Crosby MN and the surrounding area is known for its red dirt mountain bike trails. The Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area has over 70 miles of trails and Crosby is at the center of it all.
Crosby itself is a small town that has grown so much with tourism over the last few years. We spent a weekend there in February for a winter getaway with our two kids (ages 1 and 4!)
Where to stay in Crosby MN
We stayed at Cuyuna Matata, which is a vacation rental property with multiple rentals on-site. It’s located right on the Pine River that flows into the Mississippi nearby. We stayed in the River Chalet, which has 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, and a sauna overlooking the river. This spot is so cozy, clean, and we loved the Scandinavian design!
Here’s our favorite things to do in Crosby MN in winter!
Get coffee at Red Raven
Red Raven serves up coffee, food, Cuyuna branded clothing, and even a bike shop! It is THE place to be on a weekend morning in Crosby. Definitely get the breakfast burritos to fuel up for your day of adventuring!
Snowshoe around the mine lakes
While we did not bike this time, we saw so many people fat tire biking in the snow. We did, however, bring our snowshoes for some winter hiking. There’s great snowshoe trails all over the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area and its mine lakes, but note that boot hiking is not allowed. Find more info on the trail we did here!
Ice skate a forest trail
The forest ice skating trail at the Northland Arboretum is located in Baxter but is so worth the 20 minute drive from Crosby! Being we were in the area we needed to check out the new 1/2 mile ice skating trail through the forest. It’s a loop and was so unique to skate up and down little hills. Limited rentals are available on site, so bring your own skates if you can!
Dig into BBQ at Hudson Smokehouse
Back in Crosby area, Hudson Smokehouse offers house smoked meats that will warm you up. They also have a great kids menu and fun toys for kids to play with while you wait for food. I loved the retro snowmobile decor, the beer selection, and the food of course!
Shop local in downtown Crosby
Crosby is one of my favorite areas to shop local in Minnesota. There’s so many cute boutiques and adventure shops. I especially love The Lake and Company shop, Smith and Trade Mercantile, Victual, Nord Hus, and Cuyuna Outfitters. Get amazing lactose-free ice cream at Victual and rent paddle boards and kayaks for the lakes in the summer at Cuyuna Outfitters!
Grab a beer at Cuyuna Brewing
We love a local brewery, and Cuyuna Brewing is located right downtown Crosby. There’s great beer, snacks, and games. A nice place to take a break from all the shopping!
These are our list of favorite things to do in Crosby MN so far! Can’t wait to get back to the area, hopefully next time in the summer to explore the mine lakes!
