasters in U.S. history, when 41 miners were killed on February 5, 1924, in underground tunnels after a nearby lake flooded the mine. It remains Minnesota’s worst mining disaster. The 200-foot Milford Mine had multiple levels with one shaft leading to the surface. Only seven men made it to the surface alive. Milford Mine Memorial Park features natural and man-made habitat that was transformed into a recreation area to be enjoyed by area residents and visitors. It is a humble attempt to preserve the memory of those who gave their lives to pursue the American dream and provide for their families. The park is a place of reflection, recreation, and community. Located in Crosby west of Highway 6 and south of County Highway 30, between Island and Milford lakes, the park includes the site of the mine. Visitors can tour a boardwalk bridge across Milford Lake that lists each disaster victim and survivor name as well as mine shafts. Interpretive signage throughout the area features historical photos and facts.The recreation area also includes a restroom facility, canoe launch and fishing platform, two picnic shelters, memorial wall, benches, picnic tables, cooking grills, bicycle rack and several accessible trails. Parking is free and there is no entrance fee.

Accommodations for the Adventurous:

Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area offers numerous camping and lodging options.
Three seven-person yurts, insulated canvas tents with wood floors and wood stoves, are available along the west side of Yawkey Mine Lake. Reservations may be made at http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/yurts.html or 218-336-2189. A non-refundable fee is charged for each advance reservation but there is no reservation fee to reserve a campsite same-day. A total of 29 shaded and open, grassy camping sites are available at the Portsmouth Campground located on the northwest shore of Portsmouth Mine Lake. There are 18 electric and 15 non-electric sites available during the regular season. Four walk-in sites and a group camp area for up to 25 people are also available in a wooded area within a short distance of restrooms, showers, swimming beach and mountain bike trails. Reservations are required at http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/self_service.html.

Dive Cuyuna:

Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area is home to some of the best diving in the Midwest. Located near Crosby and Ironton, the beautiful park features crystal-clear water filled mines with submerged mine shafts, building foundations, vehicles, road beds, forests, shear walls, and depths of up to 530 feet. The mines have been stocked with trout, bass and northern pike; loons frequently swim by; and there is visibility ranging from 30 to 60 feet. The Minnesota School of Diving has created over 50 unique dive sites in the area that are appropriate for all levels of experience. Group fun dives are held in the area up three times a week in the summer. Dive masters are also available to lead people on individual dives. Visit http://www.mndiving.com/contactusmaps.html for details.Dive maps of the area are available at The Minnesota School of Diving in Brainerd. Call 218-829-5953 or send a message to [email protected].

Northwoods ATV Adventure

ATV riders in the Crosby-Ironton area will enjoy the Miller Black Bear Trail, a 20-mile network through more than 4,000 acres of a scenic and historically interesting area.
Parts of the trail meander over rolling hills near the Mississippi River and two lakes with four scenic overlooks and abundant wildflowers. Other sections of the trial offer glimpses into the land’s mining story, as it goes past large tailing piles of mine pits in the Cuyuna iron range.
The trail built on mining and forest roads is an easy, gentle ride. Features include six primitive camping sites and picnic areas with cement tables and grills. Part of the system is in the Crow Wing State Forest and the trail is multi-use. One trailhead is at Cole Lake, the other is near the Section 6 mine pit lake.
Learn more at http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/ohv/trail_detail.html?id=72.

Drive Along America’s Scenic Byway:

The Cuyuna Range is along The Great River Road National Scenic Byway that follows the course of the Mississippi River for 3,000 miles from northern Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico. The Great River Road is a well-marked series of different roads and highways that roughly follow the winding course of the Mississippi River. Travelers will find white signs displaying a green pilot’s wheel logo. The symbol denotes which roads are part of the designated route that was selected for its natural, cultural, historical, recreational and scenic properties. All along the Great River Road, visitors find interesting things to see and do, including a number of river-related attractions and designated interpretive centers. The Cuyuna Range is no exception. Travelers can drive a short portion of the byway to experience some of the numerous amenities the area has to offer. Learn more at http://www.mnmississippiriver.com/.

Only two hours north of the Twin Cities, the scenic drive up State Highway 6 is rated one of the best in Minnesota!